Important Booking Information

Booking

If you would like to adapt one of the safaris on our website or if you would like a tailor-made itinerary, please send us an enquiry form telling us about your requirements.

If you would like to book a safari from our website, as is, or once you have an agreed tailor-made itinerary and price, we will send you a quote and a Booking Form to complete and return to us. All bookings are governed by Venture Uganda – Booking Conditions 2024

When we receive your Booking Form, we will check the availability of gorilla and/or chimpanzee tracking permits for your preferred national park, forest sector and date and also the availability of accommodation. If changes are necessary, we will inform you, suggest alternatives and provide a revised quote and Booking Form for your signature.

Once reservations are made, we will send you a Booking Confirmation, which forms the contract between us, along with an invoice for the immediate payment of a non-refundable deposit (normally 20% of the total holiday price plus the full cost of any tracking permits and international flights). Kindly send us a remittance note so that we know your payment is on the way.

Unfortunately, there is no system in Uganda for reserving tracking permits, they can only be secured with payment and, once bought, they are non-refundable. If we are very unlucky, and permits have sold-out as we wait for your payment, we will suggest an alternative forest sector or date. Booking early (6+ months) when permits are more readily available, should help to avoid this. Last minute permits can sometimes be found, especially if you are flexible, but there will always be a rush to pay and secure them.

Final payments must reach us 90 days before arrival.

Your deposit is non-refundable but your holiday can be rescheduled, within one year. You will be liable for any additional costs. This is subject to the agreement of our suppliers and availability.

Payments and Cancellation

We charge in US dollars. Payment is by bank transfer into our USD bank account in Uganda.

For bookings from within Uganda, cash can be deposited on our bank account.

Payment instructions are given on our invoices.

In order to confirm your safari, we have to pay non-refundable deposits and, later, final payments, on your behalf, to a variety of suppliers e.g. accommodation, transport and guides. The later your cancellation, the less chance there is for them to re-sell what you have booked.  We have also spent a lot of time designing and arranging your holiday. Therefore, we charge cancellation fees as follows:

If you cancel more than 90 days before your arrival date you lose your holiday deposit including any deposit on tracking permits.

If you cancel 90 – 61 days before your arrival date you lose 50% of your total holiday price plus the full cost of tracking permits

If you cancel 60 – 31 days before your arrival date you lose 75% of your total holiday price plus the full cost of tracking permits

If you cancel 30 days or fewer before your arrival date you lose 100% of your total holiday price plus the full cost of tracking permits

We are subject to our suppliers’ cancellation policies. Payments already made to them cannot be refunded to you at any stage.

If one or more group members cancels, the price for remaining members may increase.

International flight cancellations will be subject to the Airlines’ booking conditions.

Cancellations must be made in writing and acknowledged by Venture Uganda Travel. Charges will be applied based on the date of our written acknowledgement.

We strongly recommend clients include cancellation cover in their travel insurance.

Reminder: instead of cancelling, you could reschedule your holiday within one year, subject to the agreement of our suppliers and availability. You will be liable for any additional costs.

We try to be flexible so please let us know if you would like to request a variation to our process or conditions.

Insurance

AMREF flying doctors provide a medevac service in case of illness or injury during your safari. This costs $30pp for 31 days. We recommend this service and can include it in your package price.

Travel Information

Please see our Travel Information page for information on flights, visas, currency, packing lists, books and field guides, health and safety, emergency contacts and much more general information. If there is anything you cannot find just ask us (enquiries@ventureuganda.org).

Responsible Tourism

See our Responsible Tourism pages for information about our approach to tourism and advice on how to travel responsibly.