Self Drive Tours Botswana Terms and Conditions
These terms and conditions may be amended from time to time
By completing a booking with us you acknowledge you have read, understood and agreed to the terms and conditions set out below.
Definitions
Where used below:
‘Covid-19 event’ has the meaning given in the separate page detailing the special terms and conditions that apply until the end of the Covid-19 pandemic.
‘DIY’ means DIY Driving Tours (Pty) Ltd, a company registered in Botswana, and ‘we’ has the same meaning.
‘Lead traveler’ means the individual authorized by a party of travelers to conduct official correspondence on behalf of the party.
Covid -19 requirements
We will inform you of any Covid-19 related requirements for entry to and travel within Botswana before you book with us, and advise you promptly by email of any changes both before and during your travel. Unfortunately the requirements may be subject to sudden change and outside our control so we can only use our best endeavors.
We recognise that certainty is not possible right now. The Covid-19 pandemic can frustrate the best made plans. In the event of a Covid-19 event affecting your travel with us special terms and conditions apply which supersede (in part) the standard terms and conditions below. You will find the special Covid-19 conditions here. These special conditions are intended to allow you to book with a little more certainty during the pandemic.
Lead travellers
Each party must advise DIY of the lead traveler authorized to conduct official business on behalf of the party. Whilst DIY is happy to provide information and discuss travel options with any or all members of the party we will accept instructions only from the nominated lead traveler.
Visas and Passports
You are responsible for ensuring you have the correct visas for entry to Botswana.
Visitors to Southern Africa must have two consecutive blank pages in their passport which lie side by side when the passport is open. Visitors travelling to Southern Africa with passports which do not comply with these requirements may be stopped from boarding the aircraft or risk deportation on arrival in Southern Africa. Passports must also be at least six months from their date of expiry at the time of travel.
Travelling With Children
Please note that there are special requirements for travelling to Botswana and through South Africa with children under the age of 18.
Immigration regulations as of 1 October 2016 in Botswana for travelling with children (under 18 years of age) require that all parents are in possession of a certified copy of an unabridged birth certificate, as well as a valid passport for their children. Families not in possession of these documents will be refused entry. In the case where only one parent is travelling with the children, consent in the form of an affidavit from the other parent registered is required. Alternatively, either a court order granting full parental responsibilities and rights or a death certificate of the other parent must be produced.
Other travel arrangements
Making your international flight bookings such that they connect with the dates of your travel within Botswana is important. We recommend that your planning in this regard dovetails with your itinerary development with DIY and that all flights are booked before the lead traveler instructs DIY to begin booking accommodations etc.
Product Descriptions
Product descriptions such as accommodation and specific activities/services are based on current information. These may be subject to change which we have no control over, however we will endeavor to keep you informed of changes that we become aware of and make changes to a like standard if at all possible.
Pricing
The prices provided in the sample itineraries are designed to give you an indication of the cost of a self drive tour in Botswana in relation to various types of accommodation and activities as described. Those activities that are included in the price are identified in the itinerary.
We provide a bespoke service creating an itinerary specific to your needs and interests so prices will differ from the sample itinerary depending on your requested level of accommodation, the duration of your travel, and the activities you want us to book for you. Prices are calculated in Botswana currency, the Botswana Pula (BWP). Prices we quote are inclusive of taxes and will be accurate at the time of quotation.
However, taxes and provider charges are beyond our control and may be subject to change. If this occurs we will notify you promptly.
Payment
We require a deposit once the lead traveler has formally accepted the itinerary and quote negotiated with us, and before we will make any reservations on your behalf. The deposit will be calculated based on the length of travel and the number of travelers in the party. This deposit is nonrefundable.
Early payment may be required to secure key accommodations (etc), that are in high demand.
Full and final payment for the balance of the quoted price is payable 90 days prior to your tour commencing. This date will be clearly identified on your itinerary and documentation we send to you. If we have not received the full payment by this date we may be obliged to cancel certain aspects of your itinerary and will not be able to guarantee your tour. If this happens your booking may be considered effectively cancelled (see cancellation policy).
We accept payment by Telegraphic Transfer or Credit Card. If not paying by telegraphic transfer additional charges may apply.
Cancellation
You may cancel your tour for any reason at any time, however this will incur cancellation costs. We recommend you take out comprehensive travel insurance at the time you pay your deposit to cover you in the event that you need to cancel.
If you cancel your travel your deposit will not be refunded. If you have paid the balance of the price prior to cancellation we will attempt to refund as much of this as we can, but this will be subject to the cancellation policies imposed by third parties such as accommodation providers.
Cancellation within 14 days of your holiday in Botswana commencing may result in loss of all payments.
All communications relating to requests to cancel or amend your travel arrangements with us must be from the lead traveller and delivered by email to [email protected] in order to be valid.
If a refund is made then the stipulated amount will be remitted by telegraphic transfer to the bank account nominated by the lead traveller. Please note that DIY cannot be responsible for delays/ or additional transaction fees or currency conversion fees of the reimbursement to your account once it has been processed by us.
Amendments or changes to your itinerary
If you wish to make changes to your holiday once bookings are finalised ,we will make every effort to accommodate these but cannot guarantee that this will be possible depending on how much notice is given and the time of the year such as peak season. Any changes must be requested by the lead traveller by email.
If the amendments are possible then they will be subject to any charges imposed by the affected providers and a sum of BWP 1500 to cover DIY administrative costs. The dates of the tour and/or the number of travellers in your party can be changed only once on this basis. Any further date or party size changes will be treated as a cancellation and rebooking.
Refunds
Your deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable from the moment we confirm your booking on your behalf.
No refund is available for cancellations after your travel with us has commenced or in respect of any tours, accommodation, meals or any other services not utilised.
Meeting on arrival
To ensure your holiday gets off to a good start it is vital that you meet up with our agent at the start of your travel with us. At that meeting we will provide you with further details relating to your itinerary, a programmed GPS unit on loan, any other prearranged loan items, a local SIM card for your phone, and detailed guide notes for each day of your stay. Any changes to the expected arrival time must be relayed to DIY as soon as you become aware of them.
Bonds
A bond will be charged to cover the cost of any item loaned to you by DIY. The bond will be refunded on return of the equipment in good working order at the conclusion of your travel with us. The refund will be made by telegraphic transfer to a bank account nominated by the lead traveller.
Rights and Responsibilities
The booking confirmation will be sent to you detailing your holiday. You are responsible for carefully checking all the details on your confirmation and related travel documents. Where there are any inaccuracies of bookings for the wrong dates and/or number of travellers please contact DIY immediately.
DIY reserves the right to alter itineraries should this be necessary due to adverse weather events or other related conditions. We will always work with you to come up with a suitable solution. DIY is not responsible for expenses and/or other related costs due to factors outside its control such as flight delays, transport /travel interruption, changes or cancellations, injuries, weather, natural disasters or pandemics.
You are responsible for keeping DIY informed of any changes to your contact information.
Reviews and feedback
We welcome feedback in order to improve our services and will make time to meet you prior to your departure for a debrief and to collect the GPS unit and any other loan items. There is also a section on our website where you are welcome to post a review for the benefit of other clients and we would encourage you to do so.