Terms and Conditions
Legal Framework
GENERAL
- RESERVATIONS: All bookings must go through https://earth-seed.com/
- IDENTIFICATION: You must make reservations in the full name that is listed on the passport that you will use for travel. If you need to make any changes to a name after travel documents have been issued, clients will be responsible for all name change fees, if applicable.
- PAYMENTS: Reservations can be made online with major credit cards.
- REFUNDS: Payments are non-refundable. Once you reserve a space you are expected to complete your payments. We also enter contractual agreements on your behalf with hotels, transport agents, and other vendors.
- CHARGEBACKS: Before filing a dispute with your bank, contact us via email at ariel@earth-seed.com to discuss account resolution.
- ROOMMATE MATCHING: Roommate matching is available for our travelers. You will be matched with a roommate based upon information you provide in the relevant questionnaire.
- PASSPORTS AND VISAS: You are responsible for ensuring you have the proper travel documents and MUST APPLY with the Ghana’s Embassy for the necessary entry visa. That said, we will assist and guide you through the process.
- TRAVEL INSURANCE: Travel Insurance provides coverage for Trip Cancellation, Interruption, Baggage Loss, and more. It is suggested that you purchase travel insurance for the Tour.
- CHILDREN: All children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. The minimum age for children on this Tour is 16. Accompanying adults are responsible for the safety of their children. Please note that many countries have adopted practices to prevent international abductions of children. If a person under the age of 18 years will be traveling with an adult other than his/her parents or with only one parent, a notarized letter written by the parents, or non-traveling parent, granting authorization to travel, including the dates of travel, should be carried.
- PRICES: Prices listed are per person. One price offers the option for single occupancy and the other price is based upon shared twin room occupancy. Prices do not include items of a personal nature, such as laundry, wines, water, beverages, food, passport and visa fees, insurance, and foreign port taxes unless specifically indicated in the package inclusions. Prices are correct at the time of publication; however, as prices continually fluctuate and classes of service may have limited capacity, tour package prices and availability will change accordingly.
PAYMENT OPTIONS
- Full Payment: All reservations can be paid in full at the time of booking.
- Automatic Billing Plan: You can make a small deposit and have the remainder billed to you on a monthly basis. There are no additional costs for breaking your payments down and you can relax knowing that your future payments will be made automatically.
- Form of Payment: We accept most major credit or debit cards (American Express, Discover, Mastercard, Visa) through the website: https://earth-seed.com/sankofa-journey/
AIRFARE
- Airfare is NOT included in the this package.You are responsible for booking your own flight. There will be a suggested airline and flight which you are advised to secure.
- Contact Information: Pursuant to TSA Secure Flight requirements, passengers are responsible to provide their name as it appears on their passport (or other government-issued I.D. when traveling), date of birth, gender, address, phone number, email and fax data for all passengers. Passengers must ensure that names are correctly listed on their invoices. AriEl Yahzid and/or Earth Seed, Ltd. will not be responsible for passengers who are denied boarding due to inaccurate information.
HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS
- Your accommodations is included in this package.
- Double occupancy rooms will consist of two twin beds.
- Single occupancy rooms will consist of one double or queen sized bed.
- Please understand although we will make a bed type request on your behalf, bed types are subject to availability. Room selection in all cases is strictly at the discretion of the hotel’s management on a run-of-house basis. Some single rooms are smaller than a standard room size. The number of persons accommodated does not dictate the room size.
- Hotel check-in time is generally not before 3:00 p.m., and check-out time is before noon.
- We reserve the right to make substitutions with hotels of equal standard. There will be no refunds for any difference in the cost of those accommodations.
- Meals: The hotels we frequent will offer a wide range of continental meals as well as delightful selection of local dishes.
SIGHTSEEING & ITINERARY
- We will be traveling in an air-conditioned bus to all destinations. Times listed in itineraries might change in the moment, however you are responsible for arriving on time for all departures to ensure you participate in all events. Arriving late may be considered a “no-show,” in which case you will not be eligible for a refund for the unused service(s). There will be 14 – 21 persons on any given tour. Services, however, will remain constant no matter the number of tour participants.
- Persons requiring any assistance or who have any form of disability should refer to the section “Travelers with Disabilities.” On dates including, but not limited to, religious holidays and national celebrations, some monuments and sites may be closed. On these occasions, touring itineraries may be amended to reflect these closures. Occasionally, during holidays and certain periods, and/or due to unforeseen circumstances, including weather conditions, there may be last-minute changes, sometimes after arrival, affecting the sequence of the tour, locations visited, and/or hotels. Therefore, we reserve the right to adjust the sequence and/or substitute any hotels with others of a similar category. In such cases, there will be no cost adjustment. National monuments and tourist sites regularly undergo renovations, which can obscure the monument’s view. No tour will be canceled due to renovations; however, I will decide, based on the conditions, whether to amend an itinerary.
GROUP HARMONY
- To ensure the desired group synergy, we reserve the right to accept, reject or expel any individual who is deemed disruptive or incompatible with the interests of the group, including, but not limited to, individuals who are intoxicated and/or under the influence of drugs leading to a negative experience for the remainder of the group. Expenses, including cancellation fees and/or costs for alternate travel plans or to return home, will necessarily be borne by the passenger. All unused services are non-refundable.
TIPPING
- When we travel to sites we will be met by local guides who will facilitate us. Your official tour guide will tip the local tour guides.
- If you are satisfied with your tour guides and/or your driver, the group can collectively make a contribution to them on the last day of our journey.
HEALTH REQUIREMENTS
- As per the latest announcement about Ghana travel requirements during Covid-19, there are NO flight restrictions to vaccinated or non-vaccinated.
- Yellow Fever shot is the only required inoculation. It must be recorded by the client’s health practitioner on a valid vaccination certificate which the client must carry for proof of inoculation where required.
- Individuals with heart disease, chronic illness, physical handicap, advanced pregnancy, or mental illness should not participate in these rigorous travel programs. Any person arriving at the destination ill with an apparent fever or becoming ill during the tour will be removed from the group and directed to a local medical facility for diagnosis. Only upon clearance by an accredited medical facility will that individual be allowed to resume group travel. All costs associated with medical treatment and related expenses, such as additional hotel nights or transportation not included in the original itinerary, will necessarily be borne by the passenger.
PASSENGER AGREEMENT
- All passengers must complete a Passenger Agreement before travel and, by so doing, formally accept these Terms & Conditions. When booking your reservation online you will automatically be required to confirm that you have read and agree to the Terms & Conditions set forth in this document.
- The Passenger Agreement incorporates these Terms & Conditions, including the following Release from Liability, Assumption of Risk, and Binding Arbitration Clauses. Completing the Passenger Agreement constitutes agreement to these Travel Terms & Conditions and releases my person from Liability, Assumption of Risk, and Binding Arbitration Clause.
TRAVELERS WITH DISABILITIES
- In order to fully enjoy your trip, we recommend that you select a trip that is suitable to your physical capabilities. Tour participants requiring any form of assistance, including travelers with physical disabilities and sight or hearing impairments, are required to notify us prior to reservation for review and my agreement. Additionally, anyone with a disability must be accompanied by an individual responsible for providing those services. Tour managers, guides, drivers, or other tour, and hotel personnel are not able to provide such assistance. In order to participate in escorted tours, passengers must be able to understand and follow instructions given by the Tour Director at all times, both for the successful operation of the tour as well as for their personal safety. We reserve the right to reject participation or remove any individual from the tour if notification was not provided and/or when, in our judgment, continued participation would significantly hinder the services to be provided to all guests. Expenses, including cancellation fees and/or costs for alternate travel plans or to return home, will be the passenger’s sole responsibility. The Tour is fast-paced, often requiring lengthy walks over uneven terrain. In the interests of group harmony, clients should be able to maintain the pace of the tour. Clients with special needs may be better served independently. That can be arranged, but will require a custom tour.
- Wheelchairs & Walkers: You will find that most tour features and/or facilities in Ghana are not wheelchair accessible. We cannot provide individual assistance to travelers with wheelchairs or other mobility devices.
- Service Animals: Service animals cannot be accommodated on the Tour.
FORCE MAJEURE
There may be times when either party is unable to perform or complete performance, under the travel contract for reasons out of each other’s control. These are called force majeure events and if they occur, they will make performing under the contract inadvisable, commercially impracticable, illegal, or impossible. Events that may trigger this provision include but are not limited to: acts of God, acts of government, acts of war or civil unrest, insurrection or revolts, military action, strikes or other labor activities, criminal or terrorist activities or any kind or the threat thereof, pandemics, epidemics, illnesses or health conditions prevalent in the region of travel. Earthquakes, hurricanes, lightening, and explosions, unexpected legislation, or any other event outside the reasonable control of your tour facilitator or the various service providers upon which were contracted.
In the event that a force majeure event occurs, we will look to follow the cancellation policies of the suppliers. Any changes to those policies are at the discretion of the supplier and your tour facilitator. Travelers will be informed of their options if a force majeure event occurs.
RELEASE FROM LIABILITY
- AriEl Yahzid nor Earth Seed, Ltd. does not own or operate any entity which is to or does provide goods or services for your trip including, for example, ownership or control over hotels or other lodging facilities, airline, vessel, bus, van or other transportation companies, local ground operators, providers or organizers of optional excursions or equipment used thereon, food service or entertainment providers, etc. All such persons and entities are independent contractors. As a result, AriEl Yahzid nor Earth Seed, Ltd. is not liable for any negligent or willful act or failure to act of any such person or entity or of any other third party. Without limitation, AriEl Yahzid nor Earth Seed, Ltd. is not responsible for any injury, loss, or damage to person or property, death, delay or inconvenience in connection with the provision of any goods or services occasioned by or resulting from, but not limited to, acts of God, acts of government, force majeure, acts of war or civil unrest, insurrection or revolt, strikes or other labor activities, criminal or terrorist activities of any kind, or the threat thereof, overbooking or downgrading of accommodations, structural or other defective conditions in hotels or other lodging facilities, mechanical or other failure of airplanes or other means of transportation or for any failure of any transportation mechanism to arrive or depart timely or safely, dangers associated with or bites from animals, pests or insects, marine life or vegetation of any sort, dangers incident to recreational activities such as swimming, kayaking, sailing, canoeing, rafting, hiking, walking, bicycling, etc., sanitation problems, food poisoning, lack of access to or quality of medical care, difficulty in evacuation in case of a medical or other emergency, illness, epidemics or the threat thereof or for any other cause beyond the direct control of my person. In addition, I release AriEl Yahzid and Earth Seed, Ltd. from his/their own negligence and assume all risk thereof.
ASSUMPTION OF RISK
- I am aware that travel such as what I am undertaking involves hazardous activities, with a risk of illness, injury, or death which may be caused by forces of nature, animals, insects, or flora, the negligence of AriEl Yahzid or Earth Seed, Ltd. or other persons and companies known or unknown, or of the willful or criminal conduct of third parties. I am aware that weather conditions may be severe, adverse, and/or unpleasant. I am also aware that medical services or facilities may not be readily available or accessible during some or all of the time during which I am participating in the trip. In order to partake of the enjoyment and excitement of this trip, I am willing to accept the risks and uncertainty involved as being an integral part of my adventure. I hereby accept and assume full responsibility for any and all risks of illness, injury, or death and of the negligence of AriEl Yahzid and/or Earth Seed, Ltd. and agree to hold harmless and release AriEl Yahzid nor Earth Seed, Ltd. from claims of third-party negligence.
- I understand the physical requirements of the activity in which I will be participating, and I currently have no known physical, medical, or mental condition which would impair my ability to participate in this tour or my safety in this activity, and I am willing to assume all risks that may be created, directly or indirectly, by any such condition. I hereby authorize AriEl Yahzid or Earth Seed, Ltd. or my local ground handler or others to arrange for any emergency medical treatment and hospitalization as may be necessary for me because of participation in this activity without my further consent.
BINDING ARBITRATION
- I agree that any dispute concerning, relating, or referring to this Agreement, the website, or any other literature concerning my trip, or the Tour itself, shall be resolved exclusively by binding arbitration pursuant to the Alternative Dispute Resolution Act 2010 (Act 798), of the Parliament of the Republic of Ghana.
- Such proceedings will be governed by substantive Ghana law and will take place in Accra, Ghana. The arbitrator and not any federal, state, or local court or agency shall have exclusive authority to resolve any dispute relating to the interpretation, applicability, enforceability, conscionability, or formation of this contract, including but not limited to any claim that all or any part of this contract is void or voidable. Please understand that by agreeing to these terms and conditions, you (and I) are waiving our right to a trial by jury.
VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION
- I acknowledge that I have voluntarily applied to participate in the trip designated on this application and that I have read the description of the trip as it appears on the website relating to the trip, together with all information contained in this application. I am voluntarily participating in this trip with knowledge of the hazards involved.
KNOWING AND VOLUNTARY EXECUTION
- I have carefully read these Terms and Conditions and the booking information sections of this document and fully understand its contents. I am aware that this is a release of liability and a contract between myself and AriEl Yahzid, Earth Seed, Ltd., and or any of their team and I agree of my own free will. By signing, I agree to these Travel Terms & Conditions and AriEl Yahzid’s and/or Earth Seed, Ltd.’s Release from Liability, Assumption of Risk, and Binding Arbitration Clause for myself, each member of my traveling party, and any minor children accompanying me.
PHOTOGRAPHIC RELEASE
- AriEl Yahzid and/or his team may take photographs or video of its tours, and the participants grant AriEl Yahzid and/or Earth Seed, Ltd. permission to do so and for him to use same for promotional or commercial use without payment of any compensation to the participant.
USE OF WEB SITE
- https://earth-seed.com/
- Agreement between Customer and AriEl Yahzid and/or Earth Seed, Ltd.: https://earth-seed.com/ is offered to you, the customer, conditioned on your acceptance without modification of the terms, conditions, and notices contained herein. Your use of https://earth-seed.com/ constitutes your agreement to all such terms, conditions, and notices.
Liability Disclaimer
- The information, products, and services published on this website may include inaccuracies or typographical errors. Changes are periodically made to the information which appears there. The content of this site is not guaranteed to be complete, accurate, or available and may be changed at any time without notice. AriEl Yahzid may make improvements or changes to this website at any time. In no event shall AriEl Yahzid and/or Earth Seed, Ltd. be liable for any direct, indirect, punitive, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising out of, or in any way connected with, the use of this web site or for any information, products, and services obtained through this web site, or otherwise arising out of the use of this web site.
Links to Other Web Sites
- https://earth-seed.com/ may contain hyperlinks to websites operated by parties. Such hyperlinks are provided for your reference only. AriEl Yahzid and/or Earth Seed, Ltd. does not control such Web sites and is not responsible for their contents.z