Terms & Conditions

Maaruf Tours and Safaris

Last Updated: June 2026

Welcome to Maaruf Tours and Safaris. Please review the comprehensive terms and conditions below governing all travel arrangements, safaris, mountain expeditions, and wilderness treks operated by our company.

1. Who We Are

Maaruf Tours and Safaris is a premier Tanzanian tour operator specializing in private, tailor-made luxury safaris, mountain treks, and Zanzibar beach escapes. Built on a lifelong passion for East Africa and a dedication to high-end hospitality, we reject one-size-fits-all travel to architect bespoke itineraries that match your exact style of adventure. Combining a white-glove concierge approach with expert local guides and a strict commitment to ethical tourism and fair staff wages, we seamlessly blend raw wilderness exploration with absolute comfort to deliver an unforgettable, deeply personal African journey.

2. When These Terms and Conditions Apply

These Terms and Conditions govern the relationship between the Client and Maaruf Tours and Safaris (hereafter referred to as “the Company”) and apply automatically in the following situations:

When you book an itinerary or trip directly with us.
When you book an itinerary through our authorized partners or sales representatives.

By making a deposit or confirming a booking directly or through third-party travel agencies and luxury marketplaces, both sides automatically agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. This document outlines your legal rights and responsibilities during your travels in Tanzania.

3. Our Warranties and Representations

We warrant and represent that:

We maintain all mandatory government licenses and permits required to organize and execute wildlife safaris, beach holidays, and mountain trekking expeditions within the United Republic of Tanzania.
We possess extensive operational expertise, ensuring premium travel arrangements for our international clientele.
All safari driver-guides, mountain guides, and travel consultants undergo professional training in wildlife behavior, first aid, and luxury hospitality service.
All marketing and promotional materials reflect true and accurate descriptions of our products without misrepresentation or exaggeration.
We act directly as the primary tour operator. No core part of our ground guiding adventures is outsourced to third parties, with the exception of independent lodge accommodations and domestic or international aviation services.

Sustainable & Ethical Tourism Commitment

Your journey with Maaruf Tours and Safaris actively supports local developing communities and fragile ecosystems in East Africa:

Fair Wages: All field staff, porters, and guides are paid fair, competitive wages surpassing local baseline labor standards.
Environmental Stewardship: We strictly enforce “Leave No Trace” protocols. Our teams do not engage in off-road driving in restricted protected zones, dump waste, or utilize single-use plastics when reusable alternatives are available.
Inclusivity: We foster safe, inclusive, and non-discriminatory working environments.
Local Sourcing: We prioritize local, small-scale, or underserved suppliers to ensure tourism revenues directly benefit Tanzanian communities.

4. Treatment of Your Personal Information

To seamlessly coordinate your expedition logistics, we require specific personal data, including your full name, age, nationality, passport details, dietary preferences, and vital medical disclosures.

Parts of this personal information will be securely transferred to the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA), the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA), and local accommodation providers solely to process official entry permits and room reservations.

5. Communications and Correspondence

To protect against online travel scams, ensure all official communications with our team are conducted through verified corporate channels:

Email: Authorized addresses ending strictly in your verified company domain (e.g., @maaruftours.com).
Phone & WhatsApp: Official numbers listed explicitly on the Maaruf Tours and Safaris platform.

If you suspect any fraudulent activity or believe an individual is falsely representing our brand, please flag the interaction immediately to our management team.

6. Booking and Payment Process

Designated Consultant: The booking process initiates upon your inquiry. A personal travel consultant will be assigned to handle your communication, tailor your custom itinerary, and manage your ground logistics.
Booking Confirmation: Once itinerary terms are mutually agreed upon, a formal invoice is issued. Your booking is officially confirmed only when the required deposit successfully clears into our corporate bank account.
Final Balance: Full payment for your tour package must be settled at least 14 days prior to your scheduled arrival date, unless alternative written arrangements are made with your consultant. All packages must be fully prepaid before field operations commence.
Transaction Fees: The client is responsible for all bank wire transfer commissions (both sending and receiving fees). A 3.5% administrative surcharge applies to all payments processed via credit card portals.
Incomplete Funds: If any portion of a wire transfer or card payment remains uncollected upon arrival, the missing balance must be settled in cash or via card before the trip departs.

Age Restrictions for Mountain Expeditions

Due to intense physiological stress, altitude safety protocols, and strict risk assessments, participants for Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru climbing expeditions must be between 12 and 70 years of age.

This safety policy applies uniformly regardless of prior climbing experience, physical fitness, or family accompaniment. The Company reserves the right to decline participation if age eligibility guidelines are unmet.

Safaris and Day Excursions

No age restrictions apply to our standard wildlife safaris, cultural excursions, or beach holiday programs, provided that all minors are accompanied and supervised by a parent or legal guardian at all times.

Participation of Minors

You must be 18 years or older to legally book an adventure. Adults booking on behalf of minors accept these Terms and Conditions on their behalf, including the assumption of risk and liability limitations.
The Company does not provide dedicated childcare or chaperoning services.
Accompanying adults are solely responsible for securing all legal entry permits, visas, and health declarations required for minors entering Tanzania.

Third-Party Bookings (Tour Leaders & Travel Agents)

If you are booking on behalf of a private group or third-party clients, you are deemed the central point of contact and assume responsibility for:

Disclosing these official Terms and Conditions to all tour participants.
Managing and executing all financial payments accurately and on time.
Passing itinerary updates, flight schedules, and logistical changes to participants promptly.
Collecting and submitting accurate client manifest details (passport data, medical needs).

7. Prices

Once your booking is locked in and confirmed by a deposit, the price of your tour is guaranteed and will not change.

The only exception is if the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania introduces unexpected increases in national park entry fees, conservation fees, regulatory taxes, or VAT. In this event, a copy of the official public gazette notice will be shared with you immediately, and you will have two options:

Cancel your tour and receive a refund adjusted to our cancellation policy timelines.
Accept the regulatory price variance and pay the exact difference.

8. Changes to the Itinerary

Changes by the Client

Any structural updates or lodge modifications you request after confirmation will be handled free of charge if they do not incur extra operational costs for us. Any additional fees levied by third-party lodges or aviation entities must be covered by the client.

If you choose to voluntarily or involuntarily discontinue your tour after it has commenced, you are responsible for any extra logistical expenses incurred, including emergency transfer vehicles and standalone hotel bookings. Unused meals, sightseeing excursions, or park days are non-refundable.

Changes by the Company

While we make every effort to execute itineraries exactly as written, the wild terrain of East Africa presents variables. We reserve the right to alter paths, vehicle configurations, or accommodations if roads become impassable due to weather, safety concerns, or lodge overbookings. We will always provide an alternative of equal or superior standing.

Third-Party Disruption

The Company cannot be held liable for transport delays, missed connections, or flight cancellations caused by commercial airlines or external third-party service entities. Any extra expenses incurred for accommodation or transit due to these delays must be absorbed by you or your travel insurance policy.

9. Changes to Travel Dates

If you must shift your travel dates after making a payment, you must notify us in writing at least 60 days before your original starting date. The newly proposed dates must fall within one full calendar year of your original booking window.

Note: Tanzanian domestic carriers do not offer free itinerary rescheduling. Luxury camps and bush lodges frequently apply strict date-change penalties or adjust rates based on seasonal high/low demand. All additional costs resulting from shifting travel dates will be billed directly to your account.

10. Cancellations

Cancellation by the Client

Because safari lodges and domestic bush aviation operators charge immediate, non-refundable fees to secure limited wilderness allocations, the following scaling cancellation fees apply based on when written notice is received:

Days Prior to Tour Commencement	Cancellation Fee Deducted From Total Payments
More than 90 Days	$100 USD per person (Non-refundable registration fee; transferable to new dates) + 10% of tour total
60 to 89 Days	30% cancellation fee of the total tour cost
30 to 59 Days	60% cancellation fee of the total tour cost
8 to 29 Days	80% cancellation fee of the total tour cost
0 to 7 Days (or No-Show)	100% cancellation fee of the total tour cost (No Refund)

If specific lodge penalties exceed the percentage brackets listed above, the non-refundable fee will scale up accordingly. Any outbound bank wire commissions incurred while transferring your remaining refund will be deducted from the total payout.

Cancellation by Us

In the highly unlikely event that Maaruf Tours and Safaris cancels your trip due to internal operational failures, you will receive a 100% full refund of all monies paid to us.

11. Travel Documents, Visas, and Entry to Tanzania

Passport Validity: Your passport must remain valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended departure date from Tanzania and contain at least two consecutive blank pages for customs entry and exit stamps.
Visas: Obtaining a valid entry visa is your sole responsibility. We recommend utilizing the official online electronic visa portal provided by the Tanzania Immigration Department.
Border Closures & Denials: The Company is not liable if you are denied boarding or entry into the United Republic of Tanzania by immigration authorities. If you fail to cross the border for any reason, no refunds can be issued, as national park entries and luxury lodge rooms are fully prepaid in advance.

12. Accommodation

Hotels and Safari Lodges

Standard group departures are priced based on shared double or twin occupancy. Single travelers will be paired with a fellow traveler of the same sex. If you prefer guaranteed standalone privacy, a single supplement fee applies.
If a selected luxury lodge or tented camp becomes fully booked before your deposit clears, we will notify you immediately and suggest an equivalent alternative option before securing your funds.

Mountain Tented Camps (Kilimanjaro/Meru)

Mountain climbs feature high-altitude camping tents based on double sharing (2 climbers per tent). Single tent supplements are available upon request, except on the Marangu Route (Kilimanjaro) and Mount Meru, where communal wooden park cabins are legally mandated by national park authorities.

13. Fitness and Medical Information

Personal Assessment: It is your responsibility to evaluate your physical conditioning and consult a licensed physician to verify your fitness for high-altitude mountain trekking or rigorous wilderness safaris.
Pre-Existing Conditions: We may require you to complete a health declaration form. If you possess pre-existing medical conditions that could pose a safety hazard in remote wilderness areas lacking immediate hospital access, we require a signed clearance from a medical practitioner.
Termination for Health Risks: If a client’s health significantly deteriorates in the field, our guiding team reserves the right to halt their participation and coordinate evacuation logistics for the safety of the individual and the tour group.
Dietary Needs: Special medical or dietary plans (such as vegan, gluten-free, or halal) must be submitted to us at least 30 days prior to arrival.

14. Travel Insurance (Mandatory)

Strict Requirement: Maintaining comprehensive international travel insurance is a mandatory condition of booking an adventure with Maaruf Tours and Safaris.

Your insurance coverage must explicitly include:

Emergency medical treatment and hospitalization costs inside Tanzania.
International repatriation and emergency helicopter evacuation from remote wilderness zones or mountain altitudes up to 6,000 meters.
Trip cancellation, curtailment, and baggage loss protections.

While our team will provide full documentation and invoices to assist you with an active insurance claim, the Company is not responsible for the ultimate financial outcome of claims processed by your insurance provider.

15. Vaccinations and Health Regulations

Any medical info or vaccination advice provided by our travel consultants reflects generalized tourism knowledge. You must consult an international travel clinic or physician to determine necessary medical safeguards.

A valid Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate is a mandatory entry requirement for Tanzania if you are arriving from or transiting through an endemic country.

16. Authority of Our Guides

While on assignment, the decisions made by your head safari guide or chief mountaineering guide are final and absolute regarding group safety, team management, routes, and tactical field evacuations.

If your physical condition or actions compromise collective safety or break national park regulations, the chief guide retains full authority to terminate your itinerary or order an immediate mountain descent.

17. Acceptance of Inherent Risk

By booking with us, you acknowledge that adventure travel in East Africa involves tracking wildlife in natural habitats, entering remote locations, and undertaking high-altitude physical trekking. These activities contain inherent risks, including potential injury, illness, or psychological stress.

You explicitly accept these risks and release Maaruf Tours and Safaris, along with its guides and operational staff, from liability regarding injuries, illness, or property losses arising from the natural hazards of wild travel.

18. Liability for Damaged or Destroyed Property

Clients are financially liable for any willful destruction or negligent damage caused to Company property during a tour. This includes safari vehicle components, specialized communication gear, high-altitude mountain tents, or rented tracking equipment.

Any property damage disputes and restitution tracking must be settled in Tanzania prior to your international departure.

19. Third-Party Operators and Air Carriers

We partner with carefully vetted luxury safari lodges, beach resorts, and regional aviation carriers. However, these third-party entities operate under their own independent terms, conditions, and international covenants of carriage.

Maaruf Tours and Safaris does not assume liability for mechanical failures, service defaults, or operational negligence originating from these independent hotel or airline brands.

20. Out-of-Pocket Travel Expenses

Our tour packages outline explicit inclusions and exclusions. You are responsible for carrying sufficient personal funds to clear incidental travel costs, including premium alcoholic drinks, souvenir purchases, laundry services, and optional tips for your safari crew and lodge staff.

21. Equipment and Gear for Mountain Climbs

While all communal camp equipment (mess tents, dining tables, tracking safety gear) is fully included in our trekking packages, your personal technical clothing and layering gear are not.

Our team will provide a detailed packing checklist. If you lack specialized high-altitude gear, you may rent professional items from our specialized gear shop upon arrival for an additional fee. All items undergo strict cleaning and inspection protocols.

22. Luggage and Valuables

Transit Losses: We do not assume liability for luggage misplaced, delayed, or destroyed by international airline companies. If your baggage is delayed and you have booked a mountain climb, we will provide essential rental items from our gear shop free of charge to cover your immediate climbing needs until your bags arrive.
Airport Delivery: Tracking and transporting delayed bags from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JIA) or destination airstrips to your hotel or camp will incur a standard local courier transit fee.
Safekeeping: You are responsible for monitoring your gadgets, jewelry, and cash during your tour. You may request our office management to store sensitive valuables within our secure corporate safe systems under active video monitoring.

23. Images and Marketing

Our guides and field teams routinely capture high-quality photographs and video footage during expeditions, which may feature your likeness.

By participating in our adventures, you agree that Maaruf Tours and Safaris and its marketing partners may utilize this media material for promotional, advertising, and website portfolios without royalty tracking or payment structures. If you prefer to opt out of media capture, simply inform your guide or office coordinator before your trip begins.

24. Force Majeure

Maaruf Tours and Safaris will not be held responsible or liable for operational delays, structural changes, or trip cancellations caused by events of Force Majeure. This includes natural disasters, fires, extreme weather disruptions, mechanical infrastructure grid failures, civil unrest, labor strikes, border closures, sudden military actions, epidemics, or unexpected sovereign changes to national park entry rules.

25. Guest Feedback and Complaints

Our foundational mission centers on providing an unparalleled luxury experience in East Africa. If you encounter any aspect of our ground service that does not meet your expectations, flag the issue to your designated tour manager immediately. We commit to responding within 48 hours with an actionable solution.

If an issue requires further escalation, it will be reviewed by our senior management team to ensure your feedback is addressed thoroughly.

26. Governing Law

These Terms and Conditions, and any legal conflicts or claims arising directly from them, shall be exclusively governed by, interpreted, and enforced in accordance with the laws of the United Republic of Tanzania. All parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the national courts of Tanzania.