Terms & Conditions

Full Terms & Conditions of E.S.P.S Safaris Ltd (t/a Edward Selfe Photo Safaris):

1. Registration

Registration is complete once E.S.P.S Safaris Ltd has received an initial, non-refundable, deposit of 50% of the package price along with details of all clients joining the safari. Please note that all reservations are binding. The balance of the package price is payable 90 days before departure. In the event of a booking being made within one month of departure, the full package fee is payable within five working days. At the time of booking, please provide us with details of any dietary requirements, medical conditions, or any other special requirements you have.

2. Cancellation and Refund Policy

Cancellations are only effective on receipt of written notification. If cancellation is prior to 90 days before departure your deposit of 50% is forfeited. If your cancellation is made after the due date for full payment of your tour fare, charges will be levied. The scale of charges, expressed as a percentage of the tour prices, is as follows:

– From confirmation to 91 days prior to travel – 30% cancellation charge
– 90 – 61 days prior to travel – 50% cancellation charge
– 60-0 days prior to travel – 100% cancellation charge
– All airline tickets once issued are non-refundable

Should you fail to join a safari or join it after departure or leave it prior to its completion, no refund can be made. The above policy applies to all services of E.S.P.S Safaris Ltd, however third party camps or hotels may have different cancellation fee policies, which will apply to their services.

3. Trip Interruption and Cancellation Insurance

It is advised that all travelers purchase trip cancellation and interruption insurance as protection against an emergency which may force you to cancel or leave from an expedition while it is in progress. Insurance should also cover you for unforeseen events that cause you to cancel the trip before departure.

4. Medical Information

Participation on an Edward Selfe Photographic safari tour requires that you are in generally good health. It is essential that persons with any medical problems and related dietary restrictions make them known to us before departure. We can counsel you on whether the expedition you have selected is appropriate for you. The tour leader has the right to disqualify any participant at any time during the tour if he feels the participant is physically incapable and/or if a participant’s continued participation will jeopardize either the individual involved or the safety of the group. There will be no refund given under these circumstances. By registering for a tour, the participant certifies that s/he does not have any mental, physical or other condition or disability that would create a hazard for him/herself or other guests.

5. Price Modifications

E.S.P.S Safaris Ltd reserves the right to increase the price of the expedition if cost increases arise due to changes in transport costs, National Park fees, taxes, customs or other fees or changes in the exchange rate. In the event of significant currency fluctuations and/or abnormal supply price increases between a safari being advertised and its taking place, E.S.P.S Safaris Ltd reserves the right to alter the overall charge for the tour.

6. Itinerary Changes and Trip Delay

E.S.P.S Safaris Ltd reserves the right to change a program’s dates, itinerary, or accommodations as conditions warrant. These are expeditions to remote parts of the world and we reserve the right to change the itinerary due to weather conditions, lodge availability, political conditions and other factors beyond our control without consulting the participants. Edward Selfe reserves the right to change the itinerary due to circumstances beyond his control. Any significant alterations will be advised to you, and any alterations made will be of similar or better quality to those described on the website.

It is understood that such decisions will be made in the best interests of all participants and with regards to the safety of all staff. Participants have no right to any refund or other considerations in the event of these unforeseeable itinerary changes. If an expedition must be delayed, or the itinerary changed due to bad weather, road conditions, transportation delays, government intervention, sickness or other contingency for which E.S.P.S Safaris Ltd or its agents cannot make provision, the cost of delays or changes is not included.

7. Itinerary Cancellations

E.S.P.S Safaris Ltd reserves the right to cancel an itinerary before departure for any reason whatsoever, including logistical problems such as strikes, wars, acts of God, or any other circumstances which may make operation of the expedition inadvisable. As outlined above, all clients are advised to purchase travel insurance to protect them against such events. E.S.P.S Safaris Ltd is not responsible for any expenses incurred by trip members in preparing for the trip, including non-refundable or penalty-carrying airline tickets, special clothing, visa or passport fees or other trip related expenses and E.S.P.S Safaris Ltd will accept no further liability.

If Edward Selfe is not available to guide a safari as agreed, before or during the safari, due to sickness or unforeseen circumstances, E.S.P.S Safaris Ltd will provide all other contracted services, including a replacement qualified safari guide (who may or may not have photographic skills and expertise), until Edward Selfe can resume guiding services. Clients’ itinerary will be unaffected and E.S.P.S Safaris Ltd will make all efforts possible at the time to ensure that the safari itinerary is unaffected. If Edward Selfe’s guiding fees are greater than the fees of the replacement guide, clients will be refunded the difference for the days that Edward Selfe was not able to guide. Clients choosing to cancel a safari because Edward Selfe is not able to guide will not be covered for claims against E.S.P.S Safaris Ltd for any part of the value of their safari.

7a. COVID-19

Travelling during, or in the aftermath of, the COVID-19 pandemic adds complexity and uncertainty to travel plans. This is especially the case in Africa where transport networks are less developed and subject to unexpected changes. In developing countries, there is also increased risk that travel conditions (including the terms and need for covid-testing, for quarantine and for isolation) may be changed at short notice and that travel plans will need adjusting to accommodate. It is essential, and a pre-requisite for confirming travel plans with the Company and E.S.P.S Safaris Ltd., that clients familiarise themselves fully with the circumstances in the country/ies where they are travelling and any that they transit through.

In these uncertain times, both the Company and E.S.P.S Safaris Ltd. will provide all reasonable assistance to clients whose itineraries are affected in any way by COVID-19 but will not be held responsible for any costs or inconvenience that are incurred. Clients will be expected to adhere to all guidelines of the local health authorities in their destination country/ies and all regulations surrounding COVID-19 restrictions.

Any COVID-19-related costs incurred by Edward Selfe as part of travelling to, leading or returning from, the safari, which may include, but are not limited to, itinerary changes, extra medical tests, board and accommodation, quarantine and isolation charges, penalties for changes in airfares, supplementary air fares, etc, will be borne by the clients on the trip in question.
Clients will have no claim against the Company or E.S.P.S Safaris Ltd. if Edward Selfe is not able to accompany/guide their trip due to circumstances of any type associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, whether these circumstances occurred due to their own trip or a preceding trip.

8. Limitations and Liability

E.S.P.S Safaris Ltd, its owners, agents and employees give notice that they act only as the agents for the owners, contractors and suppliers providing means of transportation and/or all other related travel services and assume no responsibility howsoever caused for injury, loss or damage to person or property in connection with any service resulting directly from: acts of God, detention, annoyance, delays, expenses arising from quarantine, strikes, thefts, pilferage, force majeure, failure of any means of conveyance to arrive or depart as scheduled, civil disturbances, terrorism, government restrictions or regulations and discrepancies or changes in transit or hotel services over which it has no control. Reasonable changes in the itinerary may be made where deemed advisable for the comfort and well-being of the passengers.

In case of a medical problem arising during the expedition, which results in costs for evacuation, use of aircraft or repatriation, the responsibility for payment of these costs belongs solely to the passenger. E.S.P.S Safaris Ltd strongly advises that participants ensure that such eventualities are covered by travel insurance. If not covered by travel insurance the responsibility still remains with the passenger and E.S.P.S Safaris Ltd specifically declines any responsibility whatsoever.

9. Acceptable behaviour

During the safari, you must behave in a way that is not disruptive, upsetting or dangerous to anyone else and you must follow the reasonable requests of the safari leader. Edward Selfe may terminate your participation in the safari if your behaviour is in breach of this obligation and in such circumstances Edward Selfe will have no further liability to you.

E.S.P.S Safaris Ltd will not be liable for any cost and/or loss you incur which is as a result of: your actions or the actions of a third party unconnected with us, which we could not reasonably foresee or forestall; and any unusual / unforeseeable event beyond our reasonable control.

Insurance Indemnity

It is a booking condition that you accept the hazards involved in visiting remote areas and engaging in potentially dangerous activities. To take part in one of our safaris you must be covered by adequate travel insurance for the duration of the safari and all activities undertaken. The insurance should cover cancellation and curtailment, medical and emergency expense (including repatriation), personal accident, injury and death. In addition you should be insured against loss / damage to baggage, camera equipment, personal possessions and flight delays and cancellations.

E.S.P.S Safaris Ltd and its employees are covered by general/public liability insurance. By paying a deposit and agreeing to join one our safaris, you acknowledge that E.S.P.S Safaris Ltd has taken reasonable safeguards against its liability in this respect.