Payment Methods and Scheduling

We accept two primary methods. The first is international bank wire transfer — this is our preferred method because it avoids credit card processing fees on significant bookings and creates a clean paper trail for both parties. The second is credit or debit card payment, which we can arrange through a secure payment link. If you pay by card, your bank handles the USD conversion at the prevailing rate and any associated fees are passed on to you transparently — we do not add card processing markups. We do not accept cash in person in Tanzania except for incidental personal purchases during your trip. All payments are handled in US dollars, which is the standard currency for Tanzania safari bookings.

A 30% deposit secures your reservation at the time of confirmation. The remaining 70% balance is due 45 days before your arrival in Tanzania. These terms are standard for the luxury safari industry and reflect the fact that we are paying deposits to hold your rooms at the best camps many months in advance. If your booking is made within 45 days of arrival, the full amount is due immediately. For long-lead bookings — made 9 months or more before travel — we are happy to discuss a phased payment schedule that spreads the cost in instalments, at no additional charge. Just ask when you are confirming your itinerary.

Our cancellation terms are designed to be fair rather than punitive. If you cancel more than 60 days before your scheduled arrival in Tanzania, your deposit is refunded in full minus a small administrative fee. If you cancel between 30 and 60 days before arrival, we retain 50% of the deposit. If you cancel within 30 days of arrival, the full deposit is non-refundable — this reflects the reality that we have committed to paying deposits to camps that cannot relet the space on short notice. However, we almost always find a way to rebook rather than retain funds. If your plans are uncertain when you book, tell us and we will structure the booking to give you the maximum flexibility possible for your specific itinerary.

Yes, and in most cases rebooking is simpler than cancellation. If you need to change your travel dates, we transfer your deposit to the new dates if availability allows. We ask for as much notice as possible — some camps have very limited flexibility on date changes, while others are more adaptable. There is generally no rebooking fee if the new dates work within the same season or property category. If you want to move from peak season to green season (or vice versa), there may be a pricing adjustment to reflect the different rates. The key message is: contact us as soon as you know plans are changing. The earlier you tell us, the more options we have.

Yes, for bookings made more than 6 months in advance. We are happy to structure a phased payment schedule that suits your financial planning — for example, paying the deposit at confirmation, a second instalment 4 months later, and the balance 45 days before travel. We do not charge any fee for this flexibility, and the schedule is agreed in writing at the time of booking. This is particularly useful for guests who are planning a trip as a milestone celebration or who want to spread the cost over a year or more. Just ask about payment scheduling when you are confirming your itinerary and we will build a plan that works for you.

No. The price in your proposal is the price you pay. We do not add credit card processing fees, administrative charges, or currency adjustment surcharges. The only scenario in which a price might change after confirmation is if you request modifications to the itinerary — adding a night, upgrading a camp, or extending the safari — in which case we provide a clear adjustment before making any changes. Tanzania park fees are fixed by the Tanzania National Parks authority and are included in our pricing; we do not add surcharges on these. The only separate costs you should budget for are international flights, travel insurance, Tanzania visa ($52 for most nationalities), and gratuities for your guide and camp staff.

All Bobby Safaris quotes are in US dollars, which is the standard currency for Tanzania safari bookings and eliminates currency risk for both parties. We can accept payment in USD only for the safari itself. If you are paying from a non-USD bank account, your bank will handle the conversion at their prevailing exchange rate — we have no visibility into or control over the rate your bank applies. If you are planning to pay in euros, pounds, or another currency and want to understand the effective cost in your home currency before committing, we recommend using a neutral currency converter (xe.com or similar) based on the USD quote and your bank's known conversion rate. We do not lock exchange rates or offer currency hedging — our quotes are valid for 14 days from the date of issue.

This has not happened with any property we have booked in 48 years, but it is a reasonable concern given the events of recent years. Our practice is to select properties with established track records and sound financial standing, and to avoid newly-opened camps that have not yet demonstrated staying power. If a property we have confirmed were to close before your arrival, we would notify you immediately and propose equivalent alternatives — there are always alternatives at the same quality level, though they may require adjusting the itinerary. Your deposit would be transferred in full to the new arrangement, with no loss to you. We hold deposits separately from operational funds and would honour all refunds in the unlikely event of a property failure.

Comprehensive travel insurance is a requirement for every Bobby Safaris booking — we cannot hold a reservation without confirmation of cover. The policy must include medical evacuation, trip cancellation, and personal belongings. We do not require you to use a specific provider, and we do not receive commissions from insurers. We recommend checking whether your existing credit card or personal insurance already includes safari-appropriate cover before purchasing a standalone policy. If you need a starting point for research, we can share the providers that our existing guests have used successfully. Tell us which insurers you are considering and we will give you a direct assessment of whether their safari coverage is adequate.

This is a fair question, and we do not expect you to wire funds to an unfamiliar operator without due diligence. Bobby Safaris has operated since 1978 and is an established Arusha business. We provide full company registration details, a Tanzania business identification number, and bank account details with a named Arusha account. We have guests from more than 40 countries who have travelled with us over the decades, many of whom found us through personal referral. If you would like a reference from a past guest in your country or situation, ask and we can usually arrange it. We also recommend using a credit card with strong fraud protection as an additional safeguard when paying — and we will work with you on payment timing if you have any concern at all about the process.