I. Contract
Your contract will be with Southern Cross Tours & Expeditions. The following booking conditions form the sole contract between Southern Cross Tours & Expeditions and the person signing the booking form, the traveler (who must be over the age of 18) and shall be deemed to sign this form on behalf of all persons named therein. The person signing the booking form (which incorporates these booking conditions) assures that he/she and all persons name in the booking form, are fully aware of and accept these conditions. In the case that booking is made by telephone or e-mail all involved parties should have read the booking conditions and must sign the booking form.
II. Payment conditions
No contract shall exist until Southern Cross Tours & Expeditions has received a signed booking form together with the required payment. A deposit of 15 % of the total balance is due at the time of booking (deposits of 30 % are required for special tours as Wildlife Safaris, Photo Safaris, Expeditions) and the balance must bei received 30 days prior to the departure date. If the booking is made within 30 days of departure, payment is required at the time of booking. The deposit will be returned in the event of the booking not being accepted by Southern Cross Tours & Expeditions.
Payment of the balance
The deposit will be treated as part payment of the total amount due. After we have received the deposit you will receive a Final Invoice showing the total cost of your vacation and the balance due to us. If the balance is not paid by 30 days prior to the date of departure, Southern Cross Tours & Expeditions shall have the right to cancel the booking without further notice, and cancellation charges as per below will apply.
III. Cancellation of booking
If you find it necessary to cancel your booking after it has been confirmed, you must advise Southern Cross Tours & Expeditions in writing, signed by the person who signed the original booking form. Cancellation charges, will be calculated as follows (period before departure date, when notice of cancellation is received):
- Cancellation until the 43rd day prior date of departure 15 % of the total price
- from the 42nd to 31st day prior date of departure 50 % of the total price
- from the 30th to 21st day prior date of departure 40 % of the total price
- from the 20th to 16th day prior date of departure 60 % of the total price
- from the 15th prior date of departure 80 % of the total price
- not-assuming the vacation 100 % of the total price
Insurance premiums will not be refundable. If cancellation falls within the terms of an insurance policy you may be able to claim for cancellation charges
IV. Change the booking
If, after confirmation and acceptance of the booking you wish to alter the confirmed arrangements a fee of US $100 per person for each change may be charged. If the alteration is less than 90 days prior to departure the cancellation charges shown above may be applied. Any changes to the original booking will not be effective until it is received and agreed in writing by Southern Cross Tours & Expeditions Any additional costs imposed by our suppliers will also be charged.
V. Change of the tour arrangements
When you have made your contract with Southern Cross Tours & Expeditions, we will do our best to ensure that none of the contents of your vacation arrangements have to be altered. However, as the arrangements are planned months in advance, sometimes changes may have to be made. In case of a change that will significantly alter the tours content, you will be informed as soon as possible. You may then accept the change, or book any other available trip from this brochure (if the price is less, Southern Cross Tours & Expeditions will pay you the difference, but where the price is more you will be expected to pay the difference) or cancel your booking and receive a full refund of all moneys paid to Southern Cross Tours & Expeditions, less banking fees.
VI. Disclaimer
Compensation payments do not apply where the contract cannot be carried out because of unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond the control of Southern Cross Tours & Expeditions or its suppliers, the consequences of which could not have been avoided even with the exercise of all due care. Examples include war, threat of war, riot, civil strife, industrial dispute, terrorist activity, natural or nuclear disaster, fire or adverse weather conditions, technical or maintenance problems with transport, changes imposed by rescheduling or cancellation of flights by an airline, the alteration of the airline or aircraft type or other similar events beyond control of Southern Cross Tours & Expeditions.
Trekking Tours, expeditions, horse-back riding and other adventure trips like those offered by Southern Cross Tours & Expeditions have to be considered as being risky activities. Accidents may occur occasionally. Therefore, Southern Cross Tours & Expeditions insists that you carry your own health, accident and liability insurance or agree in writing to assume responsibility for any injuries. Clients are responsible for ensuring that they are in possession of travel insurance with protection for the full duration of the vacation covering medical expenses, injury, death, repatriation, as well as cancellation and curtailment. Clients making their arrangements must ensure that there are no exclusion clauses limiting protection for the type of activities included in their vacation. Clients should be certain that any travel insurance arrangements, made through any agency or individuals, are sufficient for their requirements and should arrange supplementary insurance if necessary.
Southern Cross Tours & Expeditions does not carry liability insurance and cannot assume any responsibility for accidents whether caused by your fault, equipment, guide, or other persons pr animals (horses) on the trip. You ride and travel at your own risk. For most trips you will receive a waiver of liability form at the time of your booking (see Riding Tour Agreement on right hand page). Please be sure to read it carefully, sign it, and return it to Southern Cross Tours & Expeditions no later than at the time of final payment. You may not start these rides or other trips unless this form has been returned to us. Changes may not be made to the liability form unless you receive prior authorization from us in writing. Southern Cross Tours & Expeditions assumes no responsibility for actions or omissions by any contractor or other persons. The traveler agrees that Southern Cross Tours & Expeditions in any case shall not be liable or responsible for death, personal injury, loss or damage of any nature to the traveler or any personal property or baggage of the Traveler, or for any cause that directly or indirectly relates to the tour, including transportation arrangements to and from the tour, for any reason or cause whatsoever.
You must make separate arrangements for travel to and from the starting point of the tour. You must carry with you a valid passport, the necessary visa and vaccination papers, where required.