BOOKING YOUR TRIP
We keep our group sizes small and our trips usually book up 8 to 12 months in advance, so it's wise to book with us as soon as possible.  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 everything 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 personal or bank checks, Money Orders, Visa, Mastercard, American Express or Discover, and plain old cash.  The payment schedule is as follows:

• US$500 per person due upon booking (to secure your spot(s)).
• US$700 per person due on the 1st of the month, in the 4th month before departure.
• Final payment (Balance of land costs) due 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 cancellations and/or itinerary changes.  Airfare payments are handled separately.

Travelers who choose to pay with a credit card:  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 switch credit cards for any reason you must do so PRIOR to the charge date listed in the payment schedule.  Once your card is charged, a refund will not be issued for the purpose of “switching” cards.

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 trip with Tusker starts - $250.
• 30-60 Days - 25% of the land cost.
• 0-29 Days - 100% of the land cost.
  

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 if you cancel because of medical issues.  This is why we strongly recommend that you buy trip cancellation insurance.  

Tusker Trail & Safari Co. reserves the right to cancel any trip prior to departure for any reason, including logistical problems or medical concerns that may restrict trip operations or safety.  In the event we must cancel a trip we will refund you all money paid to us for the land cost. 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. We advise you to purchase Trip Cancellation Insurance.  

MEDICAL NOTES
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 you and your health (such as weight, blood pressure, current medications, past health issues, daily or weekly exercise routines etc.)  Once we receive your medical form, we'll be able to confirm your acceptance on the trip.  If there are any concerns or red flags regarding your health we may need to contact your doctor for more detailed information and/or a "sign off".  It is your responsibility to assure that your doctor gets us the information we request in a timely manner so that our consulting physicians will have ample time to review.  Please get 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.

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 other operators, airlines and hotels, we cannot offer rain checks for their services. Cancellation fees will apply for other operators, airlines and hotels. For this reason we advise you to purchase Trip Cancellation Insurance.  Rain checks are available for the following Tusker Trail trips:

    -Kilimanjaro Climb
    -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 rain-check 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 up to 1 year from the date that we received your original deposit. At the time of your rain-check, you may pick new trip dates or decide later.  You should decide on your new dates as soon as possible, as our trips fill up fast.  If you decide to cancel your trip completely, we will use your first postponement date as the cancellation date, and base your cancellation fees on your original trip date.  So play it safe, and buy trip cancellation insurance.  

Safaris, Air Travel, Extensions & Hotel Arrangements
Other companies such as tour operators, hotels and airlines have their own cancellation polices.  These other companies view your postponement as a cancellation, so cancellation fees will apply.  Once you postpone or cancel, the price for services provided by other operators, airlines and hotels cannot be guaranteed.  These services will be re-costed.

SCHEDULED DEPARTURES
We have many scheduled departures throughout the year.  All of our Kili departures are guaranteed – even if there is only 1 climber.   This means that we will not cancel a Kili climb due to low sign up.  Extension and/or other expedition departures are not guaranteed.

CUSTOM & PRIVATE KILIMANJARO DEPARTURES
We are happy to customize your Kili climbing dates.  There is no charge for custom Kili dates.  As we have a limited number of Kili guides, you should get your deposit in immediately to assure that we'll be able to accommodate you on our schedule.  

CLIMBING ALONE
If you would like a private climb and you want to climb alone, there is an additional charge of US$975.  As we have a limited number of Kili guides, you should get your deposit in immediately to secure a guide.

PRIVATE GROUPS
We're happy to guide private groups.  If there are 2 or more in your group there is no additional cost!  However, we have a limited number of Kili guides, so you should get your deposit in immediately to secure a guide.

KILIMANJARO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
If you are on your own and join a Kili 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 Kili climb, additional cost does apply.  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 EXTENSION SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
You may schedule a private trip extension or join an existing group if there's one started for your dates.  All extension prices are based on double occupancy.  This means you will be sharing vehicles and guides, as well as accommodation.  If you are traveling alone, or if you choose single accommodation, you will be charged a single supplement. If you are forced to use single accommodations due to group size, or an odd number in the group, you will be charged a single supplement. So, bring a friend, and your trip will be less expensive.

TRIP EXTENSIONS
Tusker trip extension come in many flavors.  You may wish to visit Zanzibar, get out on a photo safari, or relax in the Gobi Desert.  As the accommodations tend to book up well in advance (6-8 months), we suggest that you contact us immediately if you'd like to stay on after one of our expeditions.  

ZANZIBAR
Zanzibar extensions can be added after any Kilimanjaro climb or Safari and do not require a minimum number of travelers.

Prices:  Based on current published rate if booked greater than 90 days before the start of your trip.  Price also based on:  double occupancy, availability, and a minimum of 2 travelers.  Single supplement will apply to odd numbered groups.

Itinerary:  We offer packages of 3, 4, 5 and 6 days in length.  If adding a Zanzibar extension after a safari extension, expect to buy an extra hotel night to "marry" up the two extension itineraries.

Accommodation: You will stay at the best places on the island.  When these "first choice" hotels become booked up we'll give you the option of staying elsewhere.

Our Safari extensions come in two distinct flavors, "Great Game" Safaris and "Custom" Safaris.

"GREAT GAME" SAFARIS
Great Game Safaris are available in 3 or 6 day itinerary.  These safaris get you out to the premier Wildlife areas in Northern Tanzania.  Great Game safaris are easily added to any Kilimanjaro climb, and do not require a minimum number of travelers.  There is a single supplement, however there is no penalty for traveling alone.   In other words, if the group size changes and you are left as the only person on the safari, we don't have to cancel your safari or raise your price.

Prices:  Based on current published rate if booked greater than 90 days before the start of your trip.  Prices apply to groups as well as single travelers (with a single supplement).  If members of your "Great Game" safari group cancel, thus reducing group size, your price will remain the same.  Additional costs may apply for holidays.

Itinerary:  This will depend on the length of your safari and the season.  We visit Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara National Park, Serengeti National Park and Tarangire National Park.  Itinerary may change depending on how the group size allows us to secure accommodation.

Accommodation:  You will overnight at excellent safari lodges and/or luxury camps.  As your group size grows, accommodation availability changes, therefore we will confirm your exact itinerary and accommodation approximately 30 days prior to the start of your Tusker trip.  We will also send you a detailed itinerary and travel vouchers at that time.

"CUSTOM" SAFARI EXTENSIONS
The price and itinerary are based on the season, the exact logistics and specific accommodation used.  We can only guarantee the cost of your custom safari once your itinerary is booked and confirmed.  Until your custom itinerary is booked and confirmed, the cost can change.  If members of your Custom Safari group decide to cancel, thus reducing group size,  the price of your safari will go up.

LATE SIGN UP
If you sign up late in the game, we certainly won't turn you away, but there are a few considerations:

Itinerary Approval
If you sign up less than 30 days before departure, you must send us your itinerary approval within 24 hrs.  Once approved by you, if you make any changes to this itinerary, there will be a $125 fee per new itinerary. 

Payment
If you sign up less than 60 days before your Tusker trip date, your full payment is due when you sign up. We cannot reserve your place if we do not receive full payment at the time of booking. If you're paying by check, call us first to get the proper amount for full payment, and then FEDEX it right away.  If you're paying by credit card make sure you've got enough credit on the card.

Extensions
If you sign up less than 60 days before your Tusker Trip date and wish to book an extension, full payment must be received in our office to book the your extension.  Without your full payment we cannot guarantee availability or cost of your extension.  

PREDEPARTURE TRIP PLANNING PACKET
Your pre-departure trip planning packet is sent from our office soon after we receive your deposit.  The packet will be sent via Priority Mail within the US, or via Air Mail outside of the US.  The packet may take 3-7 days to arrive if you are inside the US.  If you are outside of the US your packet may take 2 weeks to arrive.  If you would like to receive your packet sooner, please let us know and we will happily send it to you via FEDEX.  The additional cost for this may be US$25-$100 depending on where you live.

LATE ITINERARY CHANGES
We strongly discourage changes to your itinerary less than 30 days before your departure.  If a change is absolutely necessary 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 also be responsible for any additional charges that may be levied by hotels, lodges, or other operators.  Once you have requested a change to your itinerary we will send you an email or fax with the new itinerary for your approval.  

IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS
When you submit your trip application and deposit  you will receive an "Application Package" with your Predeparture packet in the mail.

• Your Application Package contains a few very important forms.  The application package must be completed, signed and returned to our office as soon as you receive it in order to confirm your eligibility to join the trip.
• If you arrange your own air travel please email or fax us your flight itinerary as soon as you have received it, and no later than 60 days before the start of your trip.  This will enable us to finalize your Tusker itinerary.
• Upon making your final payment you will receive your Itinerary Acceptance form (see payment schedule above).  This document must be signed and returned to our office immediately after you have received it. 

If we have not received your air itinerary and/or the above documents  in the requested time frame we will assume that you have canceled and we'll fill your spot from our waiting list.

AIRFARE
Tusker can get great airfares for you through our airline consolidator.  Typically, fares can be held once the seats are ‘booked’ using your first and last name as on your passport, but the airlines don’t always guarantee that your fare is locked until the tickets are paid.  A booking is only good for a few days, so payment must be made before the booking expires.  Once the booking expires, we can rebook for you, but your seats might be sold and your airfare could increase.  You can pay for your tickets with a credit card in most cases.  In some cases check is required.  We can only guarantee your airfare once you have paid for your seats. You can get your seat assignments 90 days before departure by phoning the airline directly, as Tusker does not have access to the full seating inventory.