Terms and conditions
Reservations and Payments:
A deposit of 40% of the total tour price is required at the time of booking a tour. The remainder of the total quoted tour price is due 60 days before the departure date. If your reservation is made within 60 days of departure, the entire cost of the trip must be paid on confirmation. Accepted methods of payment include wire transfer or credit card (Visa, Master, JCB or AMEX). There is a 5% Credit card surcharge.
Cancellations and Refunds:
Cancellations received more than 60 days prior to departure will be subject to the loss of deposit. Cancellations received sixty days or less prior to departure will be subject to the following forfeit fees: 60 - 30 days, 40% of tour cost; 29-16 days, 60% of tour cost; less than 16 days, 100% of tour cost. No refunds are given for: lost travel time or substitution of facilities and/or accommodations; itineraries amended after departure; not appearing for any accommodation, tour, game viewing or other booked activities; and/or cutting short the booked itinerary for any reason.
Accommodations:
All quoted tour prices include accommodations based on double occupancy. There is a supplemental fee for single occupancy accommodations. In some lodges, children of certain age are not permitted unless where advised accordingly.
Meals:
Meals are included in the tour price as stated in the itinerary, B=Breakfast, L=Lunch and D=Dinner.
Baggage:
You may take along two normal size pieces of luggage, not exceeding a total of 44 lbs. per person. On charter flights in Africa the baggage allowance may be less. Arrangements have been made for safe storage while on tour. However, all baggage is at the tour member's risk whilst on tour. We highly recommend baggage insurance.
Gratuities, Taxes and Entrances Fees:
Charges for hotel taxes are included, as well as game park entrance fees and to all wildlife reserves included in the itinerary. In Africa, tips to driver-guides and escorts are not included and are at your discretion, though unavoidable.
Not Included in Quoted Tour Prices:
The following items are not included in quoted tour prices: costs of obtaining passports or visas; personal expenses such as beverages, laundry and room service; gratuities to your safari escort, camp staff, driver-guides; excess baggage fees; communication charges; airport departure taxes; meals not specified in your itinerary; any airfares unless where specifically mentioned in the inclusive clause.
Insurance:
We strongly recommend you protect yourself with a short-term travelers insurance policy to cover baggage loss, accident, medical emergencies, and trip cancellation.
Limitations of Liability:
African Sermon Safaris, its Owners, Outfitters, Agents and Employees give notice that they act only as agent for the owners, contractors and suppliers providing means of transportation and/or all related travel services and assumes no responsibility whatsoever for injury, personal illness, loss or damage to person or property in connection with any service resulting directly from: act of God; detention; annoyance; delays; expenses arising from quarantine; strikes; thefts; pilferage; force majeure; failure of any means of conveyance to arrive or depart as scheduled; civil disturbances; terrorism; government restrictions or regulations; and discrepancies or changes in hotel services in which it has no control.
African Sermon Safaris and/or its local operators reserve the right to make reasonable changes in the itinerary when deemed advisable for the comfort and safety of passengers, which includes but is not limited to: the substitution of hotels, alteration of the itinerary, and reversing the order of the places to be visited. African Sermon Safaris and its local operators, their tours and/or suppliers of services, and other cooperating agencies reserve the right to refuse individuals from a safari without refund who acts in a manner which is unsafe for themselves, or inconsiderate or unsafe to fellow travelers, and/or who ignores the requests of their guide (s) to act in a safe and responsible manner. On advancement of deposit to African Sermon Safaris, the depositor agrees to be bound by the above described terms and conditions.
African Sermon Safaris hereby notifies all passengers that any matter or cases relating to any tour is subject to/or governed by the rules and laws of the country to which it takes place and no other country.
Risks:
African Sermon Safaris draws your attention to the fact that there are certain inherent dangers involved with adventure travel, and the client accepts them at his/her own risk. It is however advisable to take travel insurance and a separate baggage loss before arrival to Kenya.
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Maasai Mara Wildebeest Migration Safari:
Kenya Wildlife Safari: Wildebeest Migration: Lake Nakuru & Masai Mara
"The seventh greatest wonder in the world". It is now officially known through out the world. Many have come back time and again. They have witnessed this mass movement of wild animals roaming free through unspoiled and savage wilderness. The air fills with the click- click of the cameras tirelessly. You have not seen something like this before.
Africa is changing at a quick pace and human encroachment into the wildlife reserves has continued to erase the traditional routes. In association with development and changes of the way of life, the image of wildlife roaming free is slowly getting erased. Fortunately, Masai Mara National reserve holds on to its charisma of an open, limitless land. It is one of the places in Africa that still prides in wildlife concentration.
Masai Mara is located in the South-western of Kenya, 290 kilometers from Nairobi. The abundance of wildlife and the remoteness of the reserve implants memories that no money can buy. The Migration is a recent phenomenon (60's and 70's was the biggest boom) with about 250,000 individuals. Gradually, with time the number has risen to the current population of over 3,000,000 individuals. Add to it an estimated 1,500,000 Zebras and the result is one of the most magnificent scenes in the world. The massive display attracts hundreds of big cats as the populations provide abundant prey. The giant African crocodiles lie in wait, patiently, as the big herds come to cross the river or to drink. It is the Maasai community who are not so pleased with the whole phenomenon. The wildebeests compete with their huge herds of boran cattle for the grasslands. To them, it is a big calamity especially because the wildebeests transmit diseases to their herds and poison the waters with their fetal sacs.
This world famous migration is a circle of life which, in simple terms, means that there isn't a start or an end. Only where the herds are located at a particular time. The big determinant is the availability of pastures. The plains of Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Serengeti are a favored spot as grass abounds and the wildebeest find a safe place to graze. It is also here that over 500,000 new calves are born and many are taken by the nearby waiting Jackals or Hyenas. New born calves have little time to strengthen their legs. As soon after birth, the “pilgrim" continues. By April, the rains are over in southern Serengeti and the plains have dried up. The great herds then gather and face the long march northwards and westwards. The natural lawn mowers abandon the exhausted grasslands of southern Serengeti to head for the already tall grass of the Western corridor, near the shores of Lake Victoria.
The pioneers of the migration movement are the majestic herds of zebras. They prefer the long
stems of the coarse grass. This way, they leave behind shorter grass which is favored by the wildebeests. In late June to July the mass start pouring into the Kenya Masai Mara reserve where fresh, tender and mineral-rich grass is already waiting. Here they meet the resident Mara populations which add up to about 150,000. Also commonly referred to as the Loita plains herds, they spend most of the season northeast of the Mara. When it gets dry, they pour into the interior of the Mara in search of greener pastures.
The migrating herds spend roughly 3 to 31/2 months in the Mara crossing through Sand River, which is a tributary of the Mara along the boundary of Kenya and Tanzania. They trek westwards and cross the Mara river and sometimes the Talek river. Usually around this time heavy rains on the Mau Escarpment (origin of Mara River) fill the Mara river to the brim. This is a good time to watch the trunk-looking Crocodiles, while they await the forthcoming feast.
Finally, the gnus (wildebeests) venture into the river. This gregarious coordinated behavior of the herds, usually teamed with zebras, creates an unimaginable scene. Just what the cameras have been waiting for.
They wander along the river looking for a convenient crossing point. This is a moment filled with tension for both the gnus (wildebeests) and the audience. They survey for a less steep and with no obvious danger. Finally, one takes courage and plunges into the river and magically the rest falls onto the footsteps and in one organized line cross the river.
In addition to the crocodiles, accidents also occur. The river’s current can be too strong for some especially the young ones. Or simply getting stuck between the rocks in the river and breaking limbs, a direct ticket to the jaws of the giant crocodiles. Finally, the crossing is done and the trek to their unknown (or known)
destiny continues.
In the month of October, they are already heading to Serengeti where the rains have treated the southern grasslands to lush, green carpet of rich grass. Once again, they are heading to the southern plains, where a new generation will be born to start the cycle of life all over again.
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