Cancellation and Refund Policy
Cancellation and Refund Policy for Kilimanjaro Climbs and Tanzania Safaris
At Safari Stride, we know that climbing Mount Kilimanjaro or joining a Tanzania wildlife safari is often a dream come true—a once-in-a-lifetime journey to experience Africa’s natural beauty and iconic landscapes. We also understand that these adventures require a significant financial investment, covering flights, tour costs, park fees, accommodation, and travel insurance. Because of the costs involved, it’s important for every guest to fully understand our safari and Kilimanjaro cancellation policy before booking.
Life can be unpredictable, and sometimes your travel plans may need to change. While we always try to assist guests with rescheduling or refunds, full refunds are not always possible due to advance payments made to our partners in Tanzania.
Why Full Refunds Aren’t Always Possible
Organizing a Kilimanjaro trekking expedition or Tanzania safari tour involves careful coordination with multiple suppliers. Many of these costs—such as national park entry fees, hotel deposits, domestic flights, and supplies—are paid weeks or months before your arrival. These expenses are often non-refundable from our partners, which means we cannot recover them in the event of a cancellation.
If you contact us directly, we may receive additional information about you such as your name, email address, phone number, the contents of the message and/or attachments you may send us, and any other information you may choose to provide.
Key Prepaid Expenses Include:
Safari lodges, hotels, and domestic flights
We work with trusted lodges, tented camps, and hotels across Tanzania’s safari circuit. These properties, as well as local airlines operating flights to remote national parks and Zanzibar, have their own cancellation terms. If your booking is cancelled, they may charge penalties that cannot be refunded.
Tanzania National Parks Authority fees
Whether it’s for the Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, or Mount Kilimanjaro National Park, entry fees must be paid in advance. Once processed, these fees are strictly non-refundable.
Trekking and safari supplies
A Kilimanjaro climb or multi-day safari requires advance purchase of fresh food, bottled water, fuel, and other essential items sourced from local communities. These cannot be returned for a refund.
Our dedicated Tanzanian team
From safari guides and mountain porters to itinerary planners and reservation specialists, our team invests significant time and effort to prepare your adventure. We are committed to supporting local employment and ensuring fair wages, even if a booking is cancelled.
Our Flexible Approach to Cancellations
While our Tanzania tour cancellation policy helps protect the livelihoods of our staff and partners, we also understand that emergencies happen. In cases of serious illness, bereavement, or major disruptions like natural disasters or political instability in your home country, we will work hard to secure the highest possible refund from our suppliers.
As soon as we receive your cancellation notice, we contact all relevant partners to negotiate on your behalf. We aim to process refund requests within 72 hours.
Cancellation Fees
Our standard safari and Kilimanjaro trek cancellation policy is as follows:
USD 100 per person deposit: non-refundable but transferable to future dates
For all Kilimanjaro climbs and safari packages:
10% fee if cancelled more than 90 days before the start date
30% fee if cancelled 60–89 days before the start date
60% fee if cancelled 30–59 days before the start date
80% fee if cancelled 8–29 days before the start date
No refund if cancelled 0–7 days before the start date
If lodge or airline penalties are higher than these percentages, the non-refundable amount will be adjusted. Bank transfer fees will be deducted from any refund.
Lifetime Deposit Option
Instead of cancelling completely, you can keep your deposit on hold for future Tanzania travel with Safari Stride—whether it’s another Kilimanjaro climb or a safari. There’s no expiry date, but if costs increase (e.g., due to park fee adjustments), the difference will need to be covered at the time of your trip.
Rescheduling is often the most cost-effective choice, as many lodges and airlines allow date changes without penalty when given sufficient notice—especially outside Tanzania’s peak safari seasons (mid-December to mid-March, early July to mid-October).
Travel Insurance Recommendation
To safeguard your investment, we strongly recommend purchasing comprehensive travel insurance that covers cancellations, delays, and other unforeseen events. If you need to claim expenses from your insurer, Safari Stride will provide all necessary documentation to support your claim.
