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Terms & Conditions

PASSPORTS & VISAS

Passports must have a validity of at least six months longer than your stay. Visas are required for Australian Passport holders for Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mozambique. They can be purchased on arrival into each country, but please note entry into Rwanda must be pre-registered online prior to arrival. Visa fees are payable in US Dollars cash only.

HEALTH

Vaccinations against Yellow Fever are compulsory in some countries in East Africa, specifically Tanzania & Uganda. It is also highly recommended that you take anti-malaria medication. Please consult your GP or Travel Doctor for up-to-date medical information on the countries you are visiting.

BOOKING

A non-refundable deposit of 20% per person is required at time of booking along with a signed booking form. Some tours do impose a higher deposit - please check at time of booking. Payment of deposit represents acceptance of Bench International Terms & Conditions by the purchaser and/or passenger. Final balance of payment must be received no later than 56 days prior to departure.

LATE BOOKING FEE

A late booking fee of $100.00 will be levied against the booking received within 30 days to departure from Australia.

AMENDMENT FEE

An amendment fee of $50.00 will be levied to cover communication and administration costs.

BOOKING FEE

A booking fee of $50.00 will be charged for arrangements such as hotels/car hire and train reservation not forming part of a package.

DEPARTURE TAX

Departure taxes are NOT included in package costs.

CANCELLATIONS

All cancellations must be received in writing and will take effect from the date received by Bench International. The following cancellation charges will apply to the tour costs.
More than 56 days before departure: Deposit 56-49 days before departure: 25% 48-29 days before departure: 35% 28-0 days before departure: 100%
The non-issuing of an invoice or non-payment of deposit will not exempt passengers from these cancellation and administration fees. We regret we can make no exception to the charges and strongly recommend that insurance is taken out to cover cancellation fees. These cancellation charges can vary subject to the trading terms of our suppliers.

BROCHURE VALIDITY

January to December 2012.

INSURANCE

Bench International will not accept responsibility for loss of deposit/full payment, loss or damage to baggage, personal illness or injury, medical expenses, cancellation or curtailment of your trip etc. It is therefore strongly recommended that a comprehensive policy be taken out at time of booking.

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING PRICES

Much care has gone into the composition of itineraries and costings for this brochure, however circumstances such as devaluation or fuel surcharges may necessitate change in cost and itineraries. Should this occur you will be notified as soon as possible. Not withstanding that deposits or complete payments may have been made, any increases up until the date of departure of arrangements resulting from the above are to be paid by the purchaser/passenger. If such increases are unacceptable, the passenger may cancel his/her booking, though, in so doing, he/she is still liable to pay any cancellation charges imposed in the way of cancellation, administration, communication charges, etc. While every effort has been made to ensure prices are accurate, Bench International cannot be held responsible for any changes. Rates are subject to change.

OUR RESPONSIBILITY

We always do our best to make sure your arrangements are satisfactory and we accept liability for, but only to the extent of, any loss or damage sustained by you as a result of our negligence, or that of our employees or agents. The standards of accommodation and other services contained in this brochure are based on various factors, which are generally accepted as indicated as a certain class, however we do not represent or guarantee that standard, class or fitness for purpose of the accommodation or service. Bench International does not accept any liability of whatever nature for the acts, omissions or default, whether negligent or otherwise, of those airlines, coach operators, shipping companies, hoteliers or other persons providing services in connection with your tour pursuant to a contact between them and yourselves and over whom we have no direct and exclusive control. We do not accept liability in contact or in tort (actionable wrong) for any injury, damage, loss, delay, additional expense or inconvenience caused directly or indirectly by force majeure or other events which are beyond our control, or which are not preventable by reasonable diligence on our part including, but not limited to war, civil disturbances, fire, floods, unusually severe weather, acts of God, acts of Government or of any other authorities, accidents to or failure of machinery or equipment or industrial action (whether or not involving our employees and even though such actions may be settled by acceding to demands of a labour group).

RESERVATIONS & ENQUIRIES

Southern Cross Australia PTY Ltd T/A Bench International Level 4, 55 York Street, Sydney, NSW 2000 Australia ACN 126 019 538 Tel: (02) 9290 2877 Fax: (02) 9290 2665
Toll Free: 1800 221 451 or 1800 022 564 License No: 2TA5922 ABN 83 126 019 538 Email: info@benchinternational.com.au Website: www.benchinternational.com.au