Terms and Conditions

Reservations & Bookings
Bookings can be made directly with African Travel Specialists (‘ATS’), India Tours & Travel Specialists (‘ITTS’), Croatia Travel Specialists (‘CTS’), South American Travel Specialists (‘SATS’) & Antarctic Travel Specialists (‘AnTS’) or through recognized providers of agency/consultancy services (referred to as ‘Travel Agents’).

Passenger Details
We require the correct names and initials of all people travelling in order to make bookings. The names and initials must match exactly to each traveller’s passport so as to avoid any problems with bookings. Should the wrong information be given, ATS, ITTS, CTS, SATS & AnTS reserve the right to charge additional fees to cover additional administrative costs to re-book or re-ticket the bookings under the correct name.

Deposit & Balance
A non-refundable security deposit of 10% of the tour price, with a minimum of $330.00 per person plus a signed booking form is payable at the time of booking. Payment of deposit represents acceptance of ATS, ITTS, CTS, SATS & AnTS Terms & Conditions by the purchaser and/or passenger/s. The balance is payable 60 days prior to departure, or immediately if travelling within 60 days of booking. Any monies you pay to your Travel Agent shall not be taken to have been paid to us unless and until we actually receive them.

Special Deposit Requirements
Some of the tours and ground arrangements such as Rovos Rail, Blue Train, Shongololo Safari Train, Fly-in safaris and lodge & camping trips in Botswana, South Africa, Zimbabwe, etc may require a higher deposit to meet the tour operator’s booking conditions. These are usually between 20% to 50% of tour cost. Some permits like Gorilla & Chimp trekking permits will require full payment immediately as cannot be arranged without full payment. Please contact ATS, ITTS, CTS, SATS & AnTS for further details on the particular trip.

Late Bookings and Amendment Fees
A late booking fee of $100.00 per file will be charged for bookings made within 14 days of departure. Should you wish to amend your arrangements or transfer to another trip, due to the extra administrative and communications costs incurred, there will be an automatic fee charged of $50.00 per amendment or transfer. Additionally, there may be cancellation fees levied by the tour operator or fees may be applicable where arrangements have been pre-purchased. A land only fee of $55.00 will be charged on land only bookings under 3 nights accommodation.

Prices
All prices are quoted in Australian Dollars and are current at the time of printing. They are generally valid from 01 October 2014 to 30 September 2015, although some expeditions have different periods of validity so prices will vary accordingly. Most prices are based on low season unless stated otherwise. All prices are indicative only and are subject to change at any time up to and including the day of your departure. As our costings are based on conversions from foreign currencies, should the cost of any component of your package increase due to foreign currency fluctuations, ATS, ITTS, CTS, SATS & AnTS may charge that cost to you at any time prior to ATS receiving the full balance of monies due and the final documentation having been issued to you. Should additional taxes or Government charges or unforeseen new costs be payable or incurred, ATS, ITTS, CTS, SATS & AnTS may charge these costs to you at any time, even after your departure.

Maldives
The Maldives Government introduced a 6% GST from January 2013. Prices have been adjusted accordingly.

GST
From 01 July 2000, the Australian government has introduced a 10% GST and even though at present overseas travel is exempt from GST, any service fees, courier, cancellation and amendment fees are subject to GST. We, therefore, reserve the right to vary the costing to incorporate the GST where applicable.

Included in Trip Price
Specific trip and accommodation inclusions are generally listed. Meals are not included unless specified in the itinerary. Meals are indicated by B=Breakfast, L = Lunch and D = Dinner.

Breakdown of Costing
As all ATS, ITTS, CTS, SATS & AnTS tours, packages, stopovers, car hire, train trips, fly-in packages, etc and other arrangements are based on confidential and specially negotiated rates, we reserve the right and will not give out nor supply a breakdown of costs at any time.

Game Park Fees and Government Charges
Please refer to the particular trip for details, however, game park fees and park entrance fees may be payable direct to the park authorities especially where the local regulations require them not to be paid in advance. Game park fees and park entrance fees are subject to change without notice. Also Government charges, for example entrance fees to certain sites, are subject to change and/or increase without notice. ATS reserves the right to charge extra for either, game park fees, park entrance fees or government charges, should they increase at any time, even after full payment has been received, without notice.

Airport/Ticket Taxes
Ticket taxes, airport taxes etc are subject to change without notice. Some airport taxes are not included on your air ticket are payable on departure from some international airports. These are usually payable in US Dollars in cash; exact amounts are required as no change is given.

Cancellation Fees and Refunds
Any cancellations must be received in writing and will take effect from the date it is received by ATS, ITTS, CTS, SATS & AnTS. The following cancellation fees will apply for tour costs:

More than 60 days before departure: Loss of Deposit 59 - 41 days before departure: 40% 40 – 35 days 60% Under 35 days or less: No refund

The exceptions are those amounts that can be refunded, such as airfares (less those amounts forfeited under airline regulations and loss of profit incurred by ATS, ITTS, CTS, SATS & AnTS). Should payment be received in advance of 60 days, for example in the case when payment is made to avoid increases due to currency fluctuations, ATS, ITTS, CTS, SATS & AnTS reserves the right to charge cancellation fees of up to 100%, especially where full payment has been made to our ground handlers, hoteliers, and airlines etc. Whilst insurance premiums are not refundable, should the reason for cancellation fall within the terms of the insurance cover, cancellation fees will normally be refunded by the insurance company. The non- issuance of an invoice or non-payment of deposit will not exempt passengers from these cancellation and administrative fees. We regret that we can make no exception to the charges and strongly recommend that insurance is taken out to cover cancellation fees (see Insurance below). There will be no refunds on unused tours, accommodation or other services.

Travel Insurance
It is a condition of booking that you are adequately insured for the full duration of your trip. We recommend a comprehensive travel insurance to cover cancellation, health requirements, luggage and additional expenses, in particular to cover emergency evacuation. Further we recommend a separate insurance cover for expensive camera and video and other equipment. Further we advise that insurance policies rarely cover for loss of cash. We strongly recommend that insurance be purchased at the time of booking. Should you not take out insurance, we cannot be held responsible for costs incurred (including cancellation fees) arising from circumstances outside our control.

Passport
ATS
You should be in possession of a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended stay in Africa with at least 6 spare visa pages.

ITTS
You should be in possession of a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended stay in India, Sri Lanka or the Maldives, with at least 2 spare (blank) visa pages.

CTS
You should be in possession of a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended stay in Croatia with at least 6 spare visa pages.

SATS
You should be in possession of a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended stay in South America with at least 6 spare visa pages.

AnTS
You should be in possession of a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended stay in Antarctica with at least 6 spare visa pages.

Visa Requirements
ATS
Australian passport holders currently require visas for Zimbabwe and Zambia (issued on arrival at a fee), Tanzania, Kenya and many West African, Central African and North African countries. Other nationalities require a re-entry permit to Australia and may require additional visas to the above. Please contact ATS for further details.

ITTS
All foreign nationals (except Nepalese & Bhutanese nationals) require a visa for India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The tourist visa is valid for 6 months, and needs to be obtained prior to your departure. It is advisable to check with your travel agent or ITTS at the time of booking as regulations and charges can change.

CTS
Australian passport holders do not require a visa for Croatia for stays of up to 30 Days. For other destinations in the brochure or for visa requirements for other passport holders please contact CTS.

SATS
Australian passport holders do not require a visa to enter Ecuador (Galapagos), Peru, Venezuela, Colombia or Uruguay for stays less than 90 days for tourism purposes or for Bolivia for stays of less than 30 days. Visas are usually required for the other South American countries including: Brazil – must be arranged prior to arrival in Brazil Chile - a reciprocity fee is payable on arrival and is required to enter Chile (payable locally). Argentina - a reciprocity tourist charge is required to enter Argentina and must be paid through an on-line system prior to arrival. Please contact SATS for further details.

AnTS
Australian passport holders do not require a visa for New Zealand or Antarctica, however they will require visas for countries prior to their arrival in Antarctica eg Argentina & Chile. A reciprocity fee is payable on arrival and is required to enter Chile (payable locally). A reciprocity tourist charge is required to enter Argentina and must be paid through an on-line system prior to arrival. Please contact AnTS for further details.

Vaccinations & Health
ATS
For most trips to Africa, the following vaccinations may be required and recommended: Yellow Fever (Compulsory for Zambia, East Africa and many countries in Central & North Africa), Typhoid, Meningitis, Hepatitis A, (maybe Hepatitis B for longer visits) Polio, Diphtheria, Cholera, Tetanus and Malaria. Whilst these vary depending on the countries visited, length of time away and the type of accommodation and transport used, we recommend that these and your other health needs be discussed with your doctor or specialist travel medical centre. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the appropriate vaccinations and documentation.

ITTS
For most trips to India, the following vaccinations may be recommended: Hepatitis, Tetanus, Typhoid, Cholera and Malaria prophylaxis. Whilst these vary depending on the length of stay away and the type of travel transportation and accommodation used, we do recommend that these and your other health needs be discussed with your doctor or specialist travel medical centre. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the appropriate vaccinations and documentation.

CTS
No vaccinations are compulsory for Croatia, however we do recommend that these and your other health needs be discussed with your doctor or specialist travel medical centre. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the appropriate vaccinations and documentation.

SATS
For South America, the following vaccinations may be required and recommended: Yellow Fever – Compulsory for Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela, Argentina Typhoid, Meningitis, Hepatitis A, (maybe Hepatitis B for longer visits) Polio, Diphtheria, Cholera, Tetanus and Malaria – Strongly recommended Rabies – Strongly considered for Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Paraguay, Argentina. Whilst these vary depending on the countries visited, length of time away and the type of accommodation and transport used, we recommend that these and your other health needs be discussed with your doctor or specialist travel medical centre. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the appropriate vaccinations and documentation.

AnTS
As most trips to Antarctica require travel through South America to get there – the following vaccinations may be required and recommended: Yellow Fever, Typhoid, Meningitis, Hepatitis A, (maybe Hepatitis B for longer visits) Polio, Diptheria, Cholera, Tetanus and Malaria. Whilst these vary depending on the countries visited, length of time away and the type of accommodation and transport used, we recommend that these and other health needs be discussed with your doctor or specialist travel medical centre. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the appropriate vaccinations and documentation.

Currency
ATS Each country in Africa has its own currency. It is strongly recommended that you carry some US dollars cash in small denominations, (not US$ 100 bills) as well as credit cards such as Visa or Mastercard. Foreign currency can be changed into local currency at banks, authorized money exchanges and your hotel.

ITTS
The currency of India is the rupee (Rs). Rupees in large numbers may not be brought out of India. UK Pounds/US Dollars are easy to exchange at the cashier’s desk in the hotel, requiring a valid passport. Always keep your receipt/certificate to re-convert at the end of your trip. Major credit cards are gaining acceptance in India, especially American Express & Visa card. Local markets and vendors generally do not accept cards. It is recommended that you carry a combination of cash, travellers cheques and credit cards.

CTS
You should take most of your money in travellers cheques in Euros. It is strongly recommended that you carry some Euro cash in small denominations, as well as credit cards such as Visa or Mastercard.

SATS Each country in South America has its own currency. It is strongly recommended that you carry some US dollars cash in small denominations, (not US$ 100 bills) as well as credit cards such as Visa or Mastercard. Foreign currency can be changed into local currency at banks, authorized money exchanges and your hotel.

AnTS
It is strongly recommended that you carry some US dollars cash in small denominations, (not US$ 100 bills) as well as credit cards such as Visa or Mastercard.

Extensions and Amendments
Not possible after a holiday has commenced.

Hotel and Tour Information
Whilst every effort is taken to ensure the accuracy of hotel and tour information, we rely on the information supplied to us. As all hotels and tour operators are constantly changing services and facilities, we cannot be liable for any errors or omissions caused by the hotels and operators concerned.

Changes In Itinerary
As we are only an agent for airlines, hotels, tour operators and other Service Providers (see below under “Responsibility and Liability”) your booking may be required to be changed or cancelled due to circumstances outside our control; for example, if a hotel is overbooked or an airline changes its timetable or reschedules its flights or if a tour is cancelled. Further, at certain times of the year, due to heavy bookings, we may not be able to obtain the accommodation advertised. In this case, we will use alternative accommodation of a similar standard, or the next best available. Accordingly we reserve the right to vary your itinerary or cancel your booking at any time.

Not Included in the Holiday Cost
Costs of passports or visas, meals (other than those specified), all items of a personal nature such as excess baggage, telephone calls, laundry, room service, airport taxes and government taxes (other than accommodation taxes) any costs in Australia, Australian Passenger Movement Charge, Sydney Noise Levy Tax and any international taxes and travel Insurance.

Passenger Contact Advice
You must notify us or your Travel Agent of any changes of address or telephone numbers to ensure any variations to the arrangements can be notified within 24 hours.

Responsibility and Liability
African Travel Specialists, India Tours & Travel Specialists, Croatia Travel Specialists, South American Travel Specialists, & Antarctic Travel Specialists (divisions of Four Corners Travel Group Pty Ltd ACN 004 712 734), (referred to as “ATS, ITTS, CTS, SATS or AnTS”) does not itself provide carriage services, accommodation, transport or tours. ATS, ITTS, CTS, SATS & AnTS act as an agent for accommodation providers, air, coach, shipping, rail, and other carriage or transport providers , tour operators and other service and product providers (referred to as ‘Service Providers’). All products and services provided by Service Providers are provided on those Service Providers’ own terms and conditions, which may include limitations and exclusions of liability. All bookings with ATS, ITTS, CTS, SATS or AnTS and all tickets, vouchers, receipts, coupons, exchange orders and other like documents issued to the client, are subject to each Service Provider’s terms and conditions governing the provision of products and services to be provided by that Service Provider.

ATS, ITTS, CTS, SATS & AnTS shall not be liable for any acts, omissions or defaults whether negligent or otherwise, of any Service Providers. ATS, ITTS, CTS, SATS & AnTS shall also not be liable (whether in contract, tort or otherwise) for any injury, illness, death, loss, damage, expense, delay or inconvenience resulting directly or indirectly from circumstances outside ATS, ITTS, CTS, SATS & AnTS ‘s control, including acts of God, war, civil disturbance, strikes, fire, flood, acts of government or other authorities, breakdowns, accidents, disease, quarantine, medical or customs regulations, and alterations, cancellations or delays concerning itineraries, timetables or accommodation.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, ATS, ITTS, CTS, SATS & AnTS shall not be liable for loss of revenue, loss of profits, loss of anticipated savings or business, pure economic loss, loss of opportunity or expectation or any other form of consequential, special, indirect, punitive or exemplary loss or damages.

Your Travel Agent is not acting as our agent. We will not be responsible for any information, statements or representations (whether orally or in writing) not made by us, or that are inconsistent with this brochure.

Contract
The contract between ATS, ITTS, CTS, SATS or AnTS and the client shall be governed by the laws of the State of Victoria. By making a booking with ATS, ITTS, CTS, SATS or AnTS, the client agrees to be bound by all the terms and conditions referred to here and in the ATS, ITTS, CTS, SATS & AnTS booking forms.