Terms

1. Who we are, and the basis on which we act

Wild Voyager is a group of separately incorporated companies. For every journey you book, your contract is with Wild Voyager LLC (New York, United States), which acts as a travel agent. This means we arrange and book travel services — guides, drivers and vehicles, hotels, camps and lodges, flights, park entries and similar — that are provided to you by independent suppliers. Those suppliers, not Wild Voyager, are the principals responsible for the services they provide.

Our other offices, including Wild Voyager Ltd (Kenya) and Wild Voyager Pvt Ltd (India), are separate legal companies that help arrange and support your journey locally. Where a vehicle used on your journey is owned by a Wild Voyager company, that company provides it as the owner of that vehicle.

Any products we sell (for example camera bean bags and similar accessories) are sold separately by Wild Voyager Pvt Ltd in India, and are covered by the “Products we sell” section below.

Throughout these terms, “Wild Voyager”, “we”, “us” and “our” mean Wild Voyager LLC for journeys, and Wild Voyager Pvt Ltd for products. Each company in the group is a separate legal entity. No company in the group is responsible for the obligations of another company in the group unless we have agreed to that in writing.

2. Accepting these terms

By booking a journey, buying a product, or using this website, you agree to these terms and to our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not book or use the site.

Booking online, signing electronically, confirming by email, or making a payment each count as your acceptance of these terms and of the specific proposal for your journey. We may update these terms from time to time; the version in force is always the one on this page when you book or travel.

3. Who can book

You must be at least 18 and able to enter a binding contract. By booking you confirm this, and that the information you give us is true. You are responsible for everyone in your booking and confirm you have their authority to accept these terms on their behalf.

4. What we do, and the proposal

We plan and arrange wildlife and nature journeys — private tailor-made trips and set-departure expeditions — and we sell a small range of products. We select and book the services in your journey from independent suppliers, and where relevant provide vehicles owned by a Wild Voyager company. Away from our core regions we work with trusted local suppliers.

For a tailor-made trip you send your requirements, we prepare a proposal setting out what is included, the price, the payment schedule and the cancellation policy, and the journey is confirmed once you accept the proposal and pay the deposit. The proposal is the binding document for your journey, read together with these terms. Where the proposal and these terms differ, the proposal wins.

5. Payments

Unless your proposal says otherwise, our standard schedule is 30% of the tour cost as an advance to confirm the booking, and the balance 70% no later than 45 days before travel. Your proposal may set different amounts or dates, and in that case the proposal applies.

Prices are quoted in US Dollars or Indian Rupees, and you may pay the equivalent in your own currency. We accept major cards and online payments through established gateways, as well as bank transfer and other agreed methods. We never store your card details; online payments are handled by the payment provider.

A payment counts as received only when the funds actually reach our account. All bank, wire, SWIFT, intermediary and payment-gateway charges are yours to bear — we credit only the net amount that reaches us. If the total we receive is less than the total we invoiced, the shortfall remains payable and the booking is treated as not fully paid until it is cleared.

6. Prices, taxes and repricing

Prices are based on costs, tax rates, park and permit fees, and exchange rates known at the time of your proposal. Until you have paid in full, we may adjust the price if any of these change materially — for example a currency movement, an increase in park or permit fees, a rise in taxes, or a fuel surcharge. We will tell you before applying any change, and you may then confirm at the revised price or cancel under the cancellation terms.

Park and permit fees are set by government authorities and can change at any time. Where they rise after booking, the difference is payable by you.

7. Cancellation, postponement and refunds

The cancellation and postponement terms in your proposal are final and apply to your booking. The following is our standard default where the proposal is silent.

Default cancellation charges, based on days before travel: more than 60 days — 30% of the tour cost; 30 to 60 days — 50% of the tour cost; less than 30 days — 100% of the tour cost.

Default postponement: with 15 days or more notice, and for personal reasons, we allow a free postponement to a later date, but the amount already paid is not refunded; with 14 days or less notice we do not allow postponement or refund, except in the case of a genuine international emergency.

Where a refund is due because you cancelled, it is normally given as credit towards a future journey rather than cash. A cash refund is made only where we cancel for reasons within our control, and then by the original payment method, less any actual charges. There is no refund for a no-show, an unused service, or a missed or rescheduled flight.

8. Changes to your journey

Where reasonably necessary, we may change guides, lodges, vehicles, routes, the order of an itinerary, or specific activities — for example because of availability, weather, safety, or park conditions. We aim to keep the character and value of the journey the same, and to arrange the best available alternative.

Occasionally it may not be possible to follow the itinerary as planned, for climatic, political, physical or other reasons. In that case we will make the best alternative arrangements that keep the integrity of the original journey.

9. Minimum numbers (set-departure expeditions only)

A minimum number of guests applies only to set-departure expeditions, and only where the proposal says so. If that minimum is not reached, we may cancel the departure and will offer you an alternative date or a refund of amounts paid for that departure. Private tailor-made tours are not subject to any minimum-numbers condition.

10. Your services are provided by independent suppliers

The services in your journey — guides, drivers and their vehicles, hotels, camps and lodges, airlines and charter flights, national parks and reserves, cruise and boat operators, and similar — are provided by independent suppliers. Guides and drivers are independent professionals who operate and, in most cases, own their own vehicles; they are not our employees and we do not control how they carry out their work day to day. Each supplier is the principal responsible for the service it provides, and for its own acts, omissions, negligence, safety and vehicles.

As your travel agent, our role is to arrange and book these services with reasonable care — that is, to choose reputable, licensed suppliers and to pass on your requirements correctly. If a supplier falls short on a basic agreed deliverable — fewer nights than booked, a lower hotel category than promised, the wrong guide language — we will help put it right or refund the difference. Beyond that, responsibility for the service rests with the supplier, not with us.

11. Our liability, and who is responsible for what

Because we act as a travel agent arranging services provided by independent suppliers, Wild Voyager is not the provider of those services and is not liable for the acts, omissions, negligence or default of any supplier, or for any loss, injury, illness, delay, damage or cost arising from them. Our responsibility is limited to arranging your booking with reasonable care and skill. To make this concrete:

If an independent guide, driver or vehicle owner causes an accident, injury, loss or delay, that guide, driver or vehicle owner is responsible — not Wild Voyager.

If you suffer illness, food poisoning, injury, loss or theft at a hotel, camp or lodge, that establishment is responsible; our duty is met by having booked a reputable, licensed supplier.

If a flight is delayed or cancelled, or an airline fails or changes its schedule, the airline is responsible.

If a national park or authority closes a park, changes its fees, or denies or delays entry, that authority is responsible.

Where a vehicle used on your journey is owned by a Wild Voyager company, that company is responsible for that vehicle as its owner.

We are also not liable for loss, delay, injury or cost caused by matters outside our control, including immigration or border decisions, visa refusals, weather, political unrest, epidemics or disease, the behaviour of wild animals, road and terrain conditions, your own acts or negligence, and acts of government.

Where we are liable, our total liability for any booking will not exceed the amount you paid to us for arranging the affected services, and we are not liable for indirect or consequential losses.

Nothing in these terms excludes or limits any liability that cannot be excluded or limited under the law that applies to your booking.

12. Events beyond our control (force majeure)

We are not liable for any failure or delay in performing our obligations that is caused by events beyond our reasonable control, including: war, terrorism, civil unrest and riots; strikes and labour disputes; disease outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics; earthquakes, floods, volcanic activity and volcanic ash; fire and natural disasters; border, park or airspace closures; the grounding of airlines; and acts of government.

Where such an event prevents or disrupts a journey, our liability is limited as set out in the cancellation and refund terms above.

13. Wildlife and the inherent risks of nature travel

Wildlife and nature journeys involve real, inherent risks that cannot be removed. You may be in the presence of dangerous wild animals, on foot or in an open or semi-open vehicle, in remote areas far from medical care. Wild animals are unpredictable, and no guide can control or guarantee their behaviour. Serious injury or, in rare cases, death can occur.

By booking, you acknowledge and voluntarily accept these inherent risks for yourself and everyone in your booking, and you agree that Wild Voyager, acting as your travel agent, is not responsible for injury, illness, loss or death arising from the inherent risks of wildlife travel or from the acts of independent suppliers. These principles apply to every wildlife destination, adapted to local conditions.

14. Your health, fitness and travel documents

By booking, you warrant that everyone in your party is medically fit for the journey, and you agree to disclose to us in advance any medical condition, disability or dietary need that may affect travel. You travel at your own risk in respect of your health, and you should take medical advice before booking.

You are responsible for your own passports, visas, vaccinations and entry requirements — including, where relevant, yellow fever certificates, malaria precautions, and any other vaccines required by the countries on your itinerary (some countries, such as India, may also require an oral polio vaccine). We are not responsible for anyone refused boarding, entry or a visa, or who misses part of a journey for these reasons.

15. Travel insurance is required

Comprehensive travel insurance is a condition of travelling with us, not an option. Your policy must cover, at least: emergency medical care and hospitalisation; emergency medical evacuation and repatriation; trip cancellation and curtailment; baggage; personal liability; and death. Given the remote nature of many of our journeys, air-evacuation cover is strongly advised.

If you choose to travel without adequate insurance, you do so entirely at your own risk, and we will record that you declined it. We are not liable for any cost you incur that suitable insurance would have covered.

16. On the journey — what to expect and simple rules

These are general realities of wildlife travel and apply, with local variation, to every destination we operate.

Parks and reserves allow entry and exit only within official timings (often around dawn to dusk, varying by park). If delays at your end — a late flight, shopping, or other — cause you to miss those timings, you may be denied entry after hours; if your accommodation is inside the park, you may have to arrange lodging outside at your own cost.

Park fees are usually charged in fixed slots (for example per 24 hours, or per entry per day, depending on the country). Extra time, or extra entries and exits beyond the agreed itinerary, may attract additional park fees payable on the spot. Park fees built into your proposal cover only the itinerary as planned.

Safari vehicles are typically 4x4s built for rough terrain; they may be open, semi-open or windowed, and are usually not air-conditioned. Transfer vehicles may be different types. Roads inside parks are usually unpaved, and travel can be bumpy, dusty and slow; carry a mask if you are sensitive to dust.

Internal and light aircraft flights often carry strict baggage limits; any excess is charged by the airline. Off-roading is not permitted without a written permit. Meals are provided at your camps, hotels and lodges as set out in your itinerary; missed meals are not compensated and cannot be substituted from outside.

Please follow your guide’s instructions at all times: do not leave the vehicle except where the guide permits, do not approach or feed animals, and do not make sounds or play calls to provoke them. Do not leave valuables in the vehicle; we are not responsible for their loss. Many areas are remote, with basic facilities, limited connectivity, and the nearest town or clinic possibly hours away. Occasional vehicle breakdowns and weather-driven route changes can happen; we aim to resolve breakdowns promptly and to keep to the spirit of the itinerary.

17. Your conduct

We may remove any guest from a journey, without refund, for conduct that endangers others, staff or wildlife, or that seriously disrupts the trip — including intoxication, abusive or threatening behaviour, harassment, dangerous behaviour, or the violation of park or wildlife rules. You remain responsible for any cost or damage you cause.

18. Photography, media and drones

We may use photographs and video taken during journeys to share and promote our work; if you would prefer images of you not to be used, tell us in writing and we will respect that. Any images or footage you take are at your own risk and must comply with park and local regulations. Commercial use of images taken on your journey, and any use of drones, requires the relevant permits and our prior agreement; drones are prohibited in many parks and reserves.

19. Products we sell

Products such as camera bean bags and similar accessories are sold by Wild Voyager Pvt Ltd in India, and their sale is governed by Indian law. Products are non-cancellable once ordered. If an item is genuinely defective (a fault in manufacture or stitching), notify us in writing within the window stated at purchase and we will replace or refund it; items damaged through use or showing normal wear are not covered.

Our total liability in respect of any product is limited to a refund of the price you paid for that product.

20. Intellectual property

All of our content — this website’s text, images, design, logos and software, together with our itineraries, route designs, proposals, brochures, photographs and written material — belongs to Wild Voyager or its licensors and is protected by law. You may keep copies for your own personal, non-commercial use, but you may not reproduce, distribute, resell or exploit any of it, including our itineraries and route designs, without our written permission.

21. Using the website properly

Please do not use the site to post unlawful, harmful or misleading material, to scrape or probe it with automated tools, to attempt unauthorised access, or to interfere with its operation or other users. We may remove content or restrict access where these terms are broken.

22. Payment failures and chargebacks

If a payment fails after booking — a card chargeback, a reversed or bounced transfer, or a fraudulent payment — the booking is treated as unpaid to that extent, and we may suspend or cancel affected services until it is resolved.

If you have a concern about a charge, you must first use the complaints procedure below. Raising a chargeback or payment dispute without first doing so, or a chargeback we can show to be unjustified, entitles us to recover our costs and reasonable legal fees where the law permits.

23. If something goes wrong — complaints

If a problem arises during your journey, you must report it immediately to your guide or our operations team, so we have the chance to put it right there and then. Any formal claim must then be made to us in writing, to info@wildvoyager.com, within 30 days of the end of your journey. This helps us investigate properly while facts are fresh; complaints raised for the first time long after travel are much harder to resolve.

24. Supplier insolvency

If an airline, hotel, or other independent supplier becomes insolvent, our liability is limited to the recoveries actually available under the supplier’s terms and applicable law. We will help you pursue any protection available to you (for example through your travel insurance or card provider).

25. Indemnity and disclaimers

This website and its content are provided on an “as is” basis, without warranties. We are not liable for indirect or consequential losses arising from your use of the site or our services. You agree to indemnify us against claims, costs and losses arising from your breach of these terms or of any applicable law.

26. Governing law and disputes

For journeys, your contract is with Wild Voyager LLC and is governed by the laws of India. Any dispute arising out of or in connection with your journey shall be referred to and finally resolved by arbitration seated in New Delhi, India, under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, before a sole arbitrator, with hearings held in person in New Delhi and conducted in English. The arbitrator’s award is final and binding. Claims may be brought only on an individual basis, and not as part of any class, collective or representative action. Each party agrees not to commence court proceedings in respect of a dispute covered by this clause, and any such proceedings shall be stayed in favour of arbitration. For products sold in India by Wild Voyager Pvt Ltd, the sale is governed by the laws of India, and the courts of New Delhi have jurisdiction.

Nothing in these terms removes any right you have under the mandatory consumer-protection laws of your own country of residence that cannot be excluded by agreement.

27. Group companies

Each booking is made with the legal entity identified in your Booking Confirmation. The Wild Voyager group companies are separate legal entities. No company within the group is liable for the obligations of another group company unless we have expressly agreed to that in writing.

28. General

These terms, together with your proposal and Booking Confirmation, are the entire agreement between us for your journey. If any part of these terms is found to be unenforceable, the rest continues to apply. Our not enforcing a term on one occasion does not waive it. We may update these terms, and the current version always lives on this page.

29. Contact and legal notices

Questions about these terms should be sent to info@wildvoyager.com.

Formal legal notices to the travel agent (Wild Voyager LLC) must be sent to: Wild Voyager LLC, 99 Wall Street #848, New York, NY 10005, United States. Matters concerning products may also be sent to Wild Voyager Pvt Ltd, FF-12A, Omaxe Square, Jasola District Centre, Mathura Road, New Delhi 110025, India.