1. Agreement & Definitions
These Terms of Service (“Terms”, “Agreement”) constitute a legally binding contract entered into between you (“Client”, “Traveler”, “Guest”, or “You”) and African Lions Tours (“African Lions”, “we”, “us”, or “our”), registered and operating under the commercial and tourism regulations of the Arab Republic of Egypt, with our primary digital portal located at africanlions.tours.
By accessing our digital interfaces, submitting a reservation inquiry through our booking drawer or Trip Designer, executing a bespoke expedition contract, purchasing event admission, or utilizing any ground transit, concierge, or hospitality service arranged by African Lions, you explicitly acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to be bound by all terms, conditions, and disclaimers contained herein.
Key Operational Contacts
Legal, Management & Compliance Inquiries: blarchos@outlook.com
General Inquiries & Guest Relations: info@africanlions.tours
Private Concierge & Bookings: booking@africanlions.tours
Direct 24/7 Concierge Hotline / WhatsApp: +20 115 720 8082
2. The Dual-Gateway Model
African Lions operates two distinct operational pillars, unified under a singular standard of luxury and security:
The Expeditions (Tourism)
Bespoke, private, and curated journeys across Egypt. Categorized into five specialized sectors: Heritage & Archaeology (private off-hours Giza Plateau permits, Luxor dahabiya voyages, Valley of the Kings tombs); Coastal & Eco Escapes (Red Sea yacht charters, Ras Mohamed dive programs); Adventure & Desert Safari (4x4 dune crossings, White Desert and Siwa Oasis luxury glamping); Wellness & Mindful Retreats (Safaga black-sand therapy, sulfur springs, Dahab meditation); and Corporate & MICE Logistics (executive protocol, VIP terminal escort, multi-coach movements).
The Pulse (Entertainment)
High-end festival production, bespoke musical performances, and private celebrations across monumental Egyptian locations. Categorized into: Festivals & Raves (e.g., Sandstorm Festival at Giza Plateau Arena with 3D projection mapping); Desert BoHo Nights (e.g., Moonfire deep organic sessions in Wadi Degla); Beach & Yacht Sessions (El Gouna mega-yacht sessions); Destination Weddings (pyramid-facing luxury celebrations); and VIP & Royal Private Salons.
3. Booking & Reservation Workflow
To maintain the highest level of personalization, African Lions utilizes a concierge-assisted reservation model:
Inquiry Submission (No Instant Automated Charge)
When you initiate a reservation via our digital Booking Drawer, Trip Designer, or WhatsApp channel, no immediate payment is processed. Your request creates a secured lead record in our Directus infrastructure, capturing your preferred travel window, guest count, and custom desires.
Concierge Review & Availability Verification
A dedicated private travel designer inspects operational feasibility, coordinates with our ground logistics teams, verifies private dahabiya/vessel availability, and reviews governmental permit access windows. You receive a detailed written response and tailored itinerary within 24 hours (or minutes via verified WhatsApp).
Formal Proposal & Contract Issuance
Upon alignment on the itinerary, African Lions issues a formal Booking Confirmation Document and Proforma Invoice specifying the definitive service inclusions, exclusions, exact schedules, and payment terms.
Deposit Execution & Firm Lock
A booking is deemed legally confirmed and binding only when the agreed initial deposit has been credited in full to our verified banking accounts and a formal Booking Confirmation Voucher has been issued.
4. Deposits, Payments & Currencies
Deposit Schedules & Milestones
Given the bespoke nature of our operations—including advance allocation of luxury dahabiyas, private aviation, executive chauffeurs, and non-refundable governmental monument clearances—the following payment schedules apply:
| Service Category | Required Deposit | Final Balance Due Date |
|---|---|---|
| Custom Expeditions & Safaris | 40% non-refundable deposit upon contract signing | 30 calendar days prior to departure date |
| Full Vessel / Dahabiya / Camp Buyouts | 50% non-refundable deposit upon confirmation | 45 calendar days prior to departure date |
| Last-Minute Bookings (within 30 days) | 100% full payment upon confirmation | Immediate upon contract execution |
| The Pulse Festival Tickets & Tables | 100% full payment upon order placement | Immediate; non-refundable upon issuance |
| Corporate & MICE Programs | As specified in master B2B logistics agreement | In accordance with corporate agreement schedule |
Failure to remit the remaining balance by the designated due date constitutes a material breach of contract, entitling African Lions to cancel the reservation and retain the non-refundable deposit to offset pre-committed supplier liabilities.
Payment Methods & Currency Disclaimers
We accommodate our international and domestic clientele through secure and transparent settlement mechanisms:
- International Bank Wire (SWIFT / IBAN): Remitted directly to our licensed corporate banking accounts in Cairo, Egypt. All intermediary correspondent banking charges and currency transmission fees are the sole responsibility of the remitter.
- Credit & Debit Cards: Visa and MasterCard processed via PCI-DSS Level 1 compliant financial gateways. Card transactions may be subject to standard merchant processing surcharges as disclosed prior to payment authorization.
- Domestic Egyptian Channels: Official electronic payment rails including InstaPay (National Payment Switch of Egypt) and Vodafone Cash, settled in Egyptian Pounds (EGP).
- Official Electronic Tax Invoicing: Official electronic tax invoices complying with the Egyptian Tax Authority (ETA) digital invoicing standards are generated for all corporate, MICE, and individual bookings.
Multi-Currency Display Transparency
Our platform provides multi-currency display utilities (USD, EUR, GBP, EGP) using standardized reference conversion rates. All converted figures displayed in the user interface are indicative approximations intended for planning convenience. The legally binding price and billing currency are formally established in your written Booking Confirmation Invoice. African Lions is not responsible for international foreign transaction fees or currency exchange differentials imposed by your issuing bank.
5. Cancellation, Rescheduling & Refunds
Expedition & Safari Cancellation Tiers
If you must cancel an established reservation, notice must be communicated in writing via email to booking@africanlions.tours and copied to blarchos@outlook.com. Cancellation fees are determined by the calendar date on which written notice is confirmed received:
| Notice Period Prior to Start | Cancellation Fee | Refund Policy |
|---|---|---|
| 60 or more calendar days | Initial 40% deposit retained | Balance refunded minus statutory government permits already issued |
| 30 to 59 calendar days | 50% of total expedition value | 50% of total booking refunded (less statutory permit fees) |
| 15 to 29 calendar days | 75% of total expedition value | 25% of total booking refunded (less statutory permit fees) |
| Fewer than 15 calendar days / No-Show | 100% of total expedition value | Strictly 0% refund (100% cancellation penalty) |
The Pulse Event Ticket Policy
Non-Refundable Ticket & VIP Table Policy
All festival passes, concert admissions, and VIP/Royal Table reservations purchased under “The Pulse” (including Sandstorm Festival, Moonfire, and Mega Yacht sessions) are strictly non-refundable upon purchase. If you are unable to attend, ticket transfers or guest name modifications may be submitted in writing up to 72 hours prior to the event door time, subject to security verification and approval by local venue authorities.
6. Government Permits & Statutory Fees
African Lions specializes in securing exclusive, royal-grade access to sovereign Egyptian antiquities and protected reserves. These operations require formal coordination with governmental authorities:
- Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (MOTA): Pre-opening or after-hours private access permits for the Giza Plateau, the Great Pyramid of Khufu interior, the Sphinx private enclosure, the Karnak Temple complex, and designated tombs in the Valley of the Kings.
- Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA): Protected area access permits, desert transit clearances, and camping licensing for the White Desert National Park, Wadi Degla, Ras Mohamed Marine Reserve, and Nabq.
- Egyptian Tourist & Antiquities Police: Security coordination, convoy clearances, and executive protocol escorting.
Non-Refundability of Sovereign Permits
Statutory governmental permits and royal-access fees are non-refundable and non-transferable under Egyptian sovereign law from the moment of official issuance. Under no circumstances can permit fees be refunded, credited, or reassigned to alternate parties once processed by the respective ministries, regardless of the cause for client cancellation.
7. Force Majeure & Route Alterations
Neither party shall be held liable for failure or delay in performing contractual obligations if such failure arises from an event of Force Majeure. Force Majeure encompasses occurrences beyond the reasonable control of African Lions, including:
- Acts of God, sudden extreme weather phenomena, desert sandstorms (Khamsin winds), severe flash flooding, or Nile navigation restrictions.
- Sudden sovereign directives, unannounced governmental antiquity closures, state visits, or military/security road closures.
- Civil unrest, national emergencies, maritime blockades, public health crises, epidemics, or international border/airspace closures.
Our Force Majeure Commitment
In any Force Majeure event impacting an active journey, our primary mandate is guest safety and experience continuity. Our operations team will deploy alternate executive routes, comparable luxury accommodations, or re-sequenced visits. Where an expedition cannot proceed, African Lions will issue a Travel Credit Voucher valid for 18 months towards any future African Lions experience, minus unrecoverable direct supplier disbursements. African Lions does not assume liability for indirect losses, such as international commercial airline change penalties or personal visa costs.
8. Safari Health, Safety & Wilderness Risks
Our expeditions venture into profound natural environments. By booking, you acknowledge and agree to the following realities:
Wilderness & 4x4 Realities
Desert safaris involve off-road 4x4 dune navigation, variable terrain, extreme thermal shifts between day and night, and remote distances from urban medical infrastructure.
Marine & Diving Protocols
Red Sea scuba diving and yacht expeditions require adherence to PADI safety standards. Divers must possess valid certifications, logbooks, and medical clearances where applicable.
Health Disclosures
Travelers are obligated to disclose cardiovascular conditions, spinal injuries, respiratory sensitivities, pregnancy, or mobility impairments during the booking process to ensure safety.
Guide & Ranger Authority
The professional decisions of our certified Egyptologists, bedouin desert trackers, licensed captains, and Egyptian Tourist Police are final regarding safety, route modification, and environmental protection.
9. Mandatory Insurance Coverage
Comprehensive travel and medical insurance is mandatory for all international guests participating in African Lions expeditions.
Your insurance policy must explicitly cover:
- Emergency medical treatment, hospitalization, and doctor consultations within the Arab Republic of Egypt.
- Emergency aero-medical evacuation, desert search and rescue, and international repatriation of remains.
- Adventure tourism activities, including 4x4 desert safari, dune transit, and scuba diving/water sports where applicable.
- Trip cancellation, interruption, travel delay, and loss or damage of baggage and personal effects.
Verification Protocol
African Lions reserves the right to request proof of valid insurance coverage prior to departure for remote desert or multi-day expeditions. Guests who decline to secure adequate insurance travel solely at their own financial and personal risk.
10. Meta Platform & Social Media Terms
African Lions utilizes the Meta Graph API (Facebook and Instagram) and marketing integrations to curate visual experiences, manage automated publishing via Postiz, and present our live Social Wall. In accordance with Meta Platform Terms:
- Platform Compliance: Our digital integrations strictly comply with the Meta Platform Terms and Developer Policies. We never harvest, sell, or exploit user data obtained via Meta tools.
- Guest Media & Public Events: During public festivals (“The Pulse”) and open yacht sessions, cinematography, drone photography, and live streaming occur. By attending, you grant African Lions a non-exclusive license to feature crowd imagery in promotional recaps.
- Private Expedition Privacy (NDA Protocol): Guests booking private, royal, or VIP heritage expeditions may request strict privacy and non-disclosure protocols. When requested, our crew and Egyptologists will observe zero-photography guidelines.
- Permission Revocation & Deletion: You retain the unconditional right to disconnect our applications and revoke permissions via your Facebook Business Integrations Settings or request complete data purging by consulting our Data Deletion Instructions.
11. Intellectual Property & Drone Regulations
All proprietary brand assets, logos, design tokens, architectural itinerary concepts (“Plan the Pride”, “The Expeditions”, “The Pulse”), custom route mappings, cinematographic media, and copywriting are the exclusive intellectual property of African Lions Tours.
Egyptian Law on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (Drones)
Under Egyptian Law No. 216 of 2017, the importation, possession, or operation of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) is strictly prohibited across Egypt without formal, advance authorization from the Ministry of Defense, the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority, and national security agencies. Guests must not bring personal drones into Egypt.African Lions maintains specialized commercial filming permits and certified military-vetted drone pilots for authorized productions. Unauthorized drone usage by guests will result in confiscation, severe legal penalties by state authorities, and immediate termination of travel services.
12. Limitation of Liability
To the maximum extent permitted under the Egyptian Civil Code (Law No. 131 of 1948) and applicable international private law:
- African Lions acts as a luxury tour operator, coordinator, and event producer. We exercise diligence in vetting third-party contractors (chartered aviation, dahabiya captains, desert bedouin escorts, hotel operators). We are not liable for acts, omissions, or negligence of independent vendors beyond our direct operational control.
- Cap on Financial Liability: In any circumstance where liability is established against African Lions, our aggregate cumulative financial liability for all claims arising out of or related to a booking shall be strictly capped at the net amount actually paid to African Lions by the client for that specific service.
- African Lions disclaims all liability for indirect, punitive, special, or consequential damages, including loss of enjoyment, mental distress, lost earnings, or alternate travel expenses incurred independently by the traveler.
13. Governing Law & Dispute Resolution
This Agreement, all booking contracts, and any disputes or claims arising out of or in connection with our services shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Arab Republic of Egypt, without regard to conflict of law principles.
Amicable Resolution & Jurisdiction
In the event of any controversy, claim, or dispute, the parties pledge to pursue good-faith amicable negotiations for a period of no less than 30 calendar days following written notice. If the dispute cannot be resolved amicably, it shall be submitted to the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent courts of Cairo, Egypt.
14. Contact & Legal Notices
For contractual inquiries, legal notices, booking modifications, or compliance matters, please contact our executive office:
Executive & Compliance Office
blarchos@outlook.comConcierge & Reservations
booking@africanlions.toursDirect Line / WhatsApp
+20 115 720 8082Registered Headquarters
Cairo, Arab Republic of Egypt
For further details regarding our data collection, security infrastructure, or data deletion protocols, please refer to our Privacy Policy and Data Deletion Instructions.