TERMS AND CONDITIONS
By supporting WildAMI through your contribution please get familiar with our terms and
conditions.
BOOKING
The deposit you make to participate in a WildAMI Action Research Expedition is a contribution for
the implementation of action research activities in the field and support the conservation of
endangered species. WildAMI cannot guarantee a reservation until a nonrefundable deposit has
been received.
By making a booking you are agreeing that you are booked onto the action research expedition
and that you have read these Terms and Conditions and have the authority to and do agree to be
bound by them.
Your space on the action research expedition will be reserved upon receipt of nonrefundable 15%
contribution and completion of the booking form, except when you sign up 60 days or less from
the expedition start date, at which time full nonrefundable payment is required. You will then
receive an email confirming your reservation on the expedition. This email will also outline the
next steps in your preparation to join the expedition, including which Volunteer Forms you need to
complete, and when your final payment is due (if you have not already paid in full).
Final acceptance onto an action research team is contingent on WildAMI receiving and approving
your completed Volunteer Forms.
Should we be unable to process your booking for any reason then your deposit will be returned to
you.
FINAL PAYMENT
If you have made a deposit, your final payment is due 60 days before the expedition start date.
Please refer to your confirmation email for the specific date on which the final payment is due. If
you have not paid in full by this date, WildAMI reserves the right to cancel your expedition place
and your nonrefundable deposit will be retained by WildAMI.
If payments are delayed beyond the due dates by more than 10 days, then WildAMI reserve the
right to cancel your expedition and the cancellation charges outlined below will become
applicable.
Note: If you register online within 60 days of your expedition start date, the full contribution
amount will be charged at the time of sign-up.
SURCHARGES
We seek to ensure that all the information and contributions on both our website and our
brochures are accurate, it is our policy to offer expeditions at a clear and firm price, yet changes
and errors do occur and we reserve the right to correct prices and other details in such
circumstances. Please check the current price and all other details relating to the expedition that
you wish to book before you make the booking.
We reserve the right to increase the price of confirmed bookings solely to allow for increases
which are direct consequence of changes in:
the cost of fuel or other power sources;
the level of taxes or fees chargeable for services applicable to the expedition
the exchange rates relevant to this expedition.
You will be charged for the amount of any increase in accordance with this clause. However, if this
means that you have to pay an increase of more than 8% of the price of the confirmed expedition
(excluding any insurance premiums, amendment charges and/or additional services or travel
arrangements), you will have the option of accepting a change to another expedition if we are able
to offer one (if this is of lower quality you will be refunded the difference in price), or cancelling
and receiving a full refund of all monies paid to us, except for any insurance premiums and any
amendment charges and/or additional services or travel arrangements. Should you decide to
cancel for this reason, you must exercise your right to do so within 7 days from the date we inform
you of the change.
Should the invoice of the expedition go down due to the changes mentioned above, then any
refund due will be paid to you less an administrative fee of 15 USD. However, please note that
travel arrangements are not always purchased in local currency and some apparent changes have
no impact on the price of your travel due to contractual and other protection in place.
There will be no change made to the price of your confirmed expedition within 30 days of the
departure date nor will refunds be paid during this period.
ADDITIONAL DONATIONS
Additional donations made via our online sign-up form are welcome charitable gifts made directly
to WildAMI in support of our mission. These additional donations are not intended to be used for
the expedition payment and are completely nonrefundable.
CHANGE YOUR BOOKING
If you decide to move on to another action research expedition, you may transfer from one
expedition to another 60 days or more before your expedition start date. For each original
reservation with a deposit, you are allowed one free transfer to another expedition. For each
additional transfer, you will be charged $150. You may not transfer within 60 days before your
expedition start date. However, if you used a promotional offer when registering for your
expedition, your reservation is subject to the terms and conditions of that offer. It is your
responsibility to ensure you understand any such terms prior to signing up. If the project or
expedition you want to move to is longer you will be invoiced for the difference in price. If it is
shorter, your payment schedule will be adjusted to take the new total amount payable into
account. If, following you confirming that you wish to change your booking, you should decide to
cancel, cancellation charges will apply in line with your original booking rather than the new
booking.
CANCELLATION BY PARTICIPANTS AND REFUND POLICY
If you wish to cancel your action research expedition place, please inform WildAMI as soon as
possible. Your cancellation will be confirmed with an email from WildAMI; you should not consider
your expedition canceled until you have received this confirmation. The cancellation will take
effect from the day that the confirmation is received.
If you cancel less than 60 days before your expedition start date, WildAMI will retain 100% of your
contribution. If you cancel 60 days or more before your expedition start date, your balance
payment will be refunded, but your nonrefundable deposit will be retained by WildAMI. If you
used a promotional offer when registering for your expedition, your reservation is subject to the
terms and conditions of that offer. It is your responsibility to ensure you understand any such
terms prior to signing up.
Note: Any funds retained due to cancellation will support expedition field research and are
considered a charitable donation to WildAMI. Additional donations made above the minimum
contribution are also nonrefundable and nontransferable and are considered a charitable gift to
WildAMI.
CANCELLATION BY WILDAMI AND REFUND POLICY
On rare occasions, your expedition may be canceled by WildAMI. This usually occurs if the
expedition does not meet the minimum number of volunteers required. If WildAMI cancels your
expedition for this reason or for any other reason within WildAMI control, we will refund 100% of
what you have paid at the time of cancellation.
WildAMI can take no responsibility for any cancellation or amendment penalties that your travel
company may charge you if you have to change your travel plans as a result of cancellation by
WildAMI. Your travel arrangements are subject to the terms and conditions of the travel company
through which you booked your travel. Volunteers are encouraged to buy flexible, refundable
tickets. We strongly advise you to purchase Trip Cancellation insurance.
We reserve the right to amend certain aspects of your itinerary at any time in line with the overall
objectives and context of the expedition. In the unlikely event of WildAMI consider travel to your
particular destination unsafe for any reason, more than 2 months before departure, we will
provide an alternative. WildAMI would only consider travel to your destination unsafe less than 2
months prior to departure in the case of major forces.
We will not cancel any expedition less than 2 months before the departure date, except for
reasons set out in clause of major foreces or failure by you to pay the balance. We may cancel
before this date if, e.g. the minimum number of participants required for the expedition is not
reached.
If we do have to make a significant change or cancel, we will tell you as soon as reasonably
possible and if there is time to do so before departure, we will offer you the choice of: (for
significant changes) accepting the changed arrangements; or having a refund of all monies paid; or
if available and where we offer one, accepting an offer an alternative expedition (we will refund
any price difference if the alternative is of a lower value).
You must notify us of your choice within 7 days of our offer. If we do not hear from you within 7
days, we will assume that you have chosen to accept the change or alternative booking
arrangements.
MAJOR FORCES
Except where otherwise expressly stated in these Terms and Conditions, we will not be liable or
pay you compensation if our contractual obligations to you are affected by “major forces”. For the
purposes of these Terms and Conditions, major forces mean any event beyond our or our
supplier’s control, the consequences of which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable
measures have been taken. Examples include warfare and acts of terrorism (and threat thereof),
civil strife, significant risks to human health such as the outbreak of serious disease at the travel
destination or natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes or weather conditions which make it
impossible to travel safely to the destination or remain at the destination, the act of any
government or other national or local authority including port or river authorities, industrial
dispute, labour strikes, lock closure, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, chemical or biological
disaster, unavoidable technical problems with transport and all similar events outside our or our
supplier’s control.
DISABILITIES AND MEDICAL PROBLEMS
We will do our best to cater for any special requirements you may have. If you have any medical
problem or disability which may affect the reservation of the action research expedition, please
provide us with full details beforehand so that we can try to advise you as to the suitability of the
arrangements. We may require you to produce a doctor’s certificate certifying that you are fit to
participate. Acting reasonably, if we are unable to properly accommodate your needs, we will not
confirm the booking. If you do not give us full details at the time of booking, either in written form
or via email, we will cancel your booking and impose applicable cancellation charges when we
become aware of the details. We do not accept liability for costs incurred during your expedition
as a result of any medical conditions or disabilities which you have not disclosed beforehand.
BEHAVIOUR
Everyone on our expeditions are expected to conduct themselves in an orderly and acceptable
manner and not to disrupt the enjoyment of others. If in our opinion or in the opinion or any other
person in authority, your behaviour is causing or is likely to cause distress, danger or annoyance to
any other person or third party, or damage to property, or to cause a delay or diversion to
transportation, we reserve the right to terminate your booking with us immediately. In the event
of such termination our liability to will cease and may be required to leave the accommodation or
other arrangements immediately. No refunds for lost accommodation or any other arrangements
will be made and we will not pay any expenses or costs incurred as a result of termination. You
may also be required to pay for loss and/or damage caused by your actions and we will hold you
individually liable for any damage or losses caused by you. Full payment for any such damage or
losses must be paid directly to the affected prior to departure. If you fail to make payment, you
will be responsible for meeting any claims (including legal costs) subsequently made against us as
a result of your actions together with all costs we incur in pursuing any claim against you. We
cannot be held responsible for the actions or behavior of other guests or individuals who has no
connection with your expedition arrangements or with us.
PREPARING FOR THE ACTION RESEARCH EXPEDITION.
Volunteers are responsible for making sure their passports are up to date and for securing any
necessary visas. It is your responsibility to check and fulfil the passport, visa, health and
immigration requirements applicable to your expedition. We can only provide general information
about this. The advice of WildAMI does not constitute official guidance and we will not be held
liable for any costs resulting from errors or misinterpretations of this information.
If you do have to apply for a visa for your expedition, always ask for a tourist visa (unless stated
otherwise in the expedition briefing). Remember that the purpose of your visit is for vacation,
holiday or travel. Immigration officials do not always understand the concept of a “working
vacation,” or even “volunteering.” Words such as “working,” “volunteering,” “research” or
“scientific expedition” can raise questions concerning the country’s foreign labor laws and/or
prompt questions about official scientific research permits and credentials, etc., to which
volunteers will not be equipped to respond on their own. All required research permits for the
project are in place and have been approved by the proper authorities. Obtaining a visa can take
weeks or even months so be sure to allow plenty of time.
We do not accept any responsibility if you cannot travel, or incur any other loss because you have
not complied with any passport, visa, immigration requirements or health formalities. You agree
to reimburse us in relation to any fines or other losses which we incur as a result of your failure to
comply with any passport, visa, immigration requirements or health formalities.
PROMPT ASSISTANCE
If, whilst you are on the expedition, you find yourself in difficulty for any reason, we will offer such
prompt assistance as is appropriate in the circumstances. In particular, we will provide appropriate
information on health services, local authorities and consular assistance, and assistance with
distance communications and finding alternative arrangements. Subject to the other terms in
these Terms and Conditions, we will not be liable for any costs, fees or charges incurred in the
above circumstances, if our authorization is not obtained prior to making other arrangements.
Furthermore, we reserve the right to charge a fee for our assistance in the event that the difficulty
is caused intentionally by you or otherwise through your negligence.
THE CONTRIBUTION DOES INCLUDE:
Your contribution covers basic research costs, including participation in conservation actions,
room and board, research permits, scientific equipment, on-site staff, and more. The contribution
also includes medical and safety support, insurance cover, and full operational support during the
expedition. However, medical or other costs not covered by this insurance policy will be your
responsibility.
THE CONTRIBUTION DOES NOT INCLUDE:
The contribution does not cover your travel to the rendezvous site, costs incurred before or after
the expedition dates (Any food during transit to and from your expedition, unless explicitly stated
in your travel booking form), the cost of passports, visas, and vaccinations. Any personal
equipment recommended for the expedition (e.g. walking boots, dive booties, wetsuit, other
clothes, sunscreen). Local taxes or park fees not payable in advance. In some cases, additional
costs may exist, so please check with WildAMI.