Terms & Conditions

Orange River Canoeing offices are based in 30 Nederburgh Street, Welgemoed, Bellvile 7530, in Cape Town, South Africa.
Orange River Canoeing (ORC) are hereinafter referred to as “the company” in respect of the booking conditions.

Contract Arrangements & Deposits:
A booking form must be completed on your booking, accepting on behalf of all members in your party, the terms of these booking conditions, and pay a non-refundable deposit per person. All persons named on the booking form shall be referred to collectively as “the client” or “clients”. If the booking is made through a travel agent, all communication from the company will be addressed to that agent who acts as an agent for the client regarding all communications from the company to the client. No contract shall exist between the company and the client until the company confirms the booking upon the received prescribed deposit payment and the clients’ completed booking form.

Payment:
A non-refundable deposit is required on confirmation of your reservation. The balance of the tour fare must be paid no later than three (3) weeks (21 days) prior to the date of departure for all tours. Otherwise, the Company may treat the booking as cancelled by the Client. Deposit payments for previously confirmed members cannot be deducted from the outstanding balance for individuals who do not join your group. If you make a partial payment to recover the non-refundable deposit for cancelled members, your group will not be permitted to access the river until the full payment is received. ORC may, at own discretion and without notice, be entitled to regard the booking as cancelled and to re-book the vacancy. Late applications may however join on “space available” basis. No refunds on unused services. ORC reserve the right to increase prices without notice, in accordance with any unforeseen increases to which we may be subjected.

Cancellation of Client:
All deposits are non-refundable. Cancelled or forfeited deposits are not transferable towards the balance payments of the non-cancelled members of your or any other group. Deposits can however be carried over to new members substituting the cancelled members spot on the group. No refunds 28 days or less before departure. Cancellation of any booking must be made in writing by the person that completed the booking, and is not effective until such cancellation, is received by the Company. If you fail to join a trip or join it after departure, or leave it prior to its completion, no reimbursement will be made whatsoever, by Orange River Canoeing. 

Postponement to trips by Clients:
We fully understand that families need to travel together; and that groups want to be together for their best canoeing experience on the Orange River. There will be a 20% handling fee charged for any person or groups of people, who have to postpone their tour with us for medical or passport issues. This postponement must be WhatsApp’ed immediately to +27 84 764 7400 and e-mailed to info@orangerivercanoeing.co.za with the Group number and Name & Surname of all people who can/will not attend the tour along with the reason and proof (medical condition) of reason.
This postponement must be done at the very least 48 hours before 7pm of the arrival day to be valid for a 20% handling fee; or you forfeit your full amount. Tours postponed, this way, can be booked at the same price, as originally quoted, for 2 years from date of postponement.

Cancellation by the Company:
The company reserves the right to cancel any tour, should it so see fit or should there be any health and or quarantine requirements at the border OR camp. The client has the following options should a tour be cancelled: 1. the client can book the same tour, at no extra costs, for 1 year from date of booking, with no price increases. OR 2. the client can keep the money as deposit for any tour of the company for the next 2 years.

The company reserves the right in any circumstances to cancel the tour and tours operate subject to a minimum of participants. In circumstances where the company is unable to provide the tour booked, other than the conditions as stated above, the Company will refund the client all monies paid, or offer an alternative tour of comparable standard.

Alterations to itineraries:
While the company will use its best endeavour to operate all tour arrangements as booked, reasonable changes in the itinerary may be made where deemed necessary or advisable by the company. When a major change becomes necessary, notification of such alterations will be sent to the clients’ agent or to the clients’ last known e-mail address. The company reserves the right to alter itineraries after departure if it is in the clients’ interest to do so. The company will not be responsible for any compensation to the client, if the company is forced to cancel or in any way change the tour due to force namely war, riot, civil strife, industrial dispute, terrorist activity, natural, pandemic or nuclear disaster, fire, adverse weather conditions or other external circumstances beyond the company’s control.

Authority on tour:
The decision of the driver/guide employed by the company will be final on all matters, likely to endanger the safety of the group. The company shall not be responsible for or liable to any client who commits an illegal or unlawful act in any country visited. The client may be excluded from the tour without any refund of the tour fare. If the company considers the client as unsuitable for the tour, it may in its absolute discretion, cancel such clients booking or decline to carry the client further if that client causes inconvenience or annoyance to other clients or passengers.

Health:
The client hereby confirms that he or she is in good health. Any client with a medical condition or illness must declare the true nature of such condition at the time of booking. Client is responsible to bring with their own medication or other cause of  treatment which may be required for the medical condition or illness during the tour. Such a client would be required to provide a medical statement from a GP to confirm that they are fit to travel. Unsuitability of client, etc: If the company considers the client as unsuitable for a tour it may in its absolute discretion cancel such clients booking or decline to carry the client further if that client causes inconvenience or annoyance to other clients or passengers.

Baggage:
All baggage and personal effects are always at the clients’ risk and the company cannot accept any liability for any loss of baggage or personal effects.

Travel Documentation:
It is the responsibility of the client to be in possession of a valid passport, visa permits and vaccinations and other medical certificates as may be required for the whole of the tour. The company does not accept responsibility for changes in regulations for visas or any requirements for visas. The company cannot be held responsible for the failure for the client to obtain the necessary documents.

Personal Insurance:
It is compulsory to take out travel insurance covering force majeure events (such as a pandemic breakout) related cancellations, personal accidents, medical expenses, theft of personal items or baggage loss and loss of deposit through cancellation. Further, please ensure that you activate your international travel insurance on your personal medical plan for any medical eventualities.

Company Insurance:
Please see above point on personal insurance. Note that our passenger insurance cover you while in the company’s vehicle. When you step outside the vehicle, passenger insurance stop. None of your camera equipment, vehicle or trailer or any camping equipment of yours are itemized under our company insurance. Hence it cannot be claimed under our insurance for any event that might cause damage to or loss of it.

Indemnity:
All clients will be required to sign an indemnity form before joining a tour. By signing the indemnity form, the client agrees to hold Orange River Canoeing harmless and indemnify them against any losses, expenses, or damages (including attorney’s fees) that Orange River Canoeing may be required to pay as a result of lawsuits or claims resulting from any property damage, fatalities, or injuries to people caused by the client’s own wilful misconduct, general or gross negligence with regard to acting with the degree of care that a reasonable person would have used in the same situation. Participation in any of our tours will not be permitted without a signed indemnity form.

Liability:
Clients’ bookings are accepted on the understanding that they appreciate the possible risks inherent in adventure travel and that they undertake the tours, safaris, accommodation, river trips and expeditions featured in this website at their own risk. While every precaution is taken to ensure the safety of the clients participating on the tour, the company does not hold itself responsible for death or any injury or loss, which might occur to such persons, sustained from any cause whatsoever. The client and his/her dependents, heirs, executors, administrations, or assigns, hereby indemnify, and hold blameless, the company, its members, employees, representatives, organisers, helpers and agents from any claims of whatsoever nature and from any liability for delay, loss, damage, injury, illness or death arising from any cause whatsoever out of events related to or occurring during the tour.

Information:
Information given in all brochures, leaflets, website, social media, and advertising mediums are given in good faith by the company and are based on the latest information available at the date of publication. The company reserves the right to change any of the facilities or vehicles described on the brochures, leaflets, website, social media, and advertising mediums without becoming liable for compensation or refund. The company reserves the right to increase their tour fees due to any increases in tariffs, fuel costs, gas reserves/camping fees or fluctuation of exchange rates to which it may be subjected to. Clients must be aware that our authorised couriers, service providers and representatives may take photographs and videos of our clients while on any of the tours, of which the company reserves the right to use such material for any brochures, leaflets, website, social media, and advertising mediums without obtaining further consent. The company also reserves the right to use any comments clients make regarding the tours on questionnaires or complimentary letters, to use in future promotions literature. All types of media posted on social media platforms by our client, linking or featuring the company, staff, or camp directly or indirectly, to the event featured will be available to the company to use on any media platform we see fit; without obtaining further consent.

Jurisdiction and Law:
This contract shall be interpreted according to the laws of the Republic of South Africa.

Severability:
If any part, term, or provision of this contract is held to by legal or unenforceable it shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remainder of the contract. Furthermore if any covenants are held illegal or unenforceable by virtue of it scale, extent or duration, it shall remain valid and enforceable in such reduced scale, extent or duration permissible.