Terms & Conditions
Payment of the program price constitutes your full understanding and acceptance of the terms and conditions set out below:
DEPOSIT
Guaranteed (non-refundable) deposit is due at time of booking. The balance is due 70 days prior to departure. Travel Cancellation and Interruption Insurance, which is strongly recommended, must be purchased along with your air ticket.
CURRENCY
Although we are a Canadian company, our international operating costs are paid in U.S. dollars. Thus, all tour prices are also listed in U.S. dollars. We will accept Canadian dollars at the current Bank Rate. We are not responsible for bank exchange rates on credit card transactions.
PAYMENT POLICY
Guaranteed balance of payment required seventy (70) days prior to departure. If the balance is not paid by the stipulated date, the agents has the reserved right to cancel the booking(s) without further notice and without refund of deposit. Tour quotes do not include airfare to/from the trip starting point.
All socially responsible safaris are sold and administered through Northstar Travel (TICO Reg# 2569684) , a registered Ontario company, licensed to sell travel packages through the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO). We are required to keep all customer deposits in Client Trust Accounts and may only use the funds once the trip has begun, or to make a deposit to an operator on behalf of the client.
CANCELLATIONS
Cancellations received more than 70 days prior to departure will incur loss of the non-refundable deposit as specified above. Cancellations received 0-69 days prior to departure will be levied a fee of 100% of the tour cost and will not receive any refund as these funds have already been sent over to the destination of travel. In the event of a tour being cancelled by an airline and/or government travel advisory, a traveller should submit the required documentation to their travel insurance company for trip cost refund, as per their travel insurance policy. Check with your travel agent as to what conditions and charges apply if you cancel your flight and/or land reservations, or if your trip is cancelled by a government travel advisory. There will be no refund for unused land arrangements after departure. All cancellations are required in writing.
DELAYS
In the event of an unexpected delay, passengers will be responsible for all costs and expenses associated therewith, including, without limitation, any additional food, lodging, transportation costs, or charge fees resulting from such delays. Should the tour be interrupted for any reason, repatriation costs and expenses relating to prepaid travel expenses will be at the sole cost of the client. There will be no refund for any portion of the tour already taken. Thus, we highly recommend that passengers obtain full travel insurance coverage (see below).
INSURANCE
All passengers are STRONGLY URGED to take out adequate insurance coverage (i.e. medical, cancellation, interruption, baggage, etc.) to protect themselves against cancellation (whether due to illness, or to unforeseen events such as COVID-19) prior to, or during travel. In the event of a traveller becoming ill during a tour, all hospital and medical expenses are the traveller’s responsibility and they shall not be entitled to any refund, either total or partial, of passage money paid. In the event of a tour being cancelled by an airline and/or a government travel advisory, a traveller should submit the required documentation to their travel insurance company for trip cost refund, as per their travel insurance policy. Check with your travel agent as to what conditions and charges apply if you cancel your flight and/or land reservations, or if your trip is cancelled by a government travel advisory.
FORCE MAJEURE
We shall not be liable for any claims, losses, damages, costs, expenses, delays or loss of enjoyment, of any nature or kind whatsoever, resulting from events beyond our or a supplier’s reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, strikes, lockouts or other labour disputes or disruptions, wars, acts of terrorism, blockades, insurrections, riots, earthquakes, weather conditions, floods or acts or restraints imposed by government authorities.
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
Travel documents and tickets (if purchased from Northstar Travel), joining and departure details, supplier addresses and phone contacts will be sent upon receipt of final payment.
PASSPORTS/VISAS
A passport valid for six months beyond date of travel is required for entry into all countries. Visas may be required for certain countries; please inquire with your agent for details. Please check with your agent at time of booking if visas are still required for these or other countries. If you are not travelling on an American or Canadian passport, it is imperative that you also check visa requirements for all of the destinations you will be travelling to or transiting through.
PRICES
Because of the volatility of exchange rates for many of the destinations offered, we recommend you confirm the price at time of booking. All prices are subject to change or surcharge. Once we have received your deposit you will be given the opportunity to pay in full to avoid a price increase (should it occur) or cancel your booking without penalty.
LIVING STANDARDS
Living Standards and practices at your destination may be different from those in North America with respect to provisions of utilities, services, transportation, and accommodation.
ASSUMPTION OF RESPONSIBILITY
All socially responsible safaris are sold and administered by Northstar Travel, and its agents act only as agents for the client in matters pertaining to travel. They assume no responsibility nor liability in connection with the service of any train, vessel, carriage, aircraft, motor or other conveyances which may be used, either wholly or in part, in the performance of its duty to the passenger; neither will it be responsible for any act, error, or omission, or any injury, loss, accident, delay or irregularity which may be occasioned by reason of any defect in any vehicle or through the neglect or default of any company or person engaged in conveying the passenger; or for any hotel proprietor, or hotel service, or for any other person engaged in carrying out the purpose for which tickets or coupons are issued. In the event that it becomes necessary or advisable for the comfort or well being of the passengers, or for any reason whatsoever, to alter the itinerary or arrangements, such alterations may be made without penalty to the operators. Additional expenses, if any, shall be borne by the passengers, and conversely a refund will be made to the passengers if any saving is effected thereby. The Airlines concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission, or event, during the time passengers are not on board their planes or conveyance. The passage contract in use by the Airlines concerned, when issued, shall constitute the sole contract between the Airlines and the purchaser of these tours and/or passenger. The right is reserved to withdraw any or all tours should conditions warrant, also to decline to accept or retain any passengers as members of the tours. Northstar Travel, Socially Responsible Safaris, and/or its agents can assume no responsibility for lost tickets, vouchers, or coupons.
By signing up for a trip, the passenger hereby certifies that he/she does not have a mental, physical, or other condition or disability that would create a hazard for him/her or other passengers. The passenger agrees to honestly complete the personal information request from Northstar Travel via its website or by requesting paper copies, prior to departure. Any client purchasing a socially responsible safari sold and/or administered by Northstar Travel agrees to provide information from the passenger’s physician in the event the information is requested. The passenger clearly understands that the liability of participating in a socially responsible safari sold and/or administered by Northstar Travel is definitively limited as aforementioned. The passenger has carefully read the terms and conditions set out herein as well as the materials regarding the tour provided by Northstar Travel and is aware that such tours involve the risk of personal injury or death and damage or loss of property. The passenger also acknowledges that risk and dangers may occur on a socially responsible safari sold and/or administered by Northstar Travel, and any negligence by its owners, directors, employees, contractors, officers, guides, other participants or agents cannot lead to liability. The passenger acknowledges that risk and dangers may arise from foreseeable and unforeseeable causes, including weather and other acts of nature. The passenger acknowledges that the aforementioned risks, dangers and hazards are a potential in connection with recreational activities which may take place during the passenger’s tour. In consideration of the benefits to be derived from participation in the tour, the passenger voluntarily accepts all risk of personal injury or death and property damage or other loss arising from participation on the tour and hereby agrees that he/she and his/her dependants, heirs, executors, administrators, legal personal representatives, successors and assigns, do release and hold harmless anyone associated with a socially responsible safari sold and/or administered by Northstar Travel, such as, but not limited to, its owners, employees, officers, directors, agents, contractors, trustees and representatives from any and all claims, including claims of negligence, illness, personal injury, death or property damage or loss, however caused, arising from or related to this tour.
The passenger has read carefully these terms and conditions for participating in a socially responsible safari, and will abide by the conditions set out by Northstar Travel in the terms and conditions hereof or elsewhere published. The passenger affirms that he/she has not received or relied on any oral or written representation of Northstar Travel as a basis for agreeing to the release contained in these terms and conditions.
Important: Payment of the program price constitutes your full understanding and acceptance of the terms and conditions set out above.