BOOK YOUR TRIP

BOOKING YOUR TRIP
To secure your spot on a Tusker trip complete our trip application and lodge your deposit. We'll then send you a detailed pre-departure trip planning packet. It tells you all you'll need to know about prepping for your trip, and then some. If we can't offer you a place we'll return your deposit within 14 days.

We accept US$ in the form of personal or bank checks, Money Orders, Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover cards. The payment schedule is as follows:

US$500 per person due upon booking (to secure your spot).
US$700 per person due on the 1st of the month, in the 4th month before departure.
Final payment on the 1st of the month, in the 2nd month before your departure.

If we haven't received your payment and no special arrangements have been made, we will assume that you've canceled and fill your spot from our waiting list. If someone else is paying for any portion of your trip, you (the traveler) are responsible for payments and cancellation fees.

Additional payments may be required on customized itineraries. We will inform you of these once you have placed your initial deposit.

Credit Card Payments: The land cost of your trip will be charged to your credit card automatically on the dates listed in the payment schedule above. If you need to change credit cards please do so PRIOR to the charge date. Once your card is charged, if you decide to use a different card, we will assess you the 3% finance charge.

CANCELLATIONS
At the time we receive written notice of cancellation of your trip, the following fees will apply for each person:

More than 60 days before your Tusker departure date - $250.
30-60 Days - 25% of the land cost.
0-29 Days - 100% of the land cost.

Cancellation terms may differ on customized itineraries.

Trip Cancellation Insurance: It is your responsibility to ensure that you are healthy enough to participate in our trips. Once Tusker has confirmed your place on a trip, cancellation fees will apply if you cancel your trip for ANY reason – even for medical issues. We strongly recommend that you buy trip cancellation insurance.

RAIN-CHECKS
We can only offer a rain check for the part of your trip that is operated by Tusker Trail. As we do not have control over service providers, we cannot offer rain checks for their services. They may levy their own cancellation fees. Rain checks are available only for the Kilimanjaro Climb and Mongolia Trek. Once you have signed up for one of the above trips, if you have to postpone, please contact our office immediately. We cannot guarantee it, but we'll do our best to reschedule your trip.

Rain-Check Terms & Conditions: At the time that we receive written request that you wish to postpone your Tusker trip, the following fees will apply to each person:

More than 60 days before departure – NO CHARGE
45-60 days before departure - $100
5-44 days before departure - $250
0-4 days before departure – May not be possible, so call us immediately!

If we are able to give you a rain-check we will hold the deposits that you have paid, and apply them to your postponed Tusker Trail trip. The price of your Tusker Trail trip will remain valid for travel up to 1 year from the date that we received your original deposit. If you decide to cancel your trip completely, we will use your first notification to us as the cancellation date, and base your cancellation fees on your original trip date.

AIRFARE
Our payment, cancellation and postponement policies do not apply to air travel arranged through Tusker Trail. Full payment for air travel is usually due the day after we make your reservation. Cancellation and change policies are different for each airline we use.

HEALTH
Each Tusker trip member is required to submit our Medical Fitness Report. This form does not require your doctor's signature; however it does require complete disclosure about your health. Once we receive your medical form, we'll be able to confirm your acceptance on the trip. If there are any concerns about your health we may need to contact your doctor for more detailed information. Please send your medical form to us immediately after sending your application and deposit. This will allow us adequate time for review and possible follow-up questions. It will also allow you sufficient time to make alternate plans in the event you are not eligible to join the expedition.

GUARANTEED KILIMANJARO DEPARTURES
We have many scheduled departures throughout the year. All of our Kilimanjaro departures are guaranteed – even if there is only 1 climber. This means that we will NEVER cancel a Kilimanjaro climb due to low sign up. Extension and/or other expedition departures are not guaranteed, as they are operated by other service providers.

CUSTOM KILIMANJARO DEPARTURES
We are happy to customize your Kilimanjaro climbing dates. There is no surcharge for a custom Kilimanjaro climb. As we have a limited number of guides, you should place your deposit immediately. Climbing Alone: If you would like a private climb and you want to climb alone, there is an additional charge of US$975. Private Groups: If there are 2 or more in your group there is no additional cost!

PARK FEES & FLIGHTS
Most Tusker trips involve entrance to managed areas, such as national parks. Some Tusker trips involve internal flights. The park fees and internal flight costs can change at any time. Trip members are responsible for any cost increase.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
Kilimanjaro: If you are on your own and join a Kilimanjaro climb, we'll match you up with a roommate of the same gender. Should you require your own room at our hotel in Moshi and/or tent while on the Kilimanjaro climb, it will cost extra. If you are forced to sleep in a single room or tent due to an odd number of climbers, we will not charge you the single supplement.

Trip Extensions: You may schedule a private trip extension or join an existing group. All extension prices are based on double occupancy. This means you will be sharing vehicles and guides, as well as accommodation. If you choose, or are forced to use single accommodations due to an odd-numbered group, you will be charged a single supplement.

LATE ITINERARY CHANGES
If you change your itinerary you will be charged $125 per new itinerary. We must receive your written approval by the next business day at 12 noon, Pacific Time. You will be responsible for any additional charges that may be levied by other service providers.

TUSKER DISCRETION
Tusker Trail requires trip members to be prepared physically, psychologically and to have the correct equipment for all our trips. After signup, TUSKER TRAIL reserves the right to dismiss a Trip member at any time for any reasons that TUSKER TRAIL may later learn about the Trip member. Trip members must provide us with true and accurate information.

If we must cancel or change a trip, we will do our best to provide you with a full or partial refund for the Tusker Trail-operated land portion of your trip. This refund shall release Tusker Trail & Safari Co. from any further liability. Tusker Trail & Safari Co. is not responsible for expenses incurred by trip members in preparing for the trip, e.g. non-refundable fees for air tickets; equipment; visa fees, etc. Cancellation fees may be levied by other operators running other portions of your trip.

Due to the nature of this wilderness trip, certain events may occur which could incur additional costs not planned for at this time, including but not limited to currency fluctuation, change in costs or means of conveyance, the cost of evacuation, medical treatment, body recovery and/or repatriation and other related matters. Those additional costs are not the responsibility of Tusker Trail & Safari Co. and that the Trip member is responsible for the payment of those costs. Any search and rescue undertaken on the trip member’s behalf will be the financial responsibility of the trip member involved, including costs incurred by Tusker Trail & Safari Co., other expeditions, governments or other entities.

EVENTS BEYOND OUR CONTROL
Force Majeure & Delayed or Cancelled Trips: Tusker Trail may, at any time, cancel or withdraw a tour or trek due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control such as weather or other acts of God, strikes, war, hostile governments, riots, fire, pandemics, etc. In these cases, we will, with no penalty to ourselves, undertake to notify you of the circumstances for our withdrawal of the tour or trek. In the event we choose to cancel a tour or trek for one of these uncontrollable and safety oriented reasons, neither Tusker Trail nor our staff, vendors or service providers will be liable or responsible for refunds, reimbursements, increased or altered trip fees or damages to participants or clients.

BOOKING CONDITIONS