Terms and Conditions

For Terms and Conditions about our Custom Safaris, kindly contact us.

The following Terms and Conditions apply to our Classic Safari Collection. Rates quoted on this website for our Classic Safaris are valid through December 15, 2024, and include:

Accommodations

First-class hotel accommodations based on twin-bedded rooms with private bath or showers—the categories assigned to hotels reflect the opinion of Micato Safaris.

Meals

Three meals daily per the itinerary, based on evening arrivals on Day 2. Regional wines, beer and bottled water are included with meals.

Air Transportation

Your travel agent should arrange international flights or Micato can refer you to its preferred purveyor of air tickets. Internal African flights on safari must be purchased through Micato.

Luggage

Micato provides a safari bag that guests are urged to travel with. On certain flights within Africa, strict luggage restrictions apply; details are provided in tour documentation. Luggage and personal effects are at “owner’s risk” throughout the tour unless insured.

Wi-Fi and Laundry

Where available, Wi-Fi and laundry service are included in the Tour rates.

Taxes

The tour program includes hotel taxes as imposed by city and state governments, entrance fees to National Parks and Game Reserves, and airport taxes for intra-country flights. International airport taxes are not included.

Not Included in Quoted Tour Rates:

Cost of obtaining passports, visas, travel insurance, excess baggage charges, items of a personal nature such as communication (calls, faxes, emails, etc.), international airport departure tax (to be paid in U.S. dollars or acceptable foreign currencies), deviations from the tour and anything else not specifically included.

Registration

A deposit of 30% is required at the time of booking. The balance or final payment is due 120 days prior to departure.

Cancellations

Cancellations received by Micato 120 days or more prior to departure are subject to a cancellation fee of 20% of the total retail tour rate; 119– 60 days prior to departure is 50% of the tour rate; Cancellations received 59 days or less are subject to a 100% cancellation fee. Trip cancellation insurance is strongly recommended. Different cancellation terms apply for Custom, Private Classic journeys, or Extensions.

Arrangements

Quoted tour rates include planning, handling and operational charges, based on the current rate of exchange and tariff as of October 2023. In the event of an increase in foreign exchange or tariff rates, energy or fuel surcharges, or other increases, etc., except for increased governmental taxes which can be assessed at any time, rates are subject to revision up to the time of your final payment to us.

Guaranteed Departures

Micato guarantees departure of all group programs once a deposit is paid excepting only cases of force majeure. This includes any event that adversely affects international travel patterns such as epidemics, acts of God or government, terrorism as well as any other circumstance beyond Micato’s control.

Please Note: If a minimum number of travelers is not reached, Micato may provide local guides in each location in place of a Micato travel or safari director. Extensions are locally guided.

Responsibility

Taicoa Corporation d/b/a Micato Safaris, its employees, shareholders, officers and directors (collectively “Micato”) does not own or operate any entity which is to or does provide goods or services for your trip, including, for example, lodging facilities, transportation companies, local ground or safari operators, including, without limitation, various entities which may utilize the Micato name, guides, entertainment, food or drink service providers, equipment suppliers, etc. As a result, Micato is not responsible for any negligent or willful act or failure to act of any such person or entity. In addition, Micato is not responsible for any negligent or willful act or failure to act of any person or entity it does not own or control, nor for any act or inaction of any third party not under its control.
Without limitation, Micato is not liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, or incidental damage, injury, death, financial or other loss, accident, delay, inconvenience or irregularity of any kind which may be occasioned by reason of any act or omission beyond its control, including, without limitation any willful or negligent act, failure to act, breach of contract or violation of local law or regulation of any third party such as an airline, train, hotel, bus, taxi, van or safari operator, local ground handler or guide, whether or not it uses the Micato name, financial default or insolvency of any supplier which is to, or does supply any goods or services for this trip. Similarly, Micato is not responsible for any loss, injury, death or inconvenience due to delay or changes in schedule, transportation delays or cancellations or the failure of any transportation mechanism to depart or arrive timely or safely, overbooking of accommodation, default of any third party, attacks or bites by animals, pests, or insects, injury or death while on activities sponsored by lodging facilities or by other third parties, sickness, the lack of appropriate medical care, evacuation to same, if necessary, weather, strikes, acts of God or acts of or orders of government, acts of terrorism, or the threat thereof, force majeure, war, quarantine, epidemics, or the threat thereof, criminal activity, or any other cause beyond its control. In addition, guest holds Micato harmless from its own negligence and assumes all risk thereof.
The right is reserved to alter, cancel or postpone the itinerary or trip, at Micato’s sole discretion, as it may deem necessary or advisable. Micato reserves the right to decline to accept or retain any passenger on any of its tours if, in its sole discretion, it deems accepting or retaining any such passenger as creating a health or safety risk to any person or being detrimental to the tour, or if that person’s continued presence is inconsistent with the best interests of the trip, other guests or staff. In the event any passenger is removed from a trip, Micato’s only obligation is to refund to that person that portion of the payment allocable to unused services.

Cancellations and Postponements by Micato

If Micato cancels or postpones a trip, based upon acts of God or force majeure, acts or orders of government, epidemics or the threat thereof, terrorism or the threat thereof, strikes or labor disturbances, demonstrations, riots or civil unrest, criminal activity, supplier default or insolvency, or other similar circumstances, its sole obligation is to issue credits in the full amount of moneys paid to Micato to the extent its suppliers are crediting Micato with those monies paid by Micato to them. Under no circumstances is Micato obligated to refund the cost of any purchased travel insurance. Micato is not required to cancel any program for any reason including without limitation, United States Department of State, Centers for Disease Control, World Health Organization or other Warnings or Advisories of any kind. Micato is not responsible for fees assessed by air carriers resulting from operational and/or itinerary changes, even if Micato makes the flight arrangements or cancels the program.

Miscellaneous

Micato reserves the right to substitute lodges, hotels or attractions of a similar category for those listed in this brochure.

Guests are urged to review the important information provided by the United States Department of State and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s country specific information available at http://www.state.gov/ and http://www.cdc.gov
Changes in these Terms and Conditions, Responsibility and Binding Arbitration Agreement can be made only in a writing signed by an officer of Micato.

Photography

Micato may take photographs or film of its trips and trip participants, and participant grants Micato express permission to do so and for Micato to use such for promotional or commercial use without payment of any compensation therefor.

Unused Services

There is no right to a refund for any unused services.

Binding Arbitration

Any dispute concerning, relating or referring to this Agreement, the brochure or any other literature concerning my trip, or the trip itself, shall be resolved exclusively by binding arbitration pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. Sections 1-16, according to the then existing Comprehensive Arbitration Rules & Procedures of the Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc. (JAMS). Such proceedings will be governed by substantive (but not procedural) New York law and will take place in New York, NY. The arbitrator and not any federal, state, or local court or agency shall have exclusive authority to resolve any dispute relating to the interpretation, applicability, enforceability, conscionability, or formation of this contract, including but not limited to any claim that all or any part of this contract is void or voidable.
Please understand that by agreeing to these terms and conditions, you (and we) are waiving our right to a trial by jury. Any arbitration commenced against Micato must be on behalf of only the signatory to this Agreement and his or her immediate family members who travelled with signatory, such as a spouse or child. Under no circumstances can participant be part of a class or other joint action.

Supplemental Release Of Liability And Assumption Of Risk With Regard To Covid 19

This Release is supplemental to the Taicoa Corporation, doing business as Micato Safaris (Micato) Terms & Conditions, Responsibility and Binding Arbitration Agreement (Agreement). In the event of a conflict between that Agreement and this Supplemental Release, the terms of this Supplemental Release shall prevail. In all other cases, the Agreement remains in full effect. In addition, both the Agreement and this Supplemental Release relate to any postponed or replacement trip.

I am aware that while on or traveling to or from my trip, I might be exposed to COVID-19 from other people, animals or objects. I assume all risk of any such contacts, including sickness, incapacity or death and agree to hold harmless Micato from any such developments. In addition, I recognize that the U.S. Department of State as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may have warnings concerning same. See https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html/ and https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list/

I also accept the following risks of participating on this trip including, without limitation:

1. All other risks associated with coronavirus (COVID-19) including preclusion from public areas, etc.;
2. All risks regarding transportation problems including, without limitation, entry into or exit from any country and/or difficulties with or closure of transportation systems or the unavailability of other features or attractions within the country where my trip takes place;
3. The likelihood that at some or all destinations I may be required to undergo a temperature check, wear a mask while in public and observe social distancing requirements;
4. The potential for being quarantined, even if I am not symptomatic and/or do not have COVID-19 and/or the possible requirement that I have a negative COVID-19 test immediately before or on or after arrival at my destination.
5. Any expenses incurred, including but not limited to medical expenses, as a result are to be borne by the participant.

In addition, I understand that I will have to execute and comply with a Micato-prepared Health and Hygiene Pledge

For more information, email: inquiries@micato.com