Cancellation And Refund Policy

01

Introduction

This Cancellation and Refund Policy governs all bookings and payments made through Safari Bookers. This policy must be read in conjunction with our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy, which together form the complete agreement between you and Safari Bookers.

Safari Bookers is a private travel assistance company. Our fees cover coordination, consultation, booking assistance, and management of your wildlife safari trip. Third-party costs — including government permit fees, resort charges, and transport costs — are subject to their own respective cancellation terms.

02

Policy Overview

Key Principle

Safari Bookers' refund eligibility is determined by how far in advance the cancellation is made before the safari date. The earlier you cancel, the higher the refund. Government permit fees are generally non-refundable once issued, regardless of cancellation timing.

Two categories of charges apply to your booking:

• Safari Bookers Service Fee: Our coordination, consultation, and management fee. This is partially or fully refundable based on the schedule below.
• Third-Party Pass-Through Costs: Government permit fees, resort charges, transport fees. These are governed by the respective third party's cancellation terms and may be non-refundable.

03

Cancellation Schedule — Service Fee

The following refund schedule applies to Safari Bookers service fees:

Cancellation Timing	Service Fee Refund	Govt Permit Fees	Resort / Transport
15+ days before safari	✓ 100% Refund	Varies by park	Per resort policy
8–14 days before safari	75% Refund	Non-refundable	Per resort policy
4–7 days before safari	50% Refund	Non-refundable	Non-refundable
1–3 days before safari	25% Refund	Non-refundable	Non-refundable
Same day / No show	No Refund	Non-refundable	Non-refundable
Booking not confirmed yet	✓ 100% Refund	✓ Full Return	✓ Full Return

How days are counted: Days are counted as calendar days before the actual safari date (not business days). Cancellation time is recorded as per Indian Standard Time (IST) when we receive your written cancellation request via email or WhatsApp.

04

Non-Refundable Items

The following are non-refundable under all circumstances, regardless of cancellation timing:

• Government Safari Permits: Once issued by the forest department, safari permits are non-refundable. This is a government policy — Safari Bookers has no authority to alter this.
• Resort No-Show Charges: Resort no-show and last-minute cancellation fees as per the individual resort's policy.
• Payment Gateway Charges: Transaction fees charged by payment gateways (Razorpay, Cashfree, PhonePe, PayU) are non-refundable.
• Consultation Fees: Fees paid for travel consultation, zone advisory, or itinerary planning that have already been delivered.
• Transport Booked & Deployed: Cab or transport charges where the vehicle has already been dispatched for pickup.
• Documentation Processing: Fees paid for documentation, permit paperwork, or ID submission already processed.

05

How to Cancel a Booking

To initiate a cancellation, you must send a written cancellation request. Verbal or telephonic cancellations are not accepted. Follow these steps:

Step 1 — Send Written Request: Email us at hello@safaribookers.in OR send a WhatsApp message with your cancellation request.

Step 2 — Include Booking Details: Include your Booking Reference Number, registered name, registered phone/email, safari date, and park name.

Step 3 — Receive Confirmation: We will confirm receipt of your cancellation within 4 business hours and communicate the applicable refund amount based on the cancellation schedule.

Step 4 — Refund Initiated: Eligible refunds are processed to your original payment method within 7–10 business days.

Cancellation Timestamp: The date and time of your written cancellation request (email or WhatsApp) in IST determines which refund tier applies. Requests received after 11:59 PM IST will be counted as the next day.

06

Refund Process & Timeline

Once a cancellation is confirmed and a refund is approved:

• Refund Method: Refunds are processed to the original payment method used at the time of booking (credit card, debit card, UPI, net banking, or wallet).
• Processing Time: Safari Bookers initiates the refund within 3–5 business days of cancellation confirmation.
• Bank/Gateway Credit: After initiation, the refund reflects in your account within 5–10 additional business days, depending on your bank or payment provider.
• Total Timeline: Expect 7–15 business days from cancellation confirmation to refund receipt.
• Refund Currency: All refunds are in Indian Rupees (INR).

Payment Gateway Deductions: Payment gateway transaction fees (typically 2–3% of the transaction value) are deducted by the payment processor and are not refunded by Safari Bookers.

07

Force Majeure & Extraordinary Circumstances

In cases of extraordinary events beyond the control of Safari Bookers, special cancellation and refund terms may apply. These include:

• Natural disasters (earthquakes, floods, cyclones, forest fires)
• National or state-declared emergencies or curfews
• Pandemic-related travel restrictions or lockdowns
• Government orders closing national parks or restricting travel
• Strikes, civil unrest, or security situations affecting the destination

In force majeure situations, Safari Bookers will make reasonable efforts to reschedule your booking at no extra charge, or offer the maximum possible refund after deducting non-recoverable third-party costs.

08

Government Park Closures

If a park is closed by government order after your safari permit has been issued and your payment made, Safari Bookers will:

(a) Attempt to reschedule your safari to the next available date at no extra cost, OR
(b) Refund the Safari Bookers service fee component in full.

Government permit fees in such cases are subject to the forest department's own refund policy, which Safari Bookers does not control.

Weekly Closure Days: Safari Bookers makes every effort to ensure bookings are not made on park closure days. Bookings made on known closure days due to customer error are not eligible for a government permit fee refund.

09

No-Shows & Late Arrivals

If you fail to arrive at the safari gate by the designated reporting time:

• The safari booking will be treated as a no-show.
• No refund shall be provided on any component of the booking — service fee, permit fee, or resort charges.
• Late arrivals that miss the safari window due to personal delays are treated as no-shows.

Arrive Early: We strongly advise arriving at the safari gate at least 30 minutes before the scheduled safari reporting time. Park gates operate on strict schedules and do not wait for late arrivals.

10

Booking Modifications

Requests to modify an existing booking (change of date, park, zone, or number of guests) are subject to the following:

• Date Change: Possible if requested 7+ days before the safari date and subject to availability. An administration fee may apply.
• Park or Zone Change: Treated as a cancellation and new booking. Applicable cancellation charges will apply.
• Guest Addition: Possible before permit submission. Additional fees apply for added guests.
• Guest Reduction: After permit submission, guest reduction does not typically result in a refund for the reduced guests as permits are pre-issued.

11

Disputes & Resolution

If you believe a refund decision is incorrect or you have a complaint about our cancellation process:

• Contact us within 30 days of the cancellation or safari date with your written dispute and supporting evidence.
• We will review and respond within 7 business days with a reasoned decision.
• If the dispute remains unresolved, both parties agree to attempt good-faith mediation before pursuing legal action.
• All disputes are subject to Indian law and the jurisdiction stated in our Terms & Conditions.

12

Contact for Cancellations & Refunds

To request a cancellation, refund, or modification:

• Email: hello@safaribookers.in — Subject: "Cancellation Request — [Booking Ref]"
• WhatsApp: Send booking ref + cancellation request
• Response Time: Within 4 business hours during Mon–Sat, 9 AM – 7 PM IST

Always include your Booking Reference Number in all cancellation communications.