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Updated Cancellation Policy - Coronavirus
Reviewed 1st August 2021:
We understand that these are still uncertain times, and we have relaxed our cancellation terms to allow travellers to monitor the situation in their home country and also their destination country, rather than having to make a final decision two months in advance.
With an uncertain situation, if you have any concerns at all about travel to your project, please get in touch: info@conservationtravelafrica.org or call us + 44 (0) 333 444 0182 (BST).
Our current cancellation policy for current participants and new bookings is as follows:
1. Cancellations more than 60 days prior to arrival: full refund (less bank charges of approximately $55 / £50)
2. Cancellations 31-60 days prior to arrival:
Volunteers who have paid in full will be eligible to:
– Get a 50% refund (less bank charges). You may transfer the non-refunded 50% to a new booking, travelling within 12 months; or
– Postpone your project to new dates within 12 months of the original start date. If you wish to move your dates to more than 12 months, you may be liable for any changes in project fees.
Volunteers who have paid a 50% deposit by this time will be eligible to:
– Change programme dates; or
– Cancel your programme and receive a 50% credit for the project, travelling within 12 months. If you wish to move your dates to more than 12 months, you may be liable for any changes in project fees.
Volunteers who have paid a $300 deposit by this time will be eligible to:
– Change programme dates and transfer the deposit to the new booking, travelling within 12 months. If you wish to move your dates to more than 12 months, you may be liable for any changes in project fees.
3. Cancellation 30 days or less prior to arrival:
a) If your project location is designated a travel advisory 3 or 4 (‘Avoid all travel’) by the US Department of State, or the UK FCO implements a ‘Advise against all / non-essential travel’ warning on the grounds of Coronavirus:
– You may change your dates or cancel your programme with a credit, up until your date of travel. The new trip can be taken at any point.
– If you would prefer a refund, this must be done through your travel insurance company.
b) If the government in your country of departure implements a quarantine whereby you are unable to fly to your project:
– We are happy to work with your travel insurance company to organise a refund. In this case, your travel insurance company must be your first point of contact.
– Alternatively, you may cancel your programme with a credit and we will hold this amount for a future trip with us. The new trip can be taken at any point.
c) If the local government in your project location halts inbound flights and you are affected:
– You may change your dates or cancel with a credit, up until your date of travel. The new trip can be taken at any point.
– If you would prefer a refund, this must be done through your travel insurance company.
Volunteers who have not secured comprehensive travel insurance will receive a credit to the value they have paid for their project, and will be able to use this credit for the same project in the future. This new trip can be taken at any point.
If you choose not to travel and cancel your programme within 1-30 days of your project start date, you will be able to postpone your programme for 12 months, subject to paying any increases in project fees at the new time of booking.
4. Cancellation or curtailment whilst on the project:
If you decide to leave your project early we will work with our partners to secure a credit for any full weeks remaining on the programme. This credit can be used against a future booking. The new trip can be taken at any point. If you would prefer a refund, this must be done through your travel insurance company.
If your destination / home country implements a lockdown or imposes quarantine restrictions while you are away and you have to leave your project early, we will work with our partners to secure a credit for any full weeks remaining on the project. This credit can be used against a future booking. The new trip can be taken at any point. If you would prefer a refund, this must be done through your travel insurance company.
5. Extensions to your stay whilst on the project:
If you are on a project and are unable to get home, some of our programmes will be happy to let you extend your stay on the volunteer project (subject to availability), or can offer you alternative accommodation (at an additional cost).
These projects include:
- Namibia Wildlife Sanctuary
- Carnivore Conservation Programme
- Rhino & Elephant Conservation
- Horse Riding & Conservation
- Marine Conservation
- Humpback Whale Research
- Primate Conservation
- Wildlife Warriors
- Greenline Community Outreach
Please get in touch if you would like to know more about the costs and accommodation options should you need to extend your stay after you arrive at the programme.
6. If you test positive and are unable to board your departing flight
If you are on a project and test positive on your pre-departure Covid-19 test and are unable to board your flight home, we will work with your project to ensure that you have suitable accommodation for your period of self-isolation. Most of our projects are approved isolation facilities and can accommodate you in a separate area until you test positive and are able to reorganise your departure flight. There will be a charge, paid directly to the programme for this accommodation.
Please get in touch if you would like to know more about the costs and accommodation options should you need to self-isolate during or after your stay at a programme.
Please read our Coronavirus FAQ for more information.
Notes:
Conservation Travel Africa reserves the right to make changes to the new terms and conditions at any time and will send out notifications if you are affected.
We will continue to monitor the situation for any changes to international travel restrictions and COVID-19 outbreaks. Factors that may influence any information given include:
- The UK Foreign Office advisory level for the country being elevated to ‘Advise against all travel’ or ‘Advise against all but essential travel’
- The US State Department advisory level for the country being elevated to ‘Do not travel’
- The CDC elevating the health alert level to Level 3 ‘Avoid all non-essential travel’
- If the sending or host governments recommend immediate departure or evacuation of foreign citizens.
Be aware that local or host governments can implement travel restrictions, quarantines and new border screening processes at any time. Please keep yourself updated on your government’s advice, airline updates and any other travel restrictions.
Useful links:
For the most recent updates on the virus, please look at the World Health Organisation’s Situation Reports, updated daily. Other important sources of information are the CDC Travel Health Notices (USA) and Foreign & Commonwealth Office Travel Advice (UK).
WHO situation reports (currently updated daily): https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/situation-reports WHO International travel and health updates: https://www.who.int/ith/en FCO (UK) advice: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-advice-novel-coronavirus CDC (USA) advice: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html We will update you should our position or the situation in any of our operating countries dramatically change. We will continue to work tirelessly with you and our tourism partners against the challenges that await us.Booking terms and conditions
For our full booking terms and conditions please click here. This covers our position on things such as visas, travel insurance, behaviour, accommodation and health and safety. Note that the cancellation policy on this page is superseded by this updated one.
Travel Insurance
Every volunteer must have adequate travel insurance which is valid for the entire duration of the programme. We urge you to take out the best travel insurance policy that you can, to ensure that you are covered for cancellation, travel disruption and medical care. We strongly recommend a policy which covers you for costs incurred because of Covid-19.
You must ensure that the cover provided is appropriate for the activities you will be engaging in and that it includes repatriation cover, including air evacuation, medical expenses and cover for lost or delayed baggage.
You must provide details of your insurance policy on your booking form, prior to departure. If you join the programme without adequate insurance you may not be allowed to continue on the programme with no refund.
We recommend that you take out insurance to cover the loss of baggage and valuables. Conservation Travel Africa takes no responsibility for any loss, damage or expenses incurred if travelling uninsured or under-insured.
