Terms & Conditions - Black Rhino Expeditions

Terms & Conditions

By attending and participating in one of our Expeditions you acknowledge that you and your guests are accepting certain risks. Your application shall serve as a release of our liability and a complete assumption of all risks by you and your heirs, administrator, executor, successors, and assign for all family members. By accepting our terms of service, you are acknowledging that you are aware that travel, wherever it may be, and by whatever means, involves some inherent risk of injury, illness, death, loss, or damage to personal property, which may be caused by acts of nature, negligence or actions of others.

In consideration of, and as part of the payment for your participation in a program, excursion, expedition, or other activities or any program that Black Rhino Expeditions, or their assigns, may be conducting, you are voluntarily releasing Black Rhino Expeditions, their employees, assigns, independent contractors, or anyone involved thereof, from any damages, liabilities, costs, injuries whether mental or physical, known or unknown, and by participation you agree to assume all risks whether known or unknown.

You acknowledge voluntarily that by traveling to areas that may be remote, foreign, mountainous, wilderness, wild rivers, remote deserts, and which may not be maintained to the standards you are accustomed and therefore may involve certain additional risks, dangers, and inconveniences including, but not limited to, terrorism, forces of nature, wild animals, hotel accommodations, automotive breakdown, vehicle rental, airplane, vehicles, trains, boats, roads, walkways, trails, and other means of conveyance or other unknown risks.

You acknowledge that medical services and facilities may not be readily available during all or part of the trip, including medical care, presence of physicians, and medication. We assume no liability for medical care. We assume no liability for dietary requirements you have.

Your application signifies your full understanding and agreement that you release and hold harmless Black Rhino Expeditions, its officers, agents, sponsors, associates, sub-contractors, from any and all liability, actions, causes of actions, claims, debts, and demands of every kind whatsoever, known or unknown which may arise in connection with your participation in any activities arranged by them without limitation, all liability, actions, causes of action, claims, debts, and demands related to the negligence of said persons. You also acknowledge that you understand that travel with a group invariably involves compromise to accommodate the diverse desires, travel goals, personalities, and mental and physical abilities of group participants. You also understand that while itineraries are carefully planned, they are not a guaranteed schedule of activities, events, or participation, but only a guideline and example. Group participants must allow for flexibility and changes deemed necessary by the program leader or professional guides. There may be situations beyond our control due to geographic, climatic, physical, or governmental restrictions that will cause further changes in timing, locations, and activities. Understanding this, you further agree that there will be no discounts or refunds for activities curtailed or otherwise affected by such circumstances.

You have assumed the responsibility to select an activity appropriate to your physical abilities and interests. You are personally responsible for being in sufficiently good health to undertake the activity. By accepting our terms of service, and by your deposit and/or payment, you certify that you do not knowingly have any physical or other considerations of disability that would create a risk for you or other participants. We reserve the right to request a doctor’s statement of good health. You will be responsible for studying all pre-trip information; for bringing all equipment, personal items, and appropriate clothing; for conforming to standards of dress and hygiene; and for acting in a manner considerate of fellow participants, locations and environments.

We reserve the right to cancel any activity and to accept or reject any person as a member of any activity. The program, expedition, excursion, or trip leader’s judgment shall provide the ultimate determination of an individual’s ability to participate in, or continue to participate in, any activity or program.

Arbitration

You agree to have any claim, controversy, or dispute relating to the enforcement or interpretation of this document or arising or relating to your registration, participation, or attendance at a Black Rhino Expedition, submitted to binding arbitration under the rules and regulations of the American Arbitration Association. The arbitration shall take place in Los Angeles, California. You do hereby waive your right to bring an action before a judge or jury in any court and you understand that you have given up your rights to discovery and appeal. Any award rendered in any arbitration may be made a judgment by any court of competent jurisdiction. You understand that if you refuse to submit to arbitration after agreeing to this provision, you may be compelled to arbitrate under the authority of the California Code of Civil Procedure.

Cancellation or Change of an Expedition

While Black Rhino Expeditions will make every attempt to operate a trip once confirmed, we do reserve the right to cancel or change a trip, at any time due to insufficient bookings and/or reasons beyond our control that might create unsafe or undesirable travel conditions for the participants. In such case, a full and immediate refund will be issued. However, the financial liability of Black Rhino Expeditions shall be limited to the amount paid to Black Rhino Expeditions for the Expedition only and shall not be extended to cover any other associated travel costs incurred (e.g. non-refundable air tickets, visa fees if applicable, clothing, equipment, automobile modifications, miscellaneous transportation costs, medical expenses, travel insurance premiums, etc.). We reserve the right to refuse acceptance of any participant, for any reason, at any time. We are not responsible for any additional expenses incurred by such participants. For Expeditions outside of the U.S., participation fees may be adjusted after you have signed up, based on local currency fluctuation.

Cancellation and Refund Policy

If you cancel and the Expedition is otherwise filled, we will refund you the full amount you have paid towards the event, minus a $150 service charge. If the Expedition does not fill, then you will be refunded according to the following schedule, based on the full fee of the Expedition:

Greater than 90 days from the start date of the Expedition: full refund minus $150 service charge.

  • 60-90 days: 50% refund
  • 30-60 days: 25% refund
  • Less than 30 days: no refund

Refunds will be paid by check. Refunds will be initiated within 72 hours of the time that the request is approved.

Use of Name and Likeness

We reserve the right to take photographs or videos during the operation of any Expedition or part thereof and to use the resulting photography and/or video in whole or in part for promotional purposes, including, but not limited to: advertising and publicity both in print and electronic media. By booking a reservation with Black Rhino Expeditions, participants agree to allow their images to be used in such photography/videography; participants who prefer that their image not be used are asked to identify themselves to their expedition leader at the commencement of their trip.

Not Included

Air transportation and related fees (except as indicated in the itinerary); fuel for vehicles; activities noted as optional in the itinerary; gratuities, unless otherwise noted on the itinerary page; passport and visa expenses; baggage/accident/cancellation insurance; personal expenses, such as auto repairs, equipment replacement, towing, laundry, telephone calls, meals (except as indicated on the itinerary) alcoholic beverages; and any other items not specifically noted as included.

Travel Documentation

You are responsible for ensuring that you have the proper travel documents and immunizations. For international travel, you should check with the respective consulate(s) or visa agencies to determine whether visas are required. Valid passports are required for international travel.

Insurance

Unless you are already covered under an existing policy, we recommend that you purchase travel insurance. Such insurance often provides coverage for losses suffered in the event of trip cancellation and interruption, travel delay, loss of baggage and travel documents, baggage delay, medical emergencies and accidental death.

Driver License

A valid driver’s license, current vehicle insurance, as well as drivers’ and all passengers’ signatures on an Acknowledgment of Risk form are required for all expeditions.

Third-Party Services

You understand that we rely upon third party tour organizers, transportation providers, hotel operators and food providers to provide the services associated with the Expeditions. All tickets, coupons, reservations, etc. are subject to the terms and conditions and other policies of the third-party service provider.

We cannot control the actions of such third-parties and do not assume responsibility for unanticipated events that may occur, including, without limitation, auto repairs, travel delays, lost luggage, cancellations, overbooking, and other reservation errors. You should build some flexibility into your schedule in case we need to extend the length of the Expedition or make other reasonable scheduling changes to accommodate unanticipated events such as travel delays, lost luggage, cancellations, overbooking and other reservation errors.

You will not be entitled to a refund in the event of unanticipated events requiring scheduling changes. You further agree to hold us harmless from and against any liability for injury, death, damage, loss, accident, delay or irregularity that might occur in connection with any services provided by third parties.

Alcohol Policy

We require that all drivers are sober while driving. Drinking alcoholic beverages before or during the driving/training programs or during the driving portion of an off-road event is not allowed by the driver and any of the passengers. Since, we will be driving after lunch, alcoholic beverages are not to be consumed by drivers at lunch. On our adventure trips, we have no objections to drinking alcoholic beverages in moderation in camp after all driving is completed for the day. If a night run is planned, then there is no drinking of alcohol until after the vehicles return to camp and are parked for the rest of the evening.