TERMS and CONDITIONS

Booking

To book your tour, contact Arcturus Tours at Tours@BackToArcturus.com. Reservations should be made well in advance as some lodges are limited in size and sell out quickly, especially in high seasons. To assure your first choice of accommodation, an early reservation is essential.

A non-refundable deposit equal to 25% of the total tour cost is required to book your space. If start of tour is within 45 days of booking, full payment will be required with deposit. Tours booked 30 days or less prior to start of tour may require a $50 late booking fee.

Final payment is due 45 days prior to start of the tour. All payments must be paid by bank transfer, money order, or check – payable to Arcturus Enterprises.

Late Booking

Reservations are taken up to 2 weeks prior to start of tour and are based on availability. The late booking fee is $50 per person. A fee for additional communications, faxes, and express mail costs will be charged when applicable.

Confirmation

Confirmation and initial tour information will be mailed upon receipt of deposit. Final documents will be mailed approximately 4 weeks prior to departure.

Revisions

A fee of $100 will be charged for a revision to a confirmed booking.

Payment

All payments are to be made by bank transfer, money order, or check. Charges and fees for bank transfers are the sole responsibility of the tour participant. A fee of $35 will be charged for returned checks. Arcturus Enterprises does not accept payment by credit card.

Cancellations

All cancellations must be submitted in writing through email, fax, or US mail (the postmark on the envelope will confirm the actual date of receipt). Cancellations received up to 60 days prior to start of tour will be subject to a cancellation fee of $350 per person. If received less than 60 days prior to start of tour, cancellations carry the following charges:

59-49 days prior to start of tour, 50% of entire tour cost
48-38 days prior to start of tour, 75% of entire tour cost
37 days or less to start of tour and no-shows, 100% of entire tour cost

Rates

Rates are based on group travel. Minimum group size is usually 10 persons. If the number of participants falls below the minimum, the tour will be evaluated and, if applicable, participants will be responsible for additional monies. Participants will be notified 60 days prior to departure. Arcturus Enterprises reserves the right to increase tour prices due to fluctuations in tariffs, taxes, fees, foreign rates of exchange, or other costs.

Airline fares are subject to change without notice. Fares are only guaranteed upon group payment in full and actual issuance of airline tickets. Any changes in costs will result in a fluctuation of tour rates.

Accommodation

Accommodation will be provided as specified in the itinerary, or similar, is based on two persons sharing a room with private or shared bath or shower. Arcturus Enterprises reserves the right to substitute hotels, resorts, lodges, or camps when necessary. Single occupancy accommodation is available at an additional cost as indicated in the program. If a single room must be utilized due to unavailability of a roommate, or the roommate’s cancellation, the single occupancy supplement will be applied.

Meals

Meals are provided as specified in each program.
(B) – Breakfast, (L) – Table d’hote Lunch, (D) – Table d’hote Dinner

Transfers and Baggage

Transfers between airports, rail stations, motor coach terminals, hired auto stands, and accommodation are provided throughout with two pieces of luggage per person. Where specified, you will be permitted one bag, of the soft type, which should not weigh more than 25 pounds. Excess baggage should be stored at participant's expense. Responsibility for luggage is at owner's own risk throughout the entire tour. All luggage is required to have outside identification.

Sightseeing

As specified in each itinerary, sightseeing is in the most modern and comfortable transportation equipment available with English-speaking guides.

Responsibilities

It is the responsibility of the tour participant to arrive on time for all scheduled tour activities. No refunds are given to participants who miss any or all of the tour. If the tour participant misses any flights or pre-scheduled departures, it will be the responsibility of the individual participant to incur any additional costs to rejoin the tour that is in progress. All tours will leave promptly from designated locations.

Health

Tour arrangements are intended for persons of reasonably good health and without physical disabilities which would create a hazard either for the participants or other participants. By forwarding deposit for the tour booking, the participant certifies that she/he does not have any physical disability that might create a hazard for themselves or other tour participants. Arcturus Enterprises reserves the right to decline to accept or retain any person as a tour participant should such person's health or mental condition impede the operation of the tour.

Visas / Immunizations

Visa and immunization requirements vary from country to country and up-to-date information should be obtained from your consulate and local health department. Visas may be required for destinations in the tour programs and this information may be obtained from your local consulates. Arcturus Enterprises takes no responsibility for any health requirements in Africa, although, where possible, Arcturus will try to provide current information.

Documents

Travel documents, including passports, visas, health certificates, proof of immunization, and any other documents required for the tour are the participant's responsibility and must be in order before participating in the tour. A valid passport will be required of all travelers (US travelers should verify passport will be valid six months beyond return date to the United States).

Insurance

Arcturus Enterprises recommends that you purchase insurance before beginning your tour. This includes insurance for trip cancellation, major medical, theft, and loss of personal effects, emergency medical evacuation, and accidental death and disability.

Not Included

Tour prices do not include origin/return airfares, costs of obtaining passports, visas, immunizations, excess baggage charges, gratuities, all items of a personal nature such as drinks, laundry, telephone calls and cables, meals not specified in the itinerary, personal, baggage, and travel insurance, and local airport taxes. All US and international taxes and fees imposed by governments and airlines are not included in the tour rates.

Gratuities

Tips to tour guides, waiters, hotel staff, baggage handlers, and game rangers are not included and are at the tour participant’s discretion.

Liability

Arcturus Enterprises, LLC and/or its agent(s) acts only as an agent to the tour participant in all matters relating to travel and for the various companies over the lines which tickets have been made available and those tours operate - and as such, assume no responsibility for any delay, change in schedule, loss, injury, and damage to, or in the respect of, any person or property, however caused, or arising in connection with, the service of any trains, vehicles, carriages, aircraft, or other conveyances or hotel which may be sued, whether wholly or in part, in the performance of its duty to the passenger. The airlines concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission, or event during the time the passenger is not on board their plane or conveyance. The passenger’s contract, in use by the airline concerned, when issued, shall constitute the sole contract between the airline and the purchaser of this tour. The right to withdraw any tour in this program at any time, to refuse any person these features and services, and to make changes and alterations in the itineraries, hotels, or sightseeing as may be found desirable for the convenience of the parties and the proper carrying out of the tours, is specifically reserved by Arcturus Enterprises.

Obligations

The participant, by engaging Arcturus Enterprises and making deposit and/or full payment for tour and travel arrangements specified, acknowledges the position of Arcturus Enterprises as stipulated by the foregoing, agrees to hold Arcturus Enterprises blameless in making arrangements on her/his behalf, provided same shall be made through generally accepted owners, suppliers, wholesalers, and/or contractors at the time of engagement, and further agrees that restitution damages, if any are claimed, shall be sought directly from the owners, suppliers, wholesalers, and/or contractors. The participant further agrees to abide by the terms and conditions of this proposal of Arcturus Enterprises for services to be performed. In addition, the participant acknowledges that insurance is available that would provide compensation for such items as lost baggage, theft, medical care, and trip interruption, and that acquisition of such insurance is the responsibility of the participant.

Force Majeure

The participant recognizes that Arcturus Enterprises, LLC is not responsible for circumstances beyond its control, including, without limitation, acts of God, explosion, tempest, fire, accident, war, threats of war, sabotage, sickness, insurrection, government intervention, weather conditions, quarantine, civil disturbances, or armed conflict. Arcturus Enterprises will use its best efforts to reschedule or alter tours affected by any of the foregoing, but is not under any obligation to refund any portion of the cost of the tour or to reimburse the participant in any way, even if forced to cancel a trip as a result - although Arcturus Enterprises will, where possible, make refunds after deducting a reasonable amount to cover actual and potential costs. In the event that Arcturus Enterprises investigates the prevailing situation, and decides, at its sole discretion, that the tour can go forward, but the participant elects to cancel, then no refund will be payable and the provisions regarding payment and cancellation will apply. These provisions also apply to delays and cancellations involving carriage by land, sea, and air, including those involving travel to and from the destination. The participant understands that such delays are beyond the control of Arcturus Enterprises, and that the participant must look to the terms and conditions established by the carrier and to international conventions for any remedy or relief.

Air Penalties

The airfares included in the tour itineraries are non-refundable. Once the ticket is issued the ticket cannot be refunded. It may be used towards future travel on the same carrier with additional fees charged for revisions and changes to the original ticket. All issued airline tickets are non-transferable - the name can not be changed on the airline ticket. For changes and deviations, a fee of $25 per person will be charged for each change after the deposit is made. After documents are issued, no changes will be allowed.

Baggage

Airline baggage allowance guidelines and limits with regard to number of pieces, linear measurements, and weight vary according to domestic, international and internal African carriers. Based on air carriers in your itinerary, check with the airline for baggage allowances. Any loss or delay must be settled directly with the airline.

Disclosure Notice

Please be aware that during your participation in an Arcturus Enterprises tour, certain risks and dangers may arise including, but not limited to, the hazards of traveling in undeveloped areas, travel by boat, train, automobile, aircraft, or other means of conveyance, the forces of nature, political unrest and accident, or illness in remote regions without means of rapid evacuation or medical facilities. Also be aware and clearly understand that Arcturus Enterprises will not have liability regarding provision of medical care or the adequacy of any care that may be rendered.
You are voluntarily participating in these activities with the knowledge of the dangers, if any, involved and hereby agree to accept any risks.

As lawful consideration for the agreement with Arcturus Enterprises to participate in such trips and activities, you hereby agree that you will not make a claim against Arcturus Enterprises, or sue for bodily injury, emotional trauma, death, and/or property damage, however caused, as a result of your participation in the tour. You therefore release Arcturus Enterprises and its employees and associates from any and all claims, known or unknown, arising from your participation in a tour. Customer herein agrees that the total amount of liability of Arcturus Enterprises and its employees and associates, if any, for any and all claims arising out of or related to these terms and conditions or performance hereunder shall not exceed $25.00 regardless of the nature of the claim.

This release of Liability and Assumption of Risk agreement is entered into on behalf of all members of your family including minors accompanying you. This agreement is binding on your heirs, legal representatives and assigns. If any portion of this agreement is unenforceable, the remaining portions shall remain in full force and effect.

Any litigation involving this contract, any informative materials, brochures, website, or your trip can be brought only in courts of competent jurisdiction in the District of Columbia and District of Columbia law will be applicable to any disputes which arise out of your trip.