BAGGAGE - Baggage space on safari is restricted to one medium suitcase or holdall per person, plus hand baggage (private safaris where there are less than 7 persons in the vehicle are not subject to this restriction). Visitors to Treetops and the Ark are asked to take overnight bags only; suitcases can be left in storage at the base hotel. Hotels will normally store baggage at no extra charge while clients are on safari. A baggage weight restriction of 15 kg. Per person applies on air safaris. Where very small aircraft are used this may be reduced to 10 kg. Top

BANKS AND SHOPS - Bank opening hours are 0900 - 1400 hrs. Monday to Friday. Most hotels and lodges change money outside these hours. Shop opening times are generally 0830 - 1300 hrs and 1430 - 1700 hrs on Monday to Friday and 0830 - 1300 hrs on Saturday. However, many shops do open outside these hours.

CLIMATE - East Africa enjoys a healthy envigorating climate and visitors need feel no concern for their general health during their stay. Although the region is on the Equator, climate and temperature depend on altitude and proximity to the sea. The coastal climate is tropical, being hot and humid except during July and August which is cooler with lower humidity. In the highland areas nights can get quite cold especially during July and August when skies may be overcast. The long rains occur from the end of March to end of May and the short rains from mid November to mid December. During this time rainfall is not continuous but occurs periodically between bright intervals.

CLOTHING - Dress should generally be informal, comfortable and practical. Washable cotton clothing in neutral colours are best for safari. A light jacket and warm sweater are recommended for early morning game drives and evenings, especially if visiting highland areas such as Ngorongoro, Mt. Kenya and the Aberdares. The Mount Kenya Safari Club and some Nairobi hotels require gentlemen to wear jacket and tie and ladies to be suitably attired for dinner. Bring a sunhat, comfortable/casual shoes and swimwear(most lodges have pools) Good quality, locally made clothing and shoes for safaris are now available in Nairobi shops at reasonable prices.

DRINKING WATER - Tap water in Nairobi hotels is usually safe to drink, but outside the city drink only from the vacuum flask provided in your room or bottled water. Mineral water is also available in East Africa. It is advisable to use bottled water.

ELECTRICITY - The electrical supply in East African countries 230/240 volts 50hz. Sockets are usually 3 pin square (British) type. It is advisable to check that any appliances (eg video battery charger) operating on other voltages have a built in adaptor or bring one with you.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS - All visitors must be in possession of a full passport valid for the period of stay. Visitors may or may not require visas depending on Nationality and it is therefore advisable to consult the relevant Embassy, High commission or representative in your area.

FLYING DOCTOR SOCIETY - Membership of the Flying Doctor Society is strongly recommended. In event of accident or sickness while on safari, the society will fly patients (subject to on the spot assessment by the medical team) by air ambulance to Nairobi for admittance to hospital. The current cost for 1 month membership is US$ 25 per person.

HEALTH - Health requirements for entry into East African countries depend on country of origin and countries visited en route. Those requirements may also change from time to time. It is therefore recommended that visitors consult their local G.P or innoculation centre before travelling. Malaria is endemic in Africa. Prophilatics (available from most dispensing pharmacies) should be taken before, during and after your visit as prescribed. This will normally be from 2 weeks before travel until 4 weeks after returning home. Anyone who has to take special medication should take enough supplies to last your whole visit as they may not be available locally.

INSURANCE - Travel insurance is provided by Select and Protect Travel Insurance underwritten by Intra-Africa Assurance Limited with service provided by International SOS Assistance (UK) Ltd. It is available on request.

HOTEL CHECKIN / CHECKOUT - Check out time at most hotels and lodges is 1000 hours. Rooms availability cannot therefore be guaranteed before 1100 hours unless the room has been booked from the night before. Day rooms up to 1800 hours can usually be arranged with hotels.

LANGUAGE - Kiswahili is the Lingua Franca while English is the official language. In addition, most tribes have their own language. English is spoken by most personnel involved in the tourist industry.

MONEY - There are no longer currency restrictions in East Africa. All currency brought into the country and subsequent exchange transactions must be recorded (forms are provided on arrival). Local currency cannot be taken out but can be converted back to hard currency on production of the afore-mentioned currency exchange record. The well known credit/charge cards (Visa, Access, Amex, Diners) are widely accepted in East Africa. We recommend the use of US dollars or other hard currency travellers cheques. Do not carry large amounts of cash.

PHOTOGRAPHY - It is recommended that you take enough film with you to last to last the trip (double the number you first thought of). Film bought locally is expensive and could be out of date. Don't forget spare camera batteries. Zoom and/or telephoto lenses are a must and an ultra-violet polarising filter is a good idea. Video cameras can be brought in and most lodges can provide facilities for battery chargers (see section regarding electricity supply). Bring a dust-proof bag for cameras and accessories. You will find many interesting and beautiful subjects for photography but there are some taboos. It is prohibited to photograph the President or his residence, Military, Police and related installations, airports, railway stations, harbours, town halls, prisons, prisoners or the national flag. Ask permission before photographing the local people, some of whom may wish to negotiate a fee.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS -

1st January             
1st June                
26th December
Good Friday             
20th October            
Idd-ul-Fitr (date Not fixed)
Easter Monday   
12 December             
1st May         
25 December

SECURITY - Africa is no different from anywhere else in the world - just follow your common sense. Remember that excessive displays of jewellery or large wads of cash in your back pocket are a temptation. Do not leave valuables in hotel rooms - use the safe in your room or at reception.

TELEPHONES - Most hotels provide telephones in the bedrooms for local and international calls. However, it is recommended that you check the charges before making calls as taxes and handling fees can add up to 50% on normal rates. Many of the lodges on safari do not have telephones and can only be contacted by radio-phone.

GENERAL INFORMATION.

SPECIAL DIETS AND NEEDS - In case of special dietary needs or facilities for the disables, please let us know of this requirement in full at the time of making the booking.

TOUR COST INCLUDES: Accommodation: First class lodges, tented camps and country home stays.

Meals: Fullboard (breakfast, lunch and dinner) on safari each day expect in main towns where the meal plan is specified in the tour outline.

Collection and transfers: All tours start and end with collection and return to any centrally located hotel in Nairobi, Mombasa (north and south coast), Kampala, and Arusha. When air transport is part of the itinerary, transfer service between the hotels and airports is included.

Transport by road: Individual seats in safari micro-buses.

Guides: Services of qualified and caring English-speaking drivers/tour guides, some of whom speak other European languages.

Travel Insurance: Provided by Select and Protect which cover Medical, Personal Accident, Rescue, Evacuation and Cover for Baggage and Personal Effects.

Taxes and Fees: All government taxes, hotel levies and service charges, entrance fees to parks, reserves and museums.

TOUR COSTS EXCLUDES: Portage, tips to game rangers or local guides, incidental tips to hotels/lodges, bar and waiting staff, gratuity to English speaking drivers/guides, personal items such as laundry and drinks, airport transfers on arrival and departure, international flights, airport departure tax.

BOOKING, AGENTS, LIABILITY DEPOSIT, REFUND AND MINORS A booking of any of the arrangements offered in this brochure or agents' manuals may be made by you verbally provided it is immediately confirmed in writing or by fax or E-mail ("booking" provided always that for the purpose of the payment of deposit and/or the price the time that the booking shall be deemed to have been effected shall be the time that Lexinda organised tour ("tour") was booked verbally and not the time it was confirmed in writing).

1.1 A deposit of an amount requested by Lexinda's duly authorized member of staff or agent at the time of booking shall be payable upon a receipt of your booking.

1.2 The person who shall make the booking hereby warrants that he/she is duly authorised to do so and does so on behalf of all of you.

1.3 If a booking shall be made or brokered through a travel or booking agent ("agent") such agent hereby agrees to be bound by these conditions and confirms that it makes any booking as a fully authorised for and on behalf of each member of the party. To the extent that Lexinda shall incur any loss or damage arising directly or indirectly from the agent signing the booking on behalf of each member of a tour, the agent shall immediately indemnify Lexinda against any such claims, costs, demands and expenses whatsoever and whenever made.

1.4 Each of you shall jointly and severally indemnify Lexinda against any claims, costs, demands and expenses whatsoever made by any of you who may be a minor (that is under age of 18 years) arising out of or in connection with the tour.

1.5 An itinerary specifying the details of your tour will be sent to the person making the booking as soon as is reasonably practicable following receipt by Lexinda of your booking (the "itinerary").

1.6 If Lexinda is unable to confirm you on a tour, it will refund you your deposit in full. However it is possible that Lexinda may not be able to confirm you on the precise itinerary stated by Lexinda in the itinerary in which event, if Lexinda proposes (what it considers to be) a reasonably similar alternative to that requested by you prior to the date (as specified) then it will not refund you the deposit.

1.7 All price for the tour are calculated on the cost prevailing at the date of your booking although Lexinda reserves the right to change such price without notice up until the due date (as defined below).

2.1 The total cost of the tour as specified in the itinerary (the "price") shall be paid so as to be received in cleared funds by Lexinda not later than 35 days before the departure of your tour, in which event full payment shall be due immediately upon receipt of Lexinda Invoice. Availability of the tour is dependent upon having paid the price in accordance with this condition.

2.2 In the event that the price shall not have been received by the due date, Lexinda reserves the right to cancel the tour or as a condition of proving the tour re-cost the itinerary (including imposing a surcharge in respect to our additional costs).

2.3 Provided that the price shall have been paid by the due date Lexinda shall be bound unconditionally to the price quoted from that time unless the price shall be affected by any factor beyond control of Lexinda which frustrates this agreement in which case Lexinda reserves the right to adjust the price accordingly.

3.1.1 Within the period of 35 to 15 days of the date of commencement of the tour, a fee of 25% of the total land arrangements.

3.1.2 Within the period of 14 to 2 days of the date of commencement of the tour, a fee of 50% of the aforesaid.

3.1.3 Within 2 days of the date of commencement of the tour a fee of 100% of the price.

3.2 Your deposit and any other payments on account will be applied against your liability under sub-clause 3.1, otherwise towards the part payment of the price if for any reason it had not been paid in full by the due date.

3.3 In receipt of the balance of the deposit and other payments on accounts not retained by Lexinda pursuant to the preceeding to sub-clauses, Lexinda will refund to you such amount to you less:-

3.3.1 Any charges that have been made for reservations which have already been contracted, any cancellation fees imposed by hotels, lodges or transporters and for any other expenses which Lexinda may have incurred.

3.4 In relation to any request by you to alter your tour after it has commenced, whilst Lexinda will use its reasonable endeavors to implement such a request, you will be liable for any cancellation or additional charges that may be levied for tours originally booked.

3.5 Lexinda reserves the right at any time and without incurring any liability whatsoever or howsoever to make changes to your tour arrangements (including flights, accommodation, transport or services), to offer substitute facilities (in Lexinda's view) of equal value and repetition, or to cancel any schedules tour. If Lexinda shall cancel the tour it will make a full refund except in respect of any cancellation caused by war or threat of war, insurrection, riot, strikes, civil action, decisions by Government or Governing Authority, Natural Disaster, Bad Weather, Technical or maintenance problems with transport, changes of schedules or operational decisions of air carriers or other similar circumstances beyond Lexinda's control.

4.1 The price includes:-

4.1.1 Transport including excursions from hotels (such as launch trips and game drives as indicated in the itinerary);

4.1.2 Accommodation with fullboard, table d'hote meals as specified in the itinerary;

4.1.3 Government Hotel taxes;

4.1.4 Hotel Service Charges;

4.1.5 Sight-seeing, game bird walks as specified in the itinerary;

4.1.6 The cost of all charter flights indicated in the itinerary and any scheduled flights indicated in the itinerary as being included in the price;

4.1.7 Travel insurance;

4.2 The price excludes:-
Visa fees and international and domestic airport taxes (unless indicated otherwise in the itinerary), gratuities (other than service specified in the sub-clause 4.1.4 above), beverages, laundry and other items of a personal nature, any communication costs (such as telephone calls and fax transmissions);
Any supplementary charges imposed by hotels/lodges;
Any Park (or other) entry fees except where these are specifically quoted in the itinerary.

Top

ACCOMMODATION

5.1Without any acceptance of liability for failure to do so, Lexinda shall endeavour to book rooms for you with private baths on the basis of two persons sharing a double room. Single rooms shall be available at a supplementary price. However, Lexinda does not guarantee availability of either a private bathroom or a single bedroom, even where a private bathroom or single bedroom had been specifically requested by you.

5.2Whilst Lexinda will use its best endeavours to ensure that you stay in the Hotel, Lodge or Camp of your choice, it reserves the right to alter the identity of your destination provided that it shall reserve rooms for you in the Hotel, Lodge or Camp which, in its view, are of similar value and standing. Lexinda accepts no responsibility or liability in the event that it has offered the services of establishment of similar price and standing which have been declined by you.

Top

6.0 TRANSPORTATION AND GUIDES

6.1Lexinda shall provide such aircraft, safari mini-buses, safari cruises, cars, 4WD vehicles or coaches as it considers necessary to transport you, based on considerations such as the route to be taken, the condition of the roads and the number of clients on the proposed journey. Lexinda reserves the right to alter any such arrangements made including the proposed route to be taken.

6.2Lexinda reserves the right to employ the services of sub-contractors to effect your transportation.

6.3Lexinda shall provide the services of a driver/guide.

Top

7.0 LEXINDA'S RIGHT OF REFUSAL

7.1Lexinda reserves the right to:-
7.1.1Refuse any bookings from persons whom it considers unsuitable for the type of travel to be undertaken;

Decline to accept or retain you as a member of any tour at any time.

7.2If Lexinda exercises its right under sub-clause 7.1.2 in circumstances in which you shall not have been informed then Lexinda may refund you an amount it considers equitable taking into account all the circumstances.

Top

8.0 YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

8.1You shall ensure that you have obtained adequate insurance cover against personal accident, medical expenses and loss of your baggage.

8.2You shall ensure that all your travel documents, full passports, visas, vaccination certificates, currency and travellers cheques are in order and that the name that appears on your airline ticket (if relevant) shall be the name that appears on your passport and that you re-confirm all your international flight departures, at least 72 hours prior to departure, unless Lexinda shall have agreed by prior arrangements to re-confirm on your behalf.

8.3You shall be responsible for informing Lexinda when the booking is made of any requests for special diet or facilities for the disabled or for any other special needs. Whilst every effort will be made to meet your request, Lexinda does not guarantee that such requests will be met. You shall inform Lexinda when you make the booking of any medical condition or disability which may materially affect your ability to enjoy or suitability for the tour.

Top

9.0 LEXINDA RESPONSIBILITIES

9.1 Except where Lexinda shall transport you in its own vehicles, Lexinda and its agents act only as your agents in all matters relating to your tranportation or the provision of any services to you regardless of whether you are transported by aircraft, rail, road, motor coach, ship, boat or any other means.

9.2Lexinda shall not be liable for any injury, delay, loss or damage howsoever arising from your transportation, accommodation or from any other services provided to you or from any act or omission of any person (or the sub-contractor, agents or employees whether acting within the scope of their contractural obligations agency of employment or not), who shall provide any such service other than for death, injury or illness caused by the negligence acts and/or omission of Lexinda or its employees and its agents (other than air or sea carrier agents performing any domestic, internal or international carriage of any kind). Whilst acting within the scope, or in the course of the employment. The amount of damages Lexinda shall pay to you under this clause shall be such damages as might have been claimed irrespective of death, injury or illness caused by the negligence of Lexinda, its employees or agents and aforesaid as accepted under the Laws of the Country in which the event giving rise to the loss took place.

9.3In respect to any other loss not specifically referred to in this clause you, your property and baggage travel is entirely at your own risk.

9.4You will keep Lexinda indemnified against any claims except as provided for in this condition.

Top

10.0 JURISDICTION

All matters concerning these condition shall be subject to the Laws of the Republic of Kenya. You submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts of Kenya which shall be the sole forum for the hearing of any claims other than those which shall be referred to arbitration pursuant to Clause 11. Top

11.0 ARBITRATION