Quo Vadis 4x4 Tours Guided Self-Drive Tour Agreement
Version: March 2026
These Travel Terms and Conditions ("Terms") govern all guided self-drive tours ("Tours") offered by Quo Vadis 4x4 Tours ("we", "us", "our"), operating in Southern and Central Africa. By booking a Tour, you (the "participant", "traveller", "guest", or "you") agree to be bound by these Terms.
Our Tours are adventure-based, off-road, remote-area expeditions in challenging environments. These Tours may involve off-road driving, gravel roads, sand, mud, river crossings, wildlife exposure, border crossings, long travel distances, changing weather conditions, and limited access to emergency or repair services.
By proceeding with your booking, you acknowledge that participation in this type of tour involves inherent outdoor and travel risks associated with 4x4 travel in Southern Africa.
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Quo Vadis 4x4 Tours is not liable for loss, damage, delay, injury, or additional costs arising from remote travel conditions, vehicle incidents, wildlife, weather, road conditions, border delays, or the acts or omissions of third-party suppliers. Nothing in these Terms excludes any rights that cannot lawfully be excluded under South African law.
Quo Vadis 4x4 Tours does not own, operate, manage, or supply the Vehicles used during Tours. You rent your 4x4 Vehicle directly from our recommended Rental Partners or a provider of your choice. Vehicle rental agreements, deposits, insurance, excesses, damage claims, recovery costs, towing, and related disputes remain the responsibility of the participant and/or the relevant rental provider.
If a Vehicle rental is organised through Quo Vadis 4x4 Tours, the traveller(s) enters into a rental agreement with the rental company and accepts the rental company's conditions. Quo Vadis 4x4 Tours functions only as a mediator and has no responsibility for that rental agreement. The rental company's cancellation conditions therefore apply to the Vehicle-rental component of your booking. Locally, the traveller will sign the agreement with the rental company and pay any required deposit by credit card.
Your rental contract, insurance, and financial obligations (including deposits and excesses) are strictly between you and the rental company, not Quo Vadis 4x4 Tours. In the event of an incident, the Quo Vadis 4x4 Tours team will assist where reasonably possible. However, please be aware that we are not liable for:
All drivers must:
Failure to comply may result in removal from the Tour without a refund.
We want you to feel completely supported behind the wheel. While driving a 4x4 through these terrains requires some basics, you will not be left to your own. We begin with a practical introduction covering what to do (and what not to do) in a 4x4. If you get stuck or feel unsure, we are there to assist.
A booking is considered confirmed once:
Where a supplier's services form part of your booking, the supplier's standard terms and conditions will also apply. This is especially important for "Other Travel Arrangements", where Quo Vadis 4x4 Tours acts only as an agent between you and the relevant suppliers. Copies of supplier conditions may be requested in writing. The Lead Traveller is responsible for all payments and communication.
When making a booking, we require a minimum deposit of 50% of the total booking cost. We will then send you a confirmation invoice, after which a contract exists. You must check the confirmation invoice carefully. If you see any errors (for example, a misspelling), contact us immediately; otherwise, later changes will be subject to the usual amendment charges.
We require payment of the remaining balance as shown on your confirmation invoice no later than 42 days before your arrival. If you book within 42 days of travel, we require full payment at the time of booking. If you fail to pay when it is due, we reserve the right to cancel your booking and retain the deposit paid.
Final travel arrangements (including accommodation, campsites, and vehicle-rental documentation) will not be released until full payment has been received. Please note that the rental company may require a deposit on a credit card before releasing the Vehicle. This is typically refunded on return of the Vehicle without damage. We can advise on the approximate amount, but this sum cannot be paid in advance of your arrival.
If you need to cancel a confirmed booking, you must contact us as soon as possible. To cover administration and cancellation charges imposed by suppliers, and the possibility that we may not be able to resell the Tour, we apply cancellation charges as set out below. If you have purchased insurance independently, you may be able to claim the charges we impose.
If you cancel your confirmed booking (or part of it), the following cancellation charges apply:
Note: These cancellation charges apply to all bookings, except where a booking includes items or services for which a supplier's own cancellation charges exceed those above. In those circumstances, any additional cancellation charges will be advised at the time of booking.
(b) "Other Travel Arrangements": If you need to cancel, you must contact us directly. Cancellation charges vary depending on the services booked and will be clearly stated at the time of booking. In all cases, a minimum cancellation fee of €100 will apply regardless of the value of the service cancelled. In some cases, it may not be possible to offer any refunds for certain services once a booking has been made.
Any requested changes (route, accommodation, dates) are subject to availability and may incur additional costs. If a participant leaves the Tour early, arrives late, or misses any activity, no refund will be provided. If you wish to make a change to a confirmed booking, please contact us. We will advise you of the cost implications of any change before it is implemented. Note: A change to the departure date after confirmation is regarded as a cancellation and rebooking, not an alteration.
Due to the nature of adventure travel, we may occasionally need to make changes to travel arrangements. We will inform you of any major changes at the time of booking or as soon as possible afterwards if you have already booked. If a major change is necessary (for example, a change of destination), you will be offered the choice of:
If an alteration results in a reduction in the total cost, we will make an appropriate refund. We may offer appropriate compensation for changes imposed, provided the change does not arise from circumstances outside our control.
(b) "Other Travel Arrangements": Where we act only as a booking agent, we may not be notified of a major change before you travel. If we are notified, we will advise you as soon as reasonably possible. If the changes are not acceptable to you, we will offer an alternative if available, or a refund for the affected component. If your chosen alternative costs more, you must pay the difference.
We aim to provide the travel arrangements you have booked without changes. However, cancellations may be necessary due to changes made by suppliers beyond our control. Some tours require a minimum number of participants to operate. If sufficient bookings are not received, we reserve the right to cancel the 4x4 tour but will do so at least eight weeks before departure. If your travel arrangements must be cancelled, we will advise you as soon as reasonably possible and you will be offered an alternative or a full refund. This will be the limit of our liability to you. If we must cancel your package holiday due to other circumstances, we may offer additional compensation where deemed appropriate.
(b) "Other Travel Arrangements": In the unlikely event that a booking must be cancelled for any reason other than non-payment, a full refund will be made of all monies paid, less any amendment fees or insurance premiums.
If Quo Vadis 4x4 Tours is prevented from fulfilling the agreement due to force majeure, we are entitled to suspend the execution of the agreement. In that case, the participant has no right to compensation for damages, costs, or interest.
A force majeure situation includes war or threat of war; natural disasters; strikes, go-slow actions and lockouts; fire; accident or illness of staff; business interruption; disruptive legal provisions; as well as any other circumstance that does not exclusively depend on our will.
In the event of force majeure, Quo Vadis 4x4 Tours may terminate the agreement for the non-executable part by written notice.
You must:
Failure to disclose medical conditions may result in removal from the Tour.
All participants must have:
Taking out travel, luggage, and travel-accident insurance is mandatory. We also recommend cancellation insurance in case you are unable to depart due to illness or family circumstances, or if you must interrupt the trip. Consider cover for medical costs and accidents (including emergency rescue), theft/loss, and damage to luggage (including travel documents, valuables, and money).
It may be important to include a fellow traveller in cancellation insurance and to consider "composite trip" compensation where applicable. Coverage differs by insurer. Before departure, check whether the activities you intend to participate in are covered by your insurer. Before departure, provide Quo Vadis 4x4 Tours with the relevant insurance details (insurer name, policy number, and emergency number). Appropriate Vehicle insurance must be arranged with the rental company.
Tours pass through wilderness areas where wildlife encounters may occur. Participants must follow all safety instructions.
Risks may include:
You participate entirely at your own risk.
Conditions may change rapidly. Itinerary adjustments may be necessary for safety.
Quo Vadis 4x4 Tours is not liable for:
Quo Vadis 4x4 Tours accepts responsibility for death, injury, or illness caused by the negligent acts and/or omissions of our employees or agents (and those of our suppliers and subcontractors) whilst acting in the course of their employment in the provision of your Tour. We will pay compensation equivalent to that which would be awarded by a competent court, but we will not offer compensation if the injury, illness, or death is caused by your own fault; the fault of someone unconnected with the package; or an event that could not have been expected or avoided even with all due care.
You must contact us as soon as possible after an event to enable a full investigation. This liability does not apply to activities that require their own indemnity and are covered by a supplier's liability; for those activities, you may be required to sign indemnity forms supplied by the relevant provider.
"Other Travel Arrangements": When acting only as a booking agent, Quo Vadis 4x4 Tours has no liability for any aspect of those travel arrangements and accepts no liability for loss, personal injury, or death however incurred, except where caused by our own proven negligence.
You are responsible for:
We are not liable if you are refused entry at any border.
The traveller is personally responsible for possessing all required valid travel documents, such as a valid passport, visas, and an (international) driver's licence where required. The traveller must check the applicability, completeness, and timeliness of these documents with the relevant institutions and authorities. Quo Vadis 4x4 Tours rejects all liability in this regard.
Applying for and obtaining the required visa is the responsibility of the participant. Quo Vadis 4x4 Tours is not liable if the traveller cannot participate in the trip (or parts thereof) due to shortcomings in travel documents, including where a visa is refused or not applied for in time.
Upon request, Quo Vadis 4x4 Tours can provide links to websites with information about vaccinations and health regulations. This information must always be checked by the traveller with the relevant authorities. No rights can be derived from information provided by us. Travellers are responsible for obtaining medical advice from an appropriate clinic or medical practitioner and ensuring that necessary vaccinations and prophylaxis are obtained in a timely manner prior to the trip.
Families travelling to (and from) South Africa with children under 18 years of age must carry an unabridged (international) birth certificate for minor travellers, in addition to a valid passport and ticket. Additional rules apply when parents are not travelling together (for example, where you are travelling alone with a child due to divorce, guardianship, adoption, or the death of a parent). This is not limited to South Africa; special rules for travelling with children also apply in other African countries. Always contact the relevant embassy or consulate in advance.
Any activities you book independently (not through us) are at your own risk. We are not responsible for injuries, delays, or service failures by external providers.
These Terms are governed by the laws of South Africa. By booking a Tour with Quo Vadis 4x4 Tours, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms.
If any provision (or part of a provision) of these Terms is found by a court or competent authority to be invalid, unlawful, or unenforceable, that provision (or part) will be deemed modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid, lawful, and enforceable. If such modification is not possible, the relevant provision (or part) will be deemed deleted. Any modification to or deletion of a provision (or part) under this clause will not affect the validity and enforceability of the rest of these Terms.
These Terms (together with your booking confirmation and any documents expressly incorporated by reference) constitute the entire agreement between you and Quo Vadis 4x4 Tours in relation to the Tour and supersede all prior discussions, correspondence, representations, or agreements. You acknowledge that you have not relied on any statement, promise, assurance, or representation that is not expressly set out in these Terms or the documents expressly incorporated by reference.
A failure or delay by Quo Vadis 4x4 Tours to exercise any right or remedy under these Terms does not constitute a waiver of that (or any other) right or remedy. A waiver is only effective if it is in writing and signed by an authorized representative of Quo Vadis 4x4 Tours. A single or partial exercise of any right or remedy does not prevent further exercise of that or any other right or remedy.
We collect your personal information to process and administer your enquiry/booking, contact you about your reservation, prevent fraud, and improve our services through internal analysis. We may share your information with trusted operators/service providers (e.g., accommodation/transport partners, booking/payment/IT providers) only where necessary to fulfil your booking or run our operations. Where applicable, your information may be processed or stored outside South Africa (for example, by cloud/booking providers). We are taking steps to ensure appropriate protection for any cross-border transfers. We use reasonable technical and organizational security safeguards to protect your information and restrict access to authorized personnel and approved service providers. See our full Privacy Policy for more detail.
By booking a tour with Quo Vadis 4x4 Tours, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these General Terms and Conditions of Travel.