Booking and Cancellation Policy
These terms and conditions govern all Kenya tour bookings and Kenya–Tanzania cross-country safari packages offered by Marvels of Africa.
1. Our Contract
All bookings are made with our licensed franchise in Kenya, trading as Cryptic Safaris Ltd. By completing a booking with Marvels of Africa, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to these Booking & Cancellation Conditions. Your booking will be accepted on this basis. The services to be provided are those specified in your Booking Confirmation Voucher.
2. Booking Validity
A booking is only considered valid once we have issued and sent you an official Booking Confirmation Voucher. Payment alone does not constitute a confirmed booking. Your reservation is secured only upon receipt of the Booking Confirmation Voucher from Marvels of Africa.
3. Booking Policy
3.1 A booking is confirmed only upon your receipt of a Booking Confirmation Voucher from us.
3.2 A minimum deposit of 40% of the total booking cost is required to confirm your reservation.
3.3 The remaining balance must be settled at least 15 working days prior to your arrival date.
3.4 Bookings made within 15 days of the arrival date require full payment (100%) at the time of confirmation.
4. Booking Acceptance & Final Payments
Upon accepting your booking, we will issue a Booking Confirmation Voucher via email. A contract between you and Marvels of Africa comes into effect from the date we issue this confirmation.
Please refer to your Booking Voucher and invoice for the final payment due date. If the balance is not received by the stated due date, we reserve the right to treat your booking as cancelled and apply the applicable cancellation charges.
5. Payment Methods & Terms
5.1 Available Payment Methods
| Payment Method | 40% Deposit | 60% Balance |
|---|---|---|
| Bank / Wire / ACH Transfer | Yes | Yes (15 days prior to arrival) |
| Online Card Payment (Gateway) | Yes (+3% surcharge) | Yes (+3% surcharge and to be done 3 days prior to arrival) |
| Card via POS Machine | — | Yes (+3% surcharge and to be paid upon arrival) |
| USD Cash upon Arrival in Nairobi | — | Yes (bills printed after 2013 and to be paid upon arrival) |
5.2 Bank / Wire / ACH Transfers
All intermediary bank charges are the responsibility of the sender. We must receive the exact amount stated in the invoice. Any shortfall due to transfer fees will be added to the outstanding balance.
Please allow 2–3 working days for bank transfers to be reflected in our account.
5.3 Cash Payments Upon Arrival
We only accept USD cash from the 2013 series or newer. Bills from earlier series will not be accepted.
Bank transfers are not accepted for balance payments made upon arrival. The only accepted methods upon arrival are:
- USD cash (2013 series or newer)
- Card payment via POS machine (3% surcharge applies)
Please note: Full payment must be settled before departure from Nairobi. This is a non-negotiable condition of your safari.
6. Cancellation & Rescheduling Policy
6.1 Cancellation by the Client
If you cancel your booking — in whole or in part — the following cancellation fees apply based on the number of days before your safari start date:
| Days Before Arrival | Cancellation Fee |
|---|---|
| More than 90 days | No charge — full refund |
| 61–90 days | 15% of total booking amount |
| 31–60 days | 30% of total booking amount |
| 16–30 days | 50% of total booking amount |
| 15 days or fewer | 100% of total booking amount (non-refundable) |
Cancellation fees may be waived at Marvels of Africa's sole discretion if you are unable to travel due to a significant, unavoidable, and unforeseeable event at the destination that materially affects the execution of the trip, or if you reject a proposed substantial change to your itinerary initiated by us.
6.2 No-Shows & Unused Services
No refunds will be issued for any activities, meals, or services included in your confirmed itinerary that you choose not to use or participate in during the trip. Marvels of Africa is not liable for costs arising from domestic or international flight delays or last-minute cancellations, whether booked by us or by you.
6.3 Rescheduling Due to External Circumstances
If you are unable to travel due to extraordinary external factors (such as a declared pandemic, or flight cancellations caused by conflict or natural disaster), we will make every effort to liaise with the lodges in your itinerary to obtain a credit note on your behalf.
Please be aware that:
- •Credit notes, if issued, are valid for 12 months from the original travel date.
- •The issuance of any credit note is entirely at the discretion of the individual lodge suppliers.
- •If a lodge declines to issue a credit note, the standard cancellation charges in section 6.1 will apply.
6.4 International Flight Delays & Recommended Pre-Safari Night
Marvels of Africa cannot be held responsible for any portion of your safari missed as a result of delays to your international flight arrival. In such cases, no refund or compensation will be issued for missed services or activities, as these are pre-booked and paid to third-party suppliers who, in the vast majority of instances, do not offer refunds for late or no-show arrivals.
To protect your safari experience, we strongly recommend booking a leisure night at your arrival destination before commencing your safari itinerary the following day:
Kenya safaris — a leisure night in Nairobi upon arrival
Tanzania safaris — a leisure night in Arusha upon arrival
This buffer ensures that any unforeseen delays to your international flight do not result in a loss of paid safari services, and allows you to begin your journey well-rested.
6.5 Itinerary Amendments by the Client
If you wish to modify your confirmed itinerary after a deposit has been paid, please notify us in writing at the earliest opportunity. We will use our best efforts to accommodate your request.
Please note:
- •Amendment fees may apply based on the portion of the itinerary being changed.
- •We are unable to process itinerary amendments within 4 weeks (28 days) of departure.
- •Any amendment request received within 4 weeks of departure will be treated as a cancellation of the original booking, and the standard cancellation policy in section 6.1 will apply.
6.6 Changes Initiated by Marvels of Africa
While we will always endeavour to deliver your confirmed itinerary without changes, we reserve the right to make modifications where necessary. We will notify you in writing as early as possible.
Minor changes — such as small adjustments to timings, vehicle types, or equivalent accommodation substitutions — will not entitle you to cancellation or compensation.
In the event of a major change, defined as a significant alteration to your domestic flights, all accommodations, or all activities, and provided the change is not due to force majeure or airline schedule changes, Marvels of Africa will make every reasonable effort to provide a comparable replacement of equal or greater quality. If a comparable replacement is not available, offer you a reasonable period to: accept the change and receive a price reduction for the changed leg.
6.7 Force Majeure & Non-Compliance
Marvels of Africa cannot accept liability or provide compensation if we are required to cancel or modify a booking due to extraordinary circumstances beyond our reasonable control that could not have been avoided even with due care. This includes, but is not limited to, natural disasters, political instability, pandemics, or acts of war.
No compensation or alternative options will be offered if a cancellation or change is required due to your failure to comply with these Booking Conditions, or if the change is minor and does not materially affect the holiday experience as described at the time of booking.