Please read these terms and conditions carefully before making a booking with Tarec Gorilla Safaris. By confirming a booking, you agree to be bound by the following terms.
1. About Tarec Gorilla Safaris
Tarec Gorilla Safaris is a licensed tour operator registered and operating under the laws of the Republic of Uganda. We specialise in gorilla trekking safaris, wildlife tours, cultural experiences, and travel arrangements across Uganda, Rwanda, and the wider East Africa region. Our commitment is to deliver exceptional, responsible, and personalised safari experiences while contributing meaningfully to conservation and the communities that live alongside the wildlife we celebrate.
2. Booking & Confirmation
A booking is confirmed only upon receipt of a written confirmation from Tarec Gorilla Safaris and the required deposit payment. To secure a booking, clients must complete and submit the Tarec Gorilla Safaris Booking Form, providing accurate personal details for all travelling party members including full legal names as they appear on passports, nationalities, passport numbers, and dates of birth.
A booking confirmation email will be issued by Tarec Gorilla Safaris upon receipt of the required deposit. This confirmation constitutes a binding agreement between the client and Tarec Gorilla Safaris, subject to these terms and conditions.
Tarec Gorilla Safaris reserves the right to decline any booking at its discretion prior to issuing written confirmation.
3. Deposits & Payment Schedule
To secure a reservation, the following deposit and payment structure applies:
Deposit: A non-refundable deposit of 30% of the total safari cost is required at the time of booking to hold your reservation and begin the procurement of permits, accommodation, and services.
Gorilla & Chimpanzee Permits: Because gorilla trekking permits and chimpanzee tracking permits are secured in advance from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and are non-refundable once purchased, the full cost of all permits must be paid at the time of booking, regardless of the stage of the overall payment schedule.
Final Balance: The remaining balance of the total safari cost is due 60 days prior to the safari departure date.
For bookings made within 60 days of the departure date, the full safari cost is due in its entirety at the time of booking.
Payment Methods: Tarec Gorilla Safaris accepts payment by bank transfer, credit card, and approved online payment platforms. Bank transfer details will be provided on the invoice. Any bank charges, transfer fees, or currency conversion costs are the sole responsibility of the client.
All prices are quoted in United States Dollars (USD) unless otherwise agreed in writing. Tarec Gorilla Safaris reserves the right to invoice in Ugandan Shillings or Rwandan Francs where applicable.
4. Cancellation Policy
Cancellations must be submitted in writing to Tarec Gorilla Safaris by email and are effective from the date the written notification is received.
The following cancellation charges apply to the total safari cost:
| Notice Period Before Departure | Cancellation Charge |
|---|---|
| 90 days or more | Loss of deposit (30%) only |
| 60 – 89 days | 50% of total safari cost |
| 30 – 59 days | 75% of total safari cost |
| Less than 30 days | 100% of total safari cost |
| No-show / no notice | 100% of total safari cost |
Gorilla and chimpanzee permits are strictly non-refundable under any circumstances, as these are purchased on the client's behalf from the Uganda Wildlife Authority and Rwanda Development Board and cannot be returned or resold by Tarec Gorilla Safaris.
Tarec Gorilla Safaris strongly recommends that all clients purchase comprehensive travel insurance that includes cancellation cover at the time of booking.
5. Amendments & Changes to Bookings
Requests to amend confirmed bookings — including changes to travel dates, itinerary, accommodation, or the number of travellers — must be made in writing to Tarec Gorilla Safaris as early as possible.
Tarec Gorilla Safaris will make every reasonable effort to accommodate amendments, subject to availability and the policies of third-party suppliers including lodges, camps, and permit-issuing authorities. Amendment requests are not guaranteed and may incur additional costs, which will be communicated to the client before any changes are confirmed.
Changes to gorilla trekking or chimpanzee tracking permit dates are subject to availability and the transfer policies of the Uganda Wildlife Authority and Rwanda Development Board. Permit transfers cannot always be guaranteed and may result in the loss of the original permit without refund.
6. Tarec Gorilla Safaris' Right to Amend or Cancel
While every effort is made to operate safaris as confirmed, Tarec Gorilla Safaris reserves the right to make alterations to itineraries, accommodation, transportation, or other arrangements where circumstances beyond our control make this necessary. Such circumstances include but are not limited to adverse weather, road conditions, wildlife movement, force majeure events, and changes in the policies of national parks or permit-issuing authorities.
In the event that Tarec Gorilla Safaris is required to cancel a safari prior to departure due to circumstances within our control, clients will be offered either a full refund of monies paid to Tarec Gorilla Safaris (excluding third-party permit costs where already disbursed) or an alternative safari of equivalent value.
Tarec Gorilla Safaris accepts no liability for any consequential losses, including but not limited to flight costs, visa fees, or other pre-booked travel arrangements arising from itinerary amendments or cancellations.
7. Prices & Inclusions
All prices quoted by Tarec Gorilla Safaris are based on the information and exchange rates current at the time of quotation. Tarec Gorilla Safaris reserves the right to adjust prices in the event of significant changes in government taxes, park fees, permit costs, fuel levies, or currency fluctuations occurring after the date of the initial quotation and prior to full payment being received.
Once full payment has been received, prices are guaranteed and will not be subject to surcharge.
Each safari quotation will clearly specify what is included and excluded. Unless explicitly stated otherwise in your confirmed itinerary, the following general guidelines apply:
Typically Included: All accommodation as specified in the itinerary, all meals as specified, all safari activities and game drives as specified, gorilla or chimpanzee trekking permits as specified, ground transportation in a Tarec Gorilla Safaris vehicle with a professional driver-guide, park entrance fees as specified, and a Tarec Gorilla Safaris representative at Entebbe or Kigali airport.
Typically Not Included: International and domestic airfares, airport departure taxes, visa fees, travel and medical insurance, personal spending money, tips and gratuities, items of a personal nature such as laundry and phone calls, beverages unless specified, optional activities not listed in the itinerary, and any costs arising from circumstances beyond Tarec Gorilla Safaris' control.
8. Gorilla & Wildlife Permit Conditions
Gorilla trekking permits and chimpanzee tracking permits are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and are subject to the rules and regulations of those authorities.
Gorilla trekking permits entitle the holder to one hour in the presence of a habituated mountain gorilla family, subject to the discretion of the park rangers. The Uganda Wildlife Authority and Rwanda Development Board reserve the right to limit, suspend, or redirect any trek at any time on the grounds of animal welfare, safety, or weather conditions. In such an event, no refund of the permit cost will be made by either the relevant authority or Tarec Gorilla Safaris.
Permit holders must be a minimum of 15 years of age. Visitors who are visibly unwell, showing symptoms of illness including colds, flu, or respiratory infection, may be denied access to the gorillas by park rangers, as mountain gorillas are highly susceptible to human-transmitted diseases. No refund will be given in such circumstances. Tarec Gorilla Safaris strongly advises clients to take all reasonable health precautions prior to travel.
All permit holders must adhere to the gorilla trekking rules issued by the relevant national park authority, including maintaining a minimum distance of seven metres from the gorillas at all times unless the gorillas approach voluntarily, not eating or drinking in the presence of the gorillas, and following all ranger instructions without exception.
9. Travel Insurance
Tarec Gorilla Safaris considers comprehensive travel insurance mandatory for all clients. Clients must be covered for, at minimum, the following:
- Trip cancellation and curtailment
- Emergency medical treatment and evacuation
- Emergency medical evacuation by air, including from remote national park locations
- Personal accident and death
- Loss or theft of personal property and baggage
- Personal liability
Travel insurance is the sole responsibility of the client. Tarec Gorilla Safaris will not be held liable for any costs, losses, or damages arising from a client's failure to obtain adequate insurance coverage.
10. Health, Fitness & Medical Conditions
Gorilla trekking and certain other activities offered by Tarec Gorilla Safaris involve walking through challenging terrain, including steep slopes, dense forest, and high altitudes, for periods that may extend to several hours. Clients must assess their own fitness and health before booking and should consult their medical practitioner if they have any concerns.
Clients are required to disclose any pre-existing medical conditions that may affect their ability to participate in safari activities at the time of booking. Tarec Gorilla Safaris reserves the right to decline or modify a booking if, in its reasonable opinion, a client's medical condition may pose a risk to themselves, other clients, staff, or wildlife.
Clients travelling to Uganda and Rwanda are advised to consult a travel health specialist regarding recommended vaccinations, malaria prophylaxis, and other health precautions well in advance of travel. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for entry into Uganda.
11. Passports, Visas & Entry Requirements
It is the sole responsibility of each client to ensure they hold a valid passport and all required visas for Uganda, Rwanda, and any other countries included in their itinerary. Passports must be valid for a minimum of six months beyond the intended travel dates.
Tarec Gorilla Safaris can provide guidance on visa requirements but accepts no responsibility for any client who is denied entry to any country due to insufficient travel documentation.
12. Client Conduct & Responsibilities
Clients are expected to conduct themselves in a respectful and responsible manner toward Tarec Gorilla Safaris staff, other travellers, local communities, and wildlife at all times. Tarec Gorilla Safaris reserves the right to terminate the safari of any client whose behaviour is deemed by our staff to be dangerous, threatening, abusive, or disrespectful to people, communities, or wildlife without refund of any unused portion of the safari cost.
Clients are responsible for following all instructions issued by Tarec Gorilla Safaris guides, rangers, and relevant national park authorities. Failure to comply with ranger or guide instructions in national parks — particularly in the presence of wildlife — can result in exclusion from activities without refund.
13. Liability & Indemnity
Tarec Gorilla Safaris acts as a principal operator for services it directly provides and as an agent for third-party suppliers including airlines, lodges, camps, and national park authorities. Tarec Gorilla Safaris accepts responsibility for the quality of services it directly controls but does not accept liability for acts, omissions, or failures of third-party suppliers.
Participation in safari activities — including gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, walking safaris, boat safaris, and game drives — involves inherent risks in wild and sometimes remote environments. By confirming a booking with Tarec Gorilla Safaris, clients acknowledge these inherent risks and agree to participate at their own risk.
Tarec Gorilla Safaris shall not be liable for any injury, illness, death, loss, damage, expense, or delay arising from circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including acts of God, political unrest, government actions, pandemics, epidemics, extreme weather, natural disasters, or wildlife behaviour.
14. Privacy & Data Protection
Tarec Gorilla Safaris collects personal data from clients solely for the purposes of processing bookings, securing permits and accommodation, and fulfilling the services described in the confirmed itinerary. Client data is handled with strict confidentiality and will not be sold or shared with third parties other than where necessary to complete the services booked.
By submitting a booking form, clients consent to Tarec Gorilla Safaris processing and storing their personal data for these purposes.
15. Complaints & Disputes
In the unlikely event of a complaint, clients are encouraged to raise the matter directly with their Tarec Gorilla Safaris guide or representative at the earliest opportunity so that every effort can be made to resolve it during the safari.
Complaints not resolved during the safari must be submitted in writing to Tarec Gorilla Safaris within 30 days of the safari's conclusion. Tarec Gorilla Safaris will acknowledge all written complaints within 7 working days and respond fully within 28 working days.
Tarec Gorilla Safaris is committed to resolving all disputes fairly and in good faith. These terms and conditions are governed by the laws of the Republic of Uganda.
16. Acceptance of Terms
By paying the required deposit and confirming a booking with Tarec Gorilla Safaris, the lead client confirms that they have read, understood, and accepted these Booking Terms and Conditions on behalf of all members of their travelling party.
Tarec Gorilla Safaris — Trusted Safari Experts in the Pearl of Africa and the Land of a Thousand Hills.
For enquiries, bookings, and further information, please contact us: 📧 info@tarecgorillasafaris.com 📞 +1-643-63476374