We
provide this page so that you know exactly where you stand with
regards to your registration for MARA 2008
PREAMBLE:
Natural Events is simply an organizational structure that allows
Steve Morris and Andre Vosloo to interact with operators in the
Safari Vacation sector with a view to obtaining outstanding venues
for meetings in Africa, as well as associate activities at wholesale
rates. There is no large organization and no profit-making. A
prime objective is to increase interaction between Africa and
overseas visitors and most especially at a professional level
with African problems and colleagues. While the packages may occasionally
appear costly they are close to fully inclusive and considerably
below the costs enjoyed by vacationers. To achieve this we work
as your colleagues rather than as tour operators and we work with
a budget margin close to zero and carry no special insurance to
accommodate unforeseen eventualities. This allows us to keep the
costs as low as possible but does mean that the posted fees are
sensitive to changes 'local fees', (i.e. government imposed
rate changes) since we have no capacity to absorb them.
KEY
POINTS:
-
ALL
deposit and final payments are accepted on the basis the below
conditions are fully understood by delegates
-
The
advised payment schedule is necessary for us to meet payments
in Kenya - it is real and we must ask that you abide by this
schedule.
-
Deposit
payments and final payments are nonrefundable
but remain transferable to new delegates. When we receive your
payments we make a secure undertaking to our operators and lodges
in Kenya. While we can change names until close to the meeting
we can not retrieve the funds. Essentially we take the money
from the new delegate and redirect it.
-
Any
funds returned to registered delegates are subject to bank costs
- as a general rule 96% of the original amount may be realized.
This is naturally subject to the prevailing exchange rates.
- NOTE
ADDED
January 29, 2008. We have been advised with
30 days notice (i.e. with effect from end of February) that refunds
to credit cards will be processed at the same rate as debit transactions.
This represents an increase of 4.6% that will be charged by the
bank for any credit. Thus delegates may now realise closer to
91% of the 'fee' amount paid.
-
If
Government TAX structures or fees increase these will of necessity
be passed on to delegates. Our operators and counterparts
in Kenya have no control over fee structures imposed by the
Government of Kenya - including the operative arms of Government;
The Kenya Wildlife Service and the Kenya Tourist Board. Thus
in simple terms if the cost of entry to the Maasai Mara is increased
through either an increase in TAX of fee basis - this is passed
to us and on to you.
-
We
carry NO insurance on your reservation but instead take
advantage of the cover carried by our partners in Kenya. Organizations
and operators we deal with in Kenya are members of the Kenya
Association Tourism Operators (KATO). Our main ground operator
is member of :
-
Kenya
Association of Tour Operators (KATO)
-
East
Africa Wildlife Society (EAWS)
-
Kenya
Tourism Federation (KTF)
-
Eco-tourism
Society of Kenya (ESOK)
-
ATTA
( Africa Travel & Tourism Association)
-
APTA
(Assoc. for the Promotion of Tourism to Africa).
-
Our
main ground operator has its own fully owned offices and manned
24 hrs a day, the company provides modern communication and
back-up system for easy contact with clients, partners and
suppliers; as well as a member of “Kenya Tourism Federation”
emergency communication center
-
It
is a condition of travel to MARA 2008 that you arrange for adequate
travel and medical insurance.
-
This
advice is consistent with that which has appeared on the 'registration'
and 'accommodation' pages used by delegates in registering for
MARA 2008.
