Booking, Cancellation & Refund Policy

Effective 8 September 2026

Travel plans change. This page sets out exactly what happens to your money when they do, so you can read the terms before you book rather than after. Safari arrangements require advance payment to airlines, lodges, permit authorities, parks and transport providers, and some of those payments cannot be recovered once made. Everything below follows from that.

All quotations, invoices, payments and refunds are in US dollars (USD).

1. Booking deposit

A 40% deposit of the total trip price confirms your booking, unless your quotation or invoice states otherwise. Some services require more, or payment in full at the time of booking: airline tickets, gorilla and chimpanzee permits, special accommodation, and peak-season arrangements. Any amount identified as non-refundable in your quotation or invoice stays subject to that supplier’s terms.

2. Final payment

The balance is due 30 days before departure, unless your quotation or invoice gives a different deadline. Bookings made inside 30 days of departure may require payment in full at confirmation.

3. If you cancel

Cancellations must be sent to us in writing by email, to info@bashemsafaris.ca. Charges are based on the date we receive your written cancellation, not the date you decided.

Each charge is subject to the actual supplier cancellation penalties and the non-refundable amounts disclosed in your quotation or invoice. Where a supplier’s non-refundable amount is greater than the figure in the table, that actual amount may apply.

4. Non-refundable supplier costs

These commonly include gorilla and chimpanzee permits, national park and conservation fees, airline tickets and airline penalties, hotel and lodge deposits, transport deposits, visa-related fees, third-party booking fees, special activities, and anything else identified as non-refundable in your quotation or invoice.

5. Refunds

Where a refund is due, we refund the recoverable amount after the applicable cancellation charge and any non-refundable supplier costs. Refunds are generally processed within 30 to 60 days of us receiving the applicable funds back from suppliers. The timing depends on airlines, lodges, permit authorities and other suppliers.

6. Changes and rescheduling

You may ask to change your travel dates or itinerary. Changes depend on availability and on supplier terms. Any fare difference, accommodation increase, permit change, supplier penalty or other cost arising from a change is yours to carry. Where supplier conditions allow it, we may be able to offer a reschedule or a travel credit instead of a cancellation.

7. If we have to change or cancel

We may need to change or cancel an itinerary when something outside our reasonable control affects the trip: severe weather, natural disasters, government restrictions, civil unrest, border closures, changes to park or wildlife regulations, airline cancellations, supplier failure, security concerns or public health emergencies. If that happens we will work with you on an appropriate alternative, including rescheduling, a travel credit, or a refund of the amounts recoverable from suppliers.

8. Travel insurance

We strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance. Consider trip-cancellation and trip-interruption cover, medical emergency and evacuation cover, and baggage cover. We will advise you about the availability of trip-cancellation insurance and, where it applies, out-of-province health insurance. Insurance is subject to the insurer’s own terms.

9. Passports, visas and travel documents

You are responsible for holding a valid passport, visas, permits and any other required travel documents. We provide destination information, but entry requirements change and final admission is decided by the relevant authorities. Not obtaining a required document does not automatically entitle you to a refund.

10. Trips with their own terms

Some safaris and travel services carry cancellation terms different from this general policy. Where a quotation, invoice, booking confirmation or supplier contract sets out specific cancellation conditions, those disclosed and accepted terms apply, subject to applicable law.

11. Accepting these terms

Paying a deposit or any other amount toward a booking confirms that you have read and accepted the applicable quotation, booking conditions, cancellation policy and supplier terms. We may update our general terms from time to time. The terms that apply to a confirmed booking are the ones given to and accepted by you at the time of booking, subject to applicable law.