Our Policies

Ready to Start Planning?

Here’s how it works.

To secure your trip, we ask for a 25% deposit, which you can send by check or bank transfer. We do accept credit cards with a 4% processing surcharge. Your remaining balance is due 60 days before your safari begins — again by bank transfer or check. And since we have a U.S.-based office, sending checks and booking documents is easy and convenient.

Your Booking Journey

1.  You choose your dream itinerary

2.  We check availability at lodges, camps, and (if you’re heading there) Zanzibar

3.  Together, we fine-tune the itinerary and pricing as needed

4.  We send you an invoice, a detailed day-by-day itinerary, packing lists, a waiver form, and a quick pre-trip survey

5.  You submit your deposit

6.  We reserve all your services and accommodations

7.  As your trip gets closer, we send you everything you need to know — logistics, a tipping guide, and emergency contacts

8.  You pay the remaining balance 60 days before departure

9.  A few days before you leave, we send your final crew list and any last updates

We take care of all your in-country travel, including airport transfers, domestic flights, and hotel stays. We strongly recommend purchasing trip cancellation and emergency evacuation insurance — visit Squaremouth for a side-by-side comparison of policies. If your trip includes a Kilimanjaro climb, we recommend purchasing helicopter evacuation insurance.

What’s Included

Your quoted trip price covers all accommodations and activities listed in your itinerary, meals as specified, guided sightseeing, relevant park and entrance fees, airport transfers noted on your invoice, any equipment listed, and all government taxes.

What’s Not Included

A few things fall outside your trip price: health and travel insurance, international or internal airfare (unless noted), passport and visa costs, airport departure taxes, excess baggage charges, gratuities, meals beyond those listed in your itinerary, activities not included in your itinerary, and personal expenses like laundry, Wi-Fi, and phone charges.

Gratuities for your drivers, guides, cooks, porters, and camp staff are at your discretion and should reflect your satisfaction with the service you received. We include recommended tipping guidelines in your pre-trip information to make this easy.

A Note on Itinerary Changes

While we do everything we can to run your trip exactly as planned, accommodations and sightseeing are occasionally subject to change due to circumstances beyond our control. We also reserve the right to adjust pricing to reflect increased costs, tariffs, taxes, or foreign exchange fluctuations.

Similarly, we reserve the right to modify or adjust any portion of a tour if necessary, and to pass along any costs caused by delays or events outside our control.

Deposits & Payment Schedule

A 25% deposit per person is required at the time of booking, with the remaining balance due 60 days before your trip start date.

Cancellation Policy

We understand that plans can change. Here’s how cancellations work:

•  90+ days before departure:  10% of the total package price

•  60–90 days before departure:  25% of the total package price

•  30–60 days before departure:  50% of the total package price

•  Less than 30 days before departure:  No refund of deposit or final payment

Please note that refunds are not issued for missed services during a trip.

Any reference to Duma Explorer, Alika Africa, Duma, or “the Company” refers to Duma Explorer, Inc.