Booking Your Safari With Confidence
Planning a safari with Wondrous Wild is the beginning of a conversation, not a transaction. We believe that the booking process should feel as considered and unhurried as the journey itself – transparent at every stage, clearly communicated, and supported by our team from the moment you decide to travel. This page sets out everything you need to know about how we confirm, pay for, and where necessary amend or cancel a Wondrous Wild safari.
Every Wondrous Wild safari begins with a conversation. Once you have spoken with our safari designers and agreed on an itinerary that feels right for your group, you will receive a formal written quotation outlining the full scope of your journey and the total cost in United States Dollars.
To proceed to a confirmed booking, you will need to:
Your booking is confirmed in writing by Wondrous Wild upon receipt of the completed booking form and deposit payment. Until these are received, your itinerary and dates remain provisional and subject to availability.
All safari prices are quoted and payable in United States Dollars. Wondrous Wild operates a milestone payment structure designed to align with the planning timeline of your journey.
Milestone 1 – Booking Deposit: 30% of total safari cost
Due upon confirmation of booking. This deposit secures your itinerary, travel dates, lodge and camp reservations, and where applicable, gorilla trekking permits. The deposit is non-refundable except in the circumstances outlined under Cancellation by Wondrous Wild in our Terms and Conditions.
Milestone 2 – Interim Payment: 40% of total safari cost
Due no later than 90 days before your departure date. This payment confirms all supplier bookings, permits, and logistical arrangements for your journey and allows our ground teams to finalise every detail of your experience.
Milestone 3 – Final Balance: 30% of total safari cost
Due no later than 60 days before your departure date. Receipt of the final balance confirms that all arrangements are in place and your safari is fully secured. Detailed pre-departure documentation, including your final itinerary, logistics pack, health and visa guidance, and packing list, will be issued following receipt of the final balance.
Please note: For bookings made within 90 days of departure, the full safari cost is due at the time of booking confirmation.
Wondrous Wild currently accepts payment by international bank transfer. Full bank details will be provided on your invoice. Guests are responsible for any bank transfer fees charged by their own financial institution. Wondrous Wild must receive the full invoiced amount net of any transfer charges, so guests are advised to confirm the fee structure with their bank before initiating a payment.
Payment references should include your booking reference number to ensure prompt allocation to your account. Wondrous Wild will issue a written receipt for every payment received within five business days of the funds clearing.
Where a payment milestone is not received by the due date, Wondrous Wild will issue a written reminder. If payment is not received within seven days of the reminder, Wondrous Wild reserves the right to treat the booking as cancelled and to apply the cancellation charges set out below. Where a booking is at risk due to late payment, our team will always make every reasonable effort to contact the guest before taking any action.
Cancellation by the Guest
Should you need to cancel your confirmed safari, written notice must be submitted to Wondrous Wild by email as soon as possible. Cancellation charges are calculated as a percentage of the total safari cost and are applied based on the number of days between the date written notice is received and your departure date, as follows:
| Days Before Departure | Cancellation Charge |
| More than 90 days | Deposit forfeited (30% of total safari cost) |
| 60 to 89 days | 50% of total safari cost |
| 30 to 59 days | 75% of total safari cost |
| Less than 30 days | 100% of total safari cost |
These charges reflect the costs that Wondrous Wild incurs with suppliers, lodges, camps, airlines, and permit authorities when a confirmed booking is cancelled. We strongly recommend that all guests hold comprehensive travel insurance with cancellation cover in place from the date of booking.
Gorilla Trekking Permits
Gorilla trekking permits are purchased on the guest’s behalf from the Rwanda Development Board and are non-refundable under Rwanda Development Board policy, regardless of when cancellation occurs. The full permit cost will be included within the cancellation charge where applicable.
Cancellation by Wondrous Wild
In the exceptional circumstance that Wondrous Wild must cancel a confirmed safari – due to force majeure, destination safety concerns, or circumstances entirely beyond our control – guests will be offered the choice of an alternative safari of comparable value, a postponement to a mutually agreed future date, or a full refund of all monies paid directly to Wondrous Wild. Please note that Wondrous Wild cannot accept liability for any third-party costs incurred by the guest, including international flights, in the event of a cancellation by Wondrous Wild.
Amendments Requested by the Guest
We understand that plans sometimes change. Where a guest requests an amendment to a confirmed itinerary – including a change of dates, destinations, or group composition – Wondrous Wild will make every reasonable effort to accommodate the request, subject to supplier availability. Amendment requests made more than 90 days before departure will be handled without an administration fee where possible. Amendments requested within 90 days of departure may incur supplier amendment fees, which will be communicated to the guest in writing before any changes are confirmed.
A significant change – defined as a change of departure date, a reduction in group size that affects the pricing basis, or a material change to the itinerary – may be treated as a cancellation and rebooking, in which case the cancellation charges above may apply. Our team will always advise clearly before any such treatment is applied.
Amendments Made by Wondrous Wild
Where circumstances beyond our control require a change to your confirmed itinerary – including supplier issues, weather, or wildlife management decisions – Wondrous Wild will notify you as promptly as possible and provide an alternative arrangement of equal or greater value. Where a proposed alternative is not acceptable to the guest, the options available will depend on the nature and timing of the change and will be communicated clearly by our team at the time.
Wondrous Wild cannot accept liability for cancellations, amendments, or disruptions caused by events beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to natural disasters, extreme weather events, government travel advisories, political instability, public health emergencies, airline disruptions, or wildlife management closures. In such circumstances, Wondrous Wild will work proactively with guests and suppliers to minimise disruption and find the best available resolution. Comprehensive travel insurance, including cover for force majeure events, is strongly recommended for all guests.
All Wondrous Wild safaris are priced and invoiced in United States Dollars unless otherwise agreed in writing. Quoted prices are valid at the time of issue and are subject to change prior to receipt of a confirmed deposit, in line with supplier pricing, permit fee adjustments, or currency movements. Once a deposit is received and a booking confirmed in writing, the quoted price is fixed subject to the exceptions set out in our Terms and Conditions.
Comprehensive travel insurance is a condition of travelling with Wondrous Wild and must be in place for all guests prior to departure. At a minimum, your policy must cover trip cancellation and curtailment, emergency medical treatment, emergency medical evacuation including helicopter evacuation, personal liability, and loss or theft of belongings. Full details of our travel insurance requirements are set out in our Terms and Conditions. Proof of insurance may be requested by our team prior to the issue of final travel documentation.
Our safari designers are available to assist with any aspect of the booking process – from initial enquiry through to departure. If you have any questions about your payment schedule, an amendment to your booking, or any element of this policy, please contact the Wondrous Wild team directly.
Contact the Wondrous Wild team
Our safari designers are always happy to talk through the details of your journey – however specific, however early in the planning process you are. Contact the Wondrous Wild team to start the conversation.