Thaba Tours has been in operation, as a Tour Operator for the last 23 years! Specializing in Multi-Day Mountain Biking, Overland 4 x 4 Adventures, Pony Trekking and Multi Day Hiking/ Trekking ,in the Rural outback of the Mountains of the Lesotho, Eswatini (Swaziland), South Africa and Mozambique. Tailor-Made Overland 4x4 Tours are our Speciality in these 4 countries and is a must!
Terms and Conditions
1. General Information- When placing a reservation or making an enquiry, kindly inform us of the following: your title, first name and surname, nationality-as Lesotho and Swaziland has Visa restrictions on certain countries), requested tour name, prefer date, pre and post touring details, number of guests in party and any special interests and other requirements (including medical/food). We hold provisional reservations for 14 days. Reservations, which are not confirmed within this time frame, will be automatically released. Upon Thaba Tours’ receipt of your written confirmation and 50% non-refundable deposit, Kindly, notify us of any medical or other special requirements when confirming the departure.
2. Passports - The onus is upon the Travel Agent, Tour Operator and guest to ensure that passports and visas are valid for the countries visited (South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland). Thaba Tours, their staff and their agent cannot be held liable for any visas, not held by guests, or the cost of visas and Passports left behind! Due to the nature of the mountains and remote terrain, please consult your physician prior to touring for specific value = High Altitude Sickness ETC!
3. Changes to scheduled routing- While every effort is made to adhere to scheduled routings, it should be borne in mind that Thaba Tours reserves the right and in fact is obliged to occasionally seek alternative routes and overnight establishments as a result of changing conditions. Such conditions may be brought about by weather-floods, crossing rivers and very bad road conditions, etc.
4. African countries requirements- Every guest on tour is entering a rural and unspoiled African terrain. Therefore, it is necessary to travel with a flexible and tolerant mind. Accommodations, bathroom facilities and meals are at most places very basic, simple and rustic and sometime communal. Most lunch stops base are packed lunches or picnic meals. There are no toilet facilities on route or very seldom. We use the Mountains. We reserve the right to alter any routes or itineraries should circumstances, like weather, road conditions, unforeseen obstacles, etc. so demand= Safety! Some accommodations use generators for the supply of electricity, which switches off at 22:00, and gas geysers for hot water supply.
5. Insurances-your own cost! A comprehensive travel insurance is a necessity when touring Lesotho, Swaziland and South Africa - which should also cover the following non-refundable deposit/final payment, curtailment, cancellation, medical expenses-are own cost, with personal belongings/baggage and emergency evacuation and money.
6. Responsibility - Thaba Tours, nor any person or agent acting for, through or on behalf whatsoever, from any errors or omissions contained in its marketing material, pamphlets, brochures or any other literature, loss or damage caused by delays, sickness, theft, injury or death. Thaba Tours shall have the right at any time, and at its discretion to cancel any tour or the remainder thereof or make any alteration En route, to accommodation, price or other details and, in the event of any tour being rendered impossible, illegal or inadvisable by weather, strike, war, government interference or any cause whatsoever, the extra expenses incurred as a result thereof shall be the responsibility of the guest/passenger. Thaba Tours may at its discretion and without liability or cost to itself at any time, cancel or terminate the guests’ booking and in particular without limiting the generality of the aforementioned, it shall be entitled to do so in the event of illness or the illegal, incompatible behaviour of guest, who shall in such circumstances not be entitled to any refund. A guest or person making a booking will, by making of such a booking, warrant that he or she has authority to enter into a contract on behalf of the other person included in such a booking and in the event of the failure of any or all the other persons so included to make payments, the person making the booking shall by his or signature thereof assume personal liability for the total price of all bookings made by his or her.
7. Cancellation Policy – not refundable! Less than 14 days = 100% and 21 days = 50% and 45 days = 75% of total tour quote. Cancellations are only effective on receipt of written notification. If cancellation is prior to 8 weeks, before departure the deposit if forfeited. If the cancellation is made after the due date for full payment of the full fare, charges will be levied. The scale will of charges, expressed as a percentage of the tour prices, is as follows: More than 8 weeks prior – 50% deposit Less than 30 days prior – 100% payment. Should the guest fail to join in a tour or join in after departure or leave it prior to its completion, no touring fare refund can be made. Normal cancellation fees apply should your departure be postponed.
8. Refunds - While Thaba Tours endeavours' to ensure that all anticipated tours are as planned, there shall be no claim of any nature whatsoever against Thaba Tours for a refund either in whole or part, if any tour is not available and a reasonable alternative is not found.
9. Confidential - PTO Tour Operators Rates Thaba Tours does its best to keep its prices within original agreement. Should increases be forced on us by exchange rates, fuel increases, government taxes, levies and re-routing etc? We reserve the right to surcharge without notice, up to a maximum of the tour fare.
10. Final payment - The final payment is due no later than 8 weeks prior to departure of touring date. Bank transfers, no added costs involved PayPal accepted only- a 4.5-5% added to cost=PayPal service charges! Only current South African (ZAR) to the USD exchange rates are accepted, at the discretion of Thaba Tours. The rate of exchange will apply for a fixed period only, and if payment has not been received within this time frame, Thaba Tours reserves the right to advise the guest, travel agent or tour operator of the new applicable fixed exchange rate. Due to the ever-increasing international credit card fraud. Thaba Tours does not currently accept payments by credit card.
Item-2 Applies to the Pony Trekking or Hiking/ Slack Packing -Options. (Please read below the food list supplied for the Hiking/Slackpacking and Pony Trekking -VERY Carefully)! This is your last chance to make or break!
Included:
All Accommodation on Bed and Breakfast basis,
Mineral Water x2
Airport transfers
Any Soft Drinks x2
Tour Guide
Driver
Food only for Rural Stays
Excluded:
Personal expenses & Personal Insurance
Pony Trekking/Hiking Guide
Tips to Guide.
Pack Horse, for luggage
All entry Fees
General Information!
• Every guest on tour is entering a rural and unspoiled African terrain. Therefore, it is necessary to travel with a flexible and tolerant mind.
• Accommodations, bathroom facilities and meals are at most places very basic, simple and rustic. • Most lunch stops based on packed lunches or picnic meals. There are no toilet facilities on route or very seldom. • We reserve the right to alter any routes or itineraries should circumstances, like weather, road conditions, unforeseen obstacles, etc. so demand. • Some accommodations use generators for the supply of electricity, which switches off at 22:00, and gas geysers for hot water supply.
GENERAL INFORMATION & TIPS FOR HIKES THIS IS AN ADVENTURE AT YOUR OWN RISK. PLEASE LEAVE YOUR MEDICAL NAME & NUMBER AT RECEPTION IN CASE OF ANY EMERGENCY EVACUATION REQUIRED. INDEMNITY FORMS TO BE SIGNED.
Slackpacking/Hiking
A packhorse and a Local guide to carry luggage up to 50kgs. The weight limit per saddle (pannier) bag is 25 kg (50 kg per pack horse, usually 3 people’s luggage to 1 packhorse). Should you run out of space in the panniers, please enquire about the possibilities of hiring an extra pack horse. General Hiking and Pony Trekking Information, for Overland! Very Important -Go through the food list and make DEAD ! SURE THATS WHAT YOU WANT,AS THERES NO SHOPS ON ROUTING, You'll be very disappointed!! Please remember that these hikes are rough and tough, no frills whatsoever, i.e. No showers, you bathe in the plastic basins and streams No Flush Toilets, only Long Drop Toilets, No Chairs, very few tables. Etc.
We supply:
● Cutlery, crockery, pots and pans.
● Mattresses on the floor at the overnight huts.
● Gas cooker only if using a packhorse
● Bucket of fresh spring water for cooking, drinking and washing. (If you have a sensitive stomach use water purification tablet or boil the water first before drinking). If you need to use cutlery and crockery during the day – away from the huts ie for example, for lunch, then you will need to bring your own utensils and crockery just for lunches, but most people tend to make sandwiches at the huts to take with them or have a finger lunch. What to bring:
● Sleeping Bags
● Rain Suit & Warm clothing
● Sunscreen & Hat
● Torch, Candles or Gas Light
● Water Bottle – Water Purifying Tablets (Optional)
● First Aid Kit Suggested items of Clothing Other necessary items
○ Change of clothing
○ Long sleeve trousers and long sleeve shirts. No Chairs, very few tables. Etc. Drinks: Bottled water, wines & beer are available for sale at the Lodge for "Happy Hour(s)!!!!"
Suggested Food List for Horse Treks and Trails-Included in the cost!
Breakfast: Tea, Coffee, Sugar, Hot Chocolate, Long-life Milk, Rusks, Muesli, apples, oranges.
Lunch: Provita Biscuit, Seed Loaf, Margarine/Butter Processed Cheese, Carrots, Cucumber, Lettuce, Tuna Mayonnaise, Tinned Ham & Beef, Mussels, Chocolates.
Dinner: Cup-a-soup, Chinese Noodles, Smash, Pasta, Pasta Sauces (alpaca or packet) Rice o’mix, Indian Tomato Curry Cans, Chakalaka, Toppers, Tinned Veggies, Tinned Fruit, Ultramel Custard, Tinned Caramel & Biscuits. Drinks: Bottled water, wines.
Personally, I suggest, you choose your own food, well before departure-otherwise you will be very disappointed due to no shops along the way! We are in the outback of Lesotho and the adventure, is what we are going for!!!