Terms & Conditions

Maliba Makasi Tourism OÜ
trading as “Inspiration Africa”, "Nordic Inspiration" or “360° Gondwana”

Terms and Conditions

These terms and conditions apply to all travel related services provided by Maliba Makasi Tourism OÜ under its different trading brands including Inspiration Africa, Nordic Inspiration and 360° Gondwana.

Last edited 05th May 2023; copies of previous version are available on request.

Part 1. Travel Reservation & Adjustments

Initial Confirmation of the Travel Reservation

Due to the nature of customized travel and its constant evolution, a written acceptance, by e-mail or any other written form, of our proposals by the client will be considered as a confirmation of the trip or any of its content. Such confirmation must clearly refer to either the general itinerary or any of the specific details of the offer and proposals received.

Changes and Adjustments to the Travel Reservation

Being the essence of custom travel, itineraries are often in constant evolution and subject to changes and adjustments, before and occasionally during the trip. Any such changes or adjustments will be considered confirmed if approved in writing between the client and Maliba Makasi Tourism OÜ.

Travel Reservation Contract

At the client's request, Maliba Makasi Tourism OÜ will be happy to draw up a formal contract based on the current terms and conditions. By default, our terms and conditions as specified on our website or in our proposals, will apply.

Alteration to Travel Reservations

Every effort is made to respect the routes reserved and advised to customers. However, if it becomes necessary to change the sequence of an itinerary or the choice of accommodation due to weather conditions or any other cause, the company reserves the right to do so. Where possible the alternatives offered will be at least of the same quality as originally offered.

Part 2. Payments & Prices

All Payments Are Considered as Confirmation 

Notwithstanding the written confirmation of the travel reservations, the payment of our invoices alone, is worth acceptance of the proposals of trips including the present terms and conditions of sale to which it relates. As such, and even in the absence of a written confirmation, the reservation of the trip will be considered effective upon receipt of the payment of the deposit to which it refers.

Payment of a Deposit

A deposit of at least 30% of the tour price is payable at the time of booking confirmation. A higher percentage of the deposit may be required in order to comply with specific, more demanding conditions from the suppliers of the services concerned. In any case these more stringent conditions will be specified in advance. They are usually associated with more exclusive, private or high season services.

Payment of the Balance of the Trip

The balance of the trip must be paid at least 45 days before the start of the trip. In the case of a reservation made less than 45 days prior to the provision of services, full payment will be expected upon confirmation and, in any case, before the start of the trip.

Payment for Additional Services

Offering the possibility of adjustments and additions of services during the trip, the payment of these by the client will be made immediately by credit card or bank transfer according to the agreed terms.

Methods of Payment

Maliba Makasi Tourism OÜ accepts payment by bank transfer in the agreed upon currency; these payments are possible in Euros, US Dollars and British Pounds. Any bank charges associated with the transfer of money are the responsibility of the client. We also accept payments by credit cards such as Visa, Mastercard and American Express, with the addition of fees associated with the use of these cards; these fees vary between 1.85% and 3.50% depending on the type of card used.  Unless specifically mentioned, our quotations are always net of bank or credit card fees, which are charged to the client.

Tour Prices

Our prices are calculated in good faith, errors and omissions apart. Prices are based on rates in effect at time of confirmation and are subject to change without notice. In the event of an increase in prices beyond our control, for example park entry fees, additional taxes, etc. - you will be notified accordingly.

Fuel Prices

In times of highly volatile fuel prices, the cost of the tour may need to be reviewed. This relates specifically to private air charters, air transfers, boat transfers and private boat charters, but could also apply to long distance road transfers. In this case, we will justify the difference in price of the actual fuel costs compared to those available at the time of the establishment of the quotation.

Exchange Rate

As our quotations generally involve significant purchases in foreign currencies, our quoted prices are subject to revision if the exchange rate fluctuates by more than 3.00% from the exchange rate at the time of quotation. If such a situation occurs, we will apply the actual average exchange rate obtained on all our payments made to secure and settle reservations. The exchange rate on which our quote is based will be specified clearly at the time of the price offer.

Children Discounts

Children under 2 years of age travel free of charge most of the time, except for some flights. Children under 12 years of age usually receive a substantial discount on certain services. Teenagers up to the age of 16 can still benefit from certain discounts in some countries and on a limited number of services. For accommodation, children's discounts are often granted provided they share a room with 1 or 2 adults.

Air Travel Departure Taxes in Africa

All international and domestic departures from African airports incur a departure tax. We recommend that you contact your ticket agent to verify that this is included in the price of your ticket. This is generally the case, with the exception of some places where airport departure tax is still paid locally; mostly in cash. This information will be provided for tickets and air transfers that Maliba Makasi Tourism oü has organized.

Part 3. Service Specificities

Accommodation

In general, we book rooms on the basis of two people sharing a double room. Single rooms are booked at an additional cost. Upon request, we strive to book triple rooms or family units if possible and/or available. Although our itineraries may be property specific, we reserve the right to book accommodation in other hotels, lodges or camps of an equivalent standard if the accommodation listed is not available.

Land Transportation

Transportation on a safari in Africa, and elsewhere in the world, is provided in a variety of vehicles ranging from sedans to 4x4 safari vehicles or microvans to large coaches. The choice of these vehicles is based on need and availability. Details are specified in the itinerary to the best of our knowledge. Our company generally employs the services of subcontractors for all transfers and transportation needs. While we take great care to select suppliers who adhere to excellent business ethics and provide adequate liability insurance coverage, we cannot be held responsible for any insurance shortcomings of these suppliers.

Air Charter Transportation

The reality of traveling to many of the destinations we offer involves the use of charter flights on small, specialized local airlines. These flights may involve chartering a full aircraft or adhering to the concept of renting a "seat-in" aircraft. In the event of failure on the part of the provider of this type of flight, Maliba Makasi Tourism or will take operational responsibility and will do everything possible to provide a practical, safe and realistic solution. If the customer were to refuse our solution and prefer another, the cost implications will be his responsibility.

Part 4. International Air Travel Services

These terms and conditions apply to the sale of airline tickets as a separate travel service.

Maliba Makasi Tourism OÜ assist you with finding the best flight routes and tickets to match your travel package in cooperation with our flight agent. The offer of airline ticket prices to the customer is always based on the prices and availability at the time the offer is made. Both prices and availability are subject to change. The longer the time between the offer and the customer's booking or ticket purchase request, the more likely there may be changes in prices or availability. We recommend that if you receive a suitable offer, you inform us of your wishes as soon as possible.

The process of ticketing will be conducted directly between the customer and the flight agent, either through a bank transfer or credit card payment. Please note that flight tickets are not included as part of the Maliba Makasi Tourism OÜ travel package. As such, Maliba Makasi Tourism OÜ cannot be held liable for any potential failures by the airline(s) selected to fulfill their transport obligations.

We strongly recommend to sign a travel insurance agreement before purchasing flight tickets, which must also cover additional itinerary costs resulting from changes in flight schedule in case the airline decides to change flight times or cancel the flight. 

Book Your Own Air Travel Tickets

By preference, in the light of the above, Maliba Makasi Tourism oü encourages its customers to book their own airline tickets. We will obviously guide your selection and share our recommendations in terms of airlines, classes, routings and single-carriage contracts when booking connecting flights.

Booking of your Air Travel Tickets through our Preferred Outsourcing Partner

Maliba Makasi Tourism OÜ does not hold an IATA license. All air ticket reservations will either be subcontracted to one of our partner agencies with an IATA license allowing, or booked directly on the airline's portal. While Maliba Makasi Tourism oü may assist in the process and deliver the service, we give preference for clients to deal directly with our preferred IATA air ticketing partners or online with the airline.

Air Tickets are Quoted for and Offered Separately

The client acknowledges that international air travel services do not form an integral part of any of our operated tours and are organized and if requested sold separately.

Air Ticketing Sourcing of Facilitation Service fee

As the sourcing of the right flights scenario to match the itinerary which we operate on your behalf, requires both time and skills, Maliba Makasi Tourism OÜ may charge an air ticket facilitation fee ranging from 30€ to 100€ per person depending on the complexity of the flights. The client will be informed about the applicable fees in advance.

Part 5. Travel Documentation & Travel Rules

Passport & Travel Documentation

It is the customer's responsibility to ensure they have the correct travel documentation in a timely manner. Depending on your nationality, this will usually require a valid passport (valid for 6 months after the estimated return date) and may require an approved tourist visa. Some countries require a valid travel insurance policy. And others require an electronic travel authorisation (ESTA, ETA, etc.). At Maliba Makasi Tourism OÜ we will request copies of your passport information to assess the actual travel documentation required for your trip. We will also assist you in providing you with the needed documents for you to obtain your visas and other travel authorisations. It is also wise to keep a digital copy of essential documents and perhaps take a printed version with you as well.

For more comprehensive information on travel requirements we recommend consulting one of two sites maintained by the airline industry:

• https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/passport-visa-health-travel-document-requirements.htm
• https://www.traveldoc.aero/ 

Visa Requirements

While a new trend of visa waiver for international tourists is being implemented, most nationals will still require visas for most countries, especially when traveling to Africa. Rarely free, these visas cost between $25 and $100 per person and per entry. For countries that still require a visa, most have set up an online visa application portal, while others still rely on a visa on arrival. A limited number of countries offer both options. Our experience with online portals is that they are generally heavy on administration and range from mediocre to really bad. Some countries, more and more numerous moreover, have waived the visa requirement and welcome tourists for free. Also keep in mind that regional partnerships in some parts of the world have established cross-border visa for visitors such as the East African tourist visa offered by Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda or the UniVisa between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Please always inquire with us about the latest visa regulations. Remember that it is the traveler's responsibility to ensure that they have the correct travel documents and the required visa.

Traveling with Children

Some countries, in an effort to fight against the abduction of children, have more or less successfully set up control systems. These range from the need to present a birth certificate proving parentage and/or legal authorization to travel with the child in the absence of one of the parents.

Health Requirements

By far, the biggest health concern raised by travelers to Africa revolves around the issue of malaria. Please be sure to consult a travel clinic or your physician for appropriate medication. Usually, this prescription begins a few days before your arrival and continues for a few weeks after your return. Simply put, if you're not bitten, you can't get malaria. Using insect repellent as well as wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants after dark will reduce the risk of being bitten.

Regarding vaccination, we recommend that our customers consult the nearest health center in their country for up-to-date information on what is required for the countries visited. Vaccination against yellow fever is only required for travel in some and a vaccination is valid for life these days; however, it should be noted that some countries will ask you for proof of vaccination when you come from an infected area while the country in question does not require anything. Your travel clinic or doctor can tell you about other recommended vaccines.

In terms of water supply, we recommend that you use bottled water for drinking purposes in all hotels and lodges, and not to drink water directly from the tap in tropical and equatorial countries . This does not apply to countries such as Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe where tap water is perfectly safe to drink, unless otherwise instructed by your host.

Covid & Other Pandemics

The rules relating to travel in the context of the Covid crisis having demonstrated their random and evolving nature, it is important to remain attentive at all times to the exact requirements in the context of a declaration of a pandemic. If you should be affected by this type of situation during your trip, know that we will do our best to inform you and assist you until you return home. The related costs are the responsibility of the customer. It is also the responsibility of the traveler to obtain appropriate travel insurance that provides sufficient assistance, including protection in the event of a declared pandemic.

Rules While on Safari

Clients are advised to observe rules and regulation of the various national parks, game reserves, and waterways for their own safety. When on safari, remember that you are in a wild environment that comes with its own realities; follow the guidance of your hosts, guides and rangers to avoid any incident.

Off-limit Countries

One of the peculiarities of tailor-made trips is that some customers ask us to organize trips to countries that appear on the list of countries or regions that are not recommended unless there is an imperative reason or even formally not recommended. Although we recommending you not to travel to any such destination, Maliba Makasi Tourism OÜ can help organize such a trip subject to the signature of a full release of liability by the client.

Part 6. Travel Cancellation

General Cancellation Conditions

In the event of a cancellation, the following charges will apply by default to all bookings made and confirmed. The number of days is always calculated in relation to the start date of the trip and the percentages in relation to the estimated cost of the trip as confirmed on the date of cancellation, excluding however the costs relating to any plane tickets.

• From the date of confirmation till up to 91 days before departure, 30% of the total
• Between 90 and 61 days before departure, 50% of the total cost
• Between 60 and 31 days before departure, 75% of the total cost
• Within the last 30 days before departure or in the event of a no show, 100% of the cost

High Season Cancellation Conditions

Certain periods of the year, often associated with holiday periods or the holding of a major event, are subject to more severe cancellation conditions which translate in practice into the following manner:

• From the date of confirmation till up to 121 days before departure, 30% of the total
• Between 120 and 91 days before departure, 50% of the total cost
• Between 90 and 61 days before departure, 75% of the total cost
• Within the last 60 days before departure or in the event of a no show, 100% of the cost

Specific Cancellation Costs

Certain services, mainly when very exclusive, completely private or during high season, may be subject to higher cancellation fees. Maliba Makasi Tourism OÜ will always clearly specify these special conditions. This will also affect our deposit requirement to match the cost of cancellation. Failing to inform the client timely, our standard cancellation terms will apply by default.

Cancellation Costs on International Air Tickets

Airline ticket cancellation charges are beyond our control and dictated by the issuing airline's contract of carriage. Unless tickets are booked directly by the customer, at the time of booking, prior to ticket issuance, Maliba Makasi Tourism OÜ will confirm the exact cancellation and change rules applicable to the selected flight itinerary. With respect to airline ticketing, the airline's terms and conditions associated with the issuance of tickets supersede ours..

Part 7. Travel Insurance

The customer acknowledges having been informed about the options and obligations in terms of travel insurance by Maliba Makasi Tourism OÜ and takes responsibility for securing the right cover against the risks associated with the trip such as the need for physical, moral or medical assistance, coverage of the risk associated with baggage loss or damage, and those related to the cancellation or attrition costs for the trip. It is equally important to check that your health and life insurance will cover you for the duration of your travels. The health insurance policy will need to cover the unlikely event that you need emergency evacuation or repatriation. As a tour operator, we can in no way assume responsibility for costs related to insufficient cover or the absence of insurance cover.

Travel Assistance Insurance

At Maliba Makasi Tourism OÜ, we require all our clients to have subscribed to a valid travel assistance insurance providing sufficient life and health cover in the event of an emergency; proof with relevant policy and phone numbers must be given to us prior to travel. Such insurance may also include a specific cover for delayed, lost or damaged luggage. In the absence of any such insurance, Maliba Makasi Tourism OÜ reserves the right to subscribe a travel assistance insurance policy through our intermediary to the benefit of the travelers booked for the purpose of their trip.

Flying Doctors - Medical Air Rescue Service in Africa

Where available in certain parts of Africa, Maliba Makasi Tourism OÜ will automatically subscribe its clients to a local medical air rescue service commonly known as “flying doctors”. This service is available in East Africa. In the unlikely event of any eventuality that requires emergency attention, a rescue aircraft would evacuate you to the closest major health facility for stabilization. From here, your own health insurance would take over.

Travel Cancellation or Curtailment Insurance

The cancellation and interruption section of a travel insurance policy offers coverage if you have to cancel your vacation before leaving, or interrupt your vacation while you are absent for various reasons which are specified in the wording of the policy and generally include: your illness, the disease of a loved one, the travel ban due to a pandemic, etc. Although most insurance policies cover only a limited number of reasons, some can be upgraded to the most complete formula and be insured to include "for any reason". Given the reality of air travel services, we recommend that you make sure that you are also covered if the airline does not fulfill its transport obligations. When selecting an insurance policy, we also invite you to take into account any applicable excess as well as the reimbursement ceiling to comply with the cost of your trip.

If travel assistance insurance is undeniably essential, the choice of covering yourself against financial loss in the event of cancellation remains personal. According to your own assessment of the risk of losing the sums spent for the organization of your trip, you have the possibility and the freedom to insure yourself against the risks of forced cancellation or attrition of your trip. Under no pretext Maliba Makasi Tourism OÜ can replace an insurance company to cover the costs incurred in the event of cancellation for whatever reason!

Acknowledgment of Being Informed About Travel Insurance

As part of our present terms and conditions, the client acknowledges that this was discussed and options were offered. The client takes responsibility for being insured against cancellation or not. Maliba Makasi Tourism OÜ can’t be held responsible.

Part 8. More General Terms

Complaints

Should a problem occur during your journey organized by us, please advise both ourselves and the supplier of the service in question immediately as most problems are resolved most easily on the spot. Should you remain dissatisfied, please write to us setting out the complaint in detail within 14 days of the end of our services under these contractual terms and conditions. We cannot accept responsibility for any complaints which are not notified entirely in accordance with this clause.

Applicable Court

The legal relations between the customer and Maliba Makasi Travel OÜ are governed by the laws of the Republic of Estonia, and any court disputes fall under the jurisdiction of Harju County Court.

Liability & Force Majeure

Maliba Makasi Tourism OÜ operates according to the conditions set out in the Tourism Act, the Law of Obligations, and other laws and regulations of the Republic of Estonia. As a tour operator, Maliba Makasi Tourism OÜ is responsible for ensuring that the trip corresponds to the description and promises given to the customer. Maliba Makasi Tourism OÜ is not responsible for damage caused by force majeure (including, but not limited to, natural disasters, war, political incidents, strikes, etc.), or due to weather conditions that deviate from the average for the year. Maliba Makasi Tourism OÜ and its agents accept no responsibility for personal injury, accident, illness, death, delays, theft, loss or damage to baggage or any other personal properties or alteration or cancellation of itinerary due to force majeure. 

Contract Amendment

The simple confirmation and booking of a tour submitted through digital means of communication such as email validates the client's adherence to our terms and conditions as set above. Should the client wish any clause to be amended in any way this must be discussed in writing prior to any confirmation. Failing which the above terms and conditions will apply.