Making a booking

We require a completed booking form and a non-returnable deposit of 30% of the full cost of the tour to confirm a booking. The person signing the booking form does so on behalf of all other persons mentioned on the form. A contract exists when we issue a written confirmation of your booking. We reserve the right to refuse any booking at our discretion.

Paying for the trip

An additional payment of 50% of the full cost of the tour is due to IMAGE ETHIOPIA TOURS three months before your arrival date. If this balance is not received we will reserve the right to treat your booking as cancelled.

Final balancing payment is due on arrival in Addis Ababa. This may be in cash in Euro, Sterling or US Dollar equivalent in large denominations. If you prefer you may also send the final payment by bank transfer two weeks before your arrival date.

Travel costs may be affected by external factors beyond our control such as exchange rates, entrance fees and government imposed taxes. IMAGE ETHIOPIA TOURS reserves the right to impose any such surcharges on the cost of the trip. However, should any such increases be greater than 5% you will be informed and may cancel your trip within 7 days of notification and be entitled to a full refund of any money paid.

If the cost of internal flights with Ethiopian Airlines increases after a booking has been made, any unavoidable surcharge will be passed onto you and will be payable before starting the tour.

If you cancel your trip

Cancellation of your trip must be made in writing to us and be signed by the person whose name and signature appears on the booking form. As we may have considerable costs if you cancel, we will retain your deposit and may impose the following cancellation charges: 31 -15 days before departure - 80%, 14 days or less before departure - 100%. We strongly advise you to take out suitable insurance to cover such potential costs.

Acceptance of risk

Bookings are accepted on the understanding that travel in Ethiopia involves a possible degree of risk. Such risks might include, amongst others, property loss, inconvenience, setbacks, delays, discomfort, sickness, accident, injury, or fatality. Please understand that you must accept these potential risk factors and that IMAGE ETHIOPIA TOURS will not be responsible for any such risks or a rising from them. We will also not be liable for the consequences of work stoppages, industrial action, general strikes, go-slows, wars, conflicts, civil strife and disobediences, terrorist activities, adverse weather conditions, natural disasters, other inconvenient incidences or any uninsured losses of your belongings.

Itinerary changes

We will make every effort to keep to itineraries, however, you must understand that the nature of travel in Ethiopia may possibly entail changes in travel plans for which IMAGE ETHIOPIA TOURS accepts no responsibility. We reserve the right to alter the itinerary after consultation with you, if any of the conditions mentioned above (cf. “Acceptance of risk”) arise. If you request or require any itinerary modifications you may be accountable for any costs we sustain to facilitate these.

Insurance

Travel insurance is mandatory. You are responsible for arranging your own comprehensive travel insurance. While full medical cover is essential, we strongly advise you to include cover for cancellation, curtailment and loss of property. We recommend that insurance is taken out at the time you make  your booking so that you are covered for all eventualities. Please carry a copy of your insurance(s) with you on the trip and leave a copy with somebody in your home country.

Visa

You are responsible for arranging your own visa and should be in possession of a passport valid for more than six months.

Tour guides

Our guides are there to ensure your trip runs as smoothly as possible. They will at all times be acting in the best interests of  you and/ or your group. If the behavior of any member of the group is considered to jeopardize the safety and general well-being of the group the accompanying guide, or other company representatives, in consultation with the group, may ask that member to leave without recourse to any refund. By signing the booking form you indicate acceptance of the leader's authority to make such decisions affecting the individual and/ or the group.

Complaints

If you have any grievances and complaints against IMAGE ETHIOPIA TOURS, you should in the first instance inform the tour guide or appropriate company delegate immediately whilst on the trip so that the complaint may be addressed and, where feasible, taken care of to your satisfaction. Any further complaint should be made in writing to IMAGE ETHIOPIA TOURS within 10 days of the end of your trip.