Terms & Conditions

“Silverback”, “we”, “us”, and “our” mean Silverback Adventures Ltd, registered in Kigali, Rwanda. “You”, “your”, and “traveller” mean the person making the booking and every member of their travelling party. By making a deposit, signing a quote, or confirming an itinerary in writing (including via WhatsApp), the lead traveller accepts these terms on behalf of the whole party.

We reserve the right to modify these terms at any time. Changes become effective immediately upon posting to this page, with the revision date updated at the top. Bookings confirmed before a change are governed by the terms in force at the time of confirmation.

• Quotes are valid for 14 days and are subject to availability of permits, lodges, and flights at the time of confirmation.
• A booking is confirmed once we have received your signed acceptance and the required deposit.
• You are responsible for ensuring that all names provided match exactly the names in the passports used to travel.
• Failure to provide accurate passport information may result in denied park entry or cancelled permits without refund.
• We recommend booking at least 6 months in advance for peak-season gorilla trekking (June–September and December–February).

• Deposit: 30% of the total trip price is due at booking. This covers non-refundable permit reservations and lodge holds.
• Gorilla and chimpanzee permits must be paid in full at the time of booking and are strictly non-refundable as per Rwanda Development Board policy.
• Balance: the remaining amount is due no later than 60 days before arrival. For bookings made inside 60 days, full payment is required at confirmation.
• Accepted payment methods include international bank transfer and credit card via our secure payment partner. Bank charges are borne by the sender.
• All prices are quoted in United States Dollars (USD) unless otherwise agreed in writing. Currency conversion fees, if any, are the responsibility of the traveller.
• Late payment may result in cancellation of reservations and forfeiture of the deposit.

If you need to cancel a confirmed trip, the following charges apply to the land portion of the itinerary:

Gorilla and chimpanzee permits and internal flight tickets are non-refundable regardless of timing. We strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance that covers cancellation, curtailment, medical evacuation, and lost luggage.

In the rare event that Silverback Adventures must cancel a trip due to circumstances within our control, we will offer a full refund or reschedule at no additional cost. We are not liable for cancellations caused by force majeure.

Minor changes (room type, dietary requests, transfer timings) can usually be made free of charge up to 14 days before arrival. Major changes (dates, destinations, party size) are treated as a new booking and may incur supplier penalties.

Requests to change trekking dates after permits have been issued are subject to Rwanda Development Board approval and may require payment of a new permit fee.

We design every itinerary with care, but operating in wild environments occasionally requires adjustments. If a lodge becomes unavailable, a road is closed, or weather affects a flight, we will substitute services of an equal or higher standard at no extra cost and keep you informed in real time.

In exceptional circumstances (park closure, political instability, natural disaster), we may need to modify or cancel an activity. We will make every reasonable effort to provide alternatives, but we cannot guarantee identical experiences in unpredictable conditions.

• It is your responsibility to ensure your passport is valid for at least six months after the date of return and has at least two blank pages.
• Most nationalities can obtain a Rwandan visa on arrival or online via the official Irembo portal.
• Yellow fever vaccination is required if arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission.
• Trekking gorillas and chimpanzees requires a reasonable level of fitness. You must disclose any medical conditions, mobility limitations, or allergies at the time of booking.
• You confirm that every traveller in the party is medically fit to undertake the selected activities. We reserve the right to refuse participation if a traveller’s health poses a risk to themselves, wildlife, or the group.

We operate in some of the most fragile ecosystems on the planet. You agree to follow all instructions from park rangers, trackers, and our guides; maintain the minimum distance from wildlife; refrain from feeding or touching animals; and respect local customs and communities.

Photography is permitted in most areas, but flash photography is prohibited around gorillas and chimpanzees. Drones require advance clearance from Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority and Rwanda Development Board.

We reserve the right to remove a traveller from an activity, without refund, if their behaviour endangers wildlife, staff, or other guests.

Comprehensive travel insurance is a mandatory condition of travel. Your policy must cover medical treatment, emergency evacuation (including helicopter rescue from Volcanoes and Nyungwe), cancellation, curtailment, and personal effects to a minimum of USD 200,000.

Proof of insurance may be requested before departure. Failure to provide adequate insurance coverage may result in refusal of service without refund.

Silverback acts as a booking agent for independent lodges, airlines, drivers, and activity providers. We select our partners with great care, but we are not liable for any act, omission, injury, loss, delay, or damage caused by them, by force majeure, or by circumstances beyond our reasonable control.

Our liability in all other cases is limited to the price paid for the affected services. We are not responsible for loss of enjoyment, emotional distress, or consequential losses arising from trip interruption.

Neither party shall be held liable for failure or delay in performing obligations caused by events beyond reasonable control, including but not limited to: war, terrorism, civil unrest, natural disasters, pandemics, government restrictions, strikes, or severe weather. In such cases, we will offer rescheduling or credit vouchers where possible, but refunds may be limited by supplier policies.

If something is not right during your trip, please tell your guide or our concierge team immediately so we can fix it on the spot. Any unresolved complaint must be submitted in writing within 28 days of your return. We aim to acknowledge complaints within 5 working days and resolve them within 30 days.

These terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of Rwanda. Any dispute that cannot be settled amicably will be referred to the competent courts of Kigali, Rwanda.

For any question about these terms or an existing booking, reach our concierge team through the channels listed on our contact page.