Terms and Conditions

Effective Date: 1st January 2026.

1. Introduction

Embarking on a safari is an exciting adventure, and at Rustic Nature Tours Ltd (“Rustic Nature Tours”, “the Company”, “we”, “us”, or “our”) we are committed to making your experience safe, transparent and memorable. Before you head out into the wild, please take time to read and understand these Terms and Conditions, which govern the booking and operation of every safari, day tour, and travel arrangement provided by Rustic Nature Tours.

These terms set out the rights and obligations of both the client (“you”, “the traveller”, or “the guest”) and the Company. By booking a tour with Rustic Nature Tours, whether directly, through our website, or through an authorised agent, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to be bound by these Terms and Conditions, as well as our separate Payments and Cancellation Policy.

All matters relating to deposits, balance payments, accepted methods of payment, refunds and cancellation charges are dealt with in our Payments and Cancellation Policy, which forms part of, and should be read together with, these Terms and Conditions.

2. Travel Insurance and Medical Insurance

We highly reccommend that every member of your party holds adequate, comprehensive, and valid travel insurance and medical insurance for the entire duration of the safari, including travel to and from East Africa.

2.1 Travel Insurance — Minimum Cover Required

Your travel insurance policy must, as a minimum, provide cover for:

• Loss of, damage to, or theft of personal baggage, money, travel documents and electronic devices.
• Travel delays and missed connections, including additional accommodation and transport expenses.
• Personal liability cover for accidental damage to third parties or third‑party property.
• Natural disasters, civil unrest, strikes, pandemics and other force‑majeure events affecting your travel.

2.2 Medical and Emergency Insurance — Minimum Cover Required

Because safaris in East Africa often take place in remote regions where advanced medical facilities may be hours away, you are strongly advised to take out a medical insurance policy that includes, at a minimum:

• Emergency medical and hospital expenses.
• Emergency medical evacuation and repatriation, including air ambulance and the Flying Doctors Service or equivalent.
• Repatriation of mortal remains.
• Personal accident cover (death and permanent disability).
• Cover for pre‑existing medical conditions where applicable; you must declare any such conditions to your insurer before travel.
• Cover for activities you intend to participate in during the safari, including but not limited to game drives in 4×4 vehicles, walking safaris, hot‑air balloon rides, boat rides, hiking, horseback riding and cultural visits.

It is your responsibility, and not the Company’s, to read your insurance policy carefully, to understand the scope and limitations of cover, to disclose any pre‑existing medical conditions, and to ensure that all activities you intend to undertake on safari are covered. Rustic Nature Tours cannot in any way be held liable should you fail to take out adequate insurance, fail to disclose relevant information to your insurer, or have a claim declined for any reason.

3. Responsibility, Liability and Assumption of Risk

Safari and adventure travel in Africa carries a measure of inherent risk including, but not limited to, the hazards of travelling in underdeveloped areas where road conditions and other facilities may be poor or lacking; the forces of nature; close proximity to wild animals; and accident or illness in remote regions where rapid evacuation may not be possible. By booking and undertaking a safari with us, you acknowledge these risks and accept them voluntarily.

Bookings are accepted on the express condition that Rustic Nature Tours Ltd and its team of independent overseas safari consultants act only as agents of the traveller in all matters relating to hotels, sightseeing, restaurants, transportation and other services included in the tours. We purchase these services from suppliers and independent contractors over whom we have no direct control, and they are provided without warranties or representations on our part.

We reserve the right to substitute hotels, lodges or camps of comparable standard, and to amend the itinerary where this is deemed necessary as a result of adverse road or weather conditions, disruptions to airline schedules, security advisories, animal movements, or any other valid reason.

3.1 Limitation of Liability — Unforeseen Accidents, Injury and Death

While Rustic Nature Tours takes every reasonable precaution to ensure the safety, comfort and enjoyment of our guests, the natural environment of an African safari cannot be fully controlled or predicted. Accordingly, and to the fullest extent permitted by law, you expressly acknowledge and agree that:

• Rustic Nature Tours Ltd, its directors, employees, drivers, guides, agents, consultants and suppliers shall not be liable for any unforeseen accident, incident, injury, illness, disability, emotional distress or death sustained by any traveller before, during or after the safari, howsoever caused.
• This exclusion of liability includes, without limitation, accidents or incidents arising from or in connection with: encounters with wild animals; vehicle breakdowns or collisions; aircraft, boat or balloon operations; acts or omissions of independent suppliers; food or waterborne illness; altitude or weather‑related conditions; participation in optional or adventure activities; pre‑existing medical conditions; and any other event or circumstance beyond our reasonable control.
• Rustic Nature Tours shall not be liable for delay, loss, theft or damage of any kind, nor for any change of itinerary or act caused by acts of terrorism, acts of God, acts of government, civil disturbance, neglect, accident, error or omission of any supplier or independent contractor, or any other event of force majeure.
• All baggage and personal belongings are carried at the traveller’s sole risk. Rustic Nature Tours reserves the right to refuse to carry certain baggage at its discretion.
• Air carriers used to provide flights within Kenya and the wider East African region are subject to international air conventions limiting their liability. The applicable limitations are contained on the reverse of the airline ticket and are deemed to form part of these Terms and Conditions.

By confirming your booking and paying any deposit, you confirm that you understand the inherent risks of safari travel, that you have taken or will take out the insurance described in Clause 2 above, and that you release and hold harmless Rustic Nature Tours Ltd from any and all claims, demands, costs and expenses (including legal costs) arising from any unforeseen accident, injury or death not directly caused by the proven gross negligence or wilful misconduct of the Company.

4. Wild Animals

Please be aware that on any African safari you will at times be in close contact with wild animals. Although attacks by wild animals are rare, no safari operator can guarantee that an incident will not occur. Many safari camps are unfenced and animals are able to wander through the camps at any time of day or night.

You must at all times follow the safety briefings, instructions and warnings given by your driver‑guide, camp staff and ranger escorts. Neither Rustic Nature Tours Ltd nor its employees, agents or suppliers shall be held responsible for any injury, illness or incident caused by the actions, presence or proximity of wild animals.

5. Safari Transport

The vehicles used for safari transport on rough roads in East Africa differ significantly from tour coaches operating on highways in developed countries. As a rule they are not fitted with air‑conditioning beyond the standard ventilation fan.

The 4×4 Land Cruisers used for overland road safaris on the main highways and inside the parks are of a standardised design with sliding passenger windows and pop‑up roofs. Open‑sided safari viewing vehicles may be used inside game reserves and conservancies for guests on fly‑in safari packages.

6. Seasonal Factors and Resort Facilities

Some factors are not within our control. Early and late in the season some tourist facilities may not operate. Swimming pools must periodically be cleaned, drained and maintained, and ongoing maintenance work may temporarily affect the availability of certain amenities.

Public holidays and religious festivals throughout the year, particularly Ramadan, may also affect the ambience of a destination and the reliability of shops, banks and other services.

7. Electricity

In most safari lodges where electricity is supplied by a generator, power is switched off late at night and resumes early the following morning. Some lodges and camps only have power in the early mornings and evenings.

Kenya operates on 240 volts at 50 Hz, using British‑style three‑pin rectangular plugs. Voltage may fluctuate, and although power cuts are uncommon, they are not unknown. We recommend that you carry a universal travel adaptor and a small torch. Batteries can usually be recharged in the camp during the day, but please confirm with the camp manager on arrival.

8. Water

Tap water in bathrooms is not suitable for drinking. Bottled water is provided in lodges, camps and safari vehicles for drinking and for cleaning teeth. Please dispose of plastic bottles responsibly in designated bins to support conservation efforts in the parks.

9. Roads

Roads between national parks may include rough or unsealed stretches, and overland journeys can be lengthy because tour vehicles are restricted to a maximum speed of 80 km/h. Where overland transfers would be exceptionally long, local flights between national parks and game reserves are available as an optional extra at additional cost.

10. Issues and Complaints on Safari

We do our best to provide an enjoyable, trouble‑free safari, but occasionally even the best‑laid plans can go wrong. If a problem arises during your safari, you must inform: (a) your tour planning manager via email or WhatsApp; (b) the lodge or camp manager, where the issue is accommodation‑related; and (c) your driver‑guide, immediately. This gives us the opportunity to correct the issue on the spot so that it does not spoil your safari.

If the matter cannot be resolved on site, you must submit details of your complaint to the Company in writing within twenty (20) days of the end of your holiday. It is a condition of this contract that you communicate any problem in this manner; failure to do so deprives us of the opportunity to investigate and rectify the matter, and we cannot accept responsibility for complaints raised outside this procedure.

Formal written complaints will be investigated and addressed within thirty (30) days of receipt. Where a genuine claim for compensation or settlement is upheld, the agreed amount will be paid within thirty (30) days of the resolution of the complaint.

11. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms and Conditions, and any contract formed under them, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Kenya. Any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or in connection with the safari arrangements shall, where possible, be resolved amicably between the parties. Failing such resolution, the dispute shall be referred to arbitration in Kenya in accordance with the Arbitration Act of Kenya, and the courts of Kenya shall have exclusive jurisdiction in respect of any matters not so resolved.

12. Acknowledgement

By booking a tour with Rustic Nature Tours Ltd, you acknowledge that you have read, fully understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions, including the limitation of liability set out in Clause 3, the insurance requirements set out in Clause 2, and the separate Payments and Cancellation Policy issued by the Company.