Safari Operator Payment Terms Index 2026: Who Publishes What You Will Be Charged
Original Travel publishes the clearest safari payment terms in 2026, at 97 out of 100, ahead of Red Savannah (96) and Cazenove+Loyd (92). Cancel a safari four months out and you lose the deposit at most of the thirteen, but 20 per cent of the entire trip at Micato. Cancel ten weeks out and it is still only the deposit at Original Travel, Red Savannah, Go2Africa and, on its US terms, Audley, while you owe 45 per cent at Cazenove+Loyd, 50 at Yellow Zebra, Micato and Jacada, 60 at Aardvark, and 100 at Natural World Safaris and Journeys by Design, whose ladders have no middle step. Those are five-figure differences. This index scores disclosure rather than quality: what an operator will tell you about deposits, balance dates, cancellation charges and financial protection before you commit.
The thirteen, scored
Nine operators score 80 or more; the bottom three are held back by a broken price display, terms without day thresholds and a terms page that is a privacy statement. Operator names link to the terms page each score was read from, and each card links to the company's record where there is one.
| Operator | Payment terms score | Based in | What decides it | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Original Travel | 97/100 | London · trading in the UK as Voyageurs du Monde since 15 September 2026 | A 20% non-refundable deposit, the balance 60 days out and the most granular ladder in the field at five steps: the deposit alone until 60 days, then 40%, 60%, 90% and 100% inside a week. Price ranges on its safari itineraries, and ATOL 5922 with ABTA Y5632 in its terms. Its company record → | Price 17/20 · Deposit 20/20 · Balance date 15/15 · Ladder 30/30 · Protection 15/15 |
| 2. Red Savannah | 96/100 | Cheltenham | Seasonal per-person prices on its itineraries, a 25% deposit on packages (at least £250 or USD 400 a person), the balance 60 days out and a three-step ladder: the deposit beyond 60 days, the deposit or 60% of the cost, whichever is higher, at 60 to 30 days, and 100% inside 30. ATOL 10454 and ABTOT 5566 on its financial protection page. Its company record → | Price 19/20 · Deposit 20/20 · Balance date 15/15 · Ladder 27/30 · Protection 15/15 |
| 3. Cazenove+Loyd | 92/100 | London | A four-tier ladder: loss of deposit beyond twelve weeks, 45% at 12 to 9 weeks, 80% at 8 to 4 and 100% inside four. A 20% deposit plus any supplier prepayments, a twelve-week balance date, per-person prices on most itineraries from £2,990, and ATOL 3208, with no ABTA or ABTOT number for trips without flights. Its company record → | Price 18/20 · Deposit 20/20 · Balance date 15/15 · Ladder 30/30 · Protection 9/15 |
| 4. Aardvark Safaris | 88/100 | Hampshire | A 30% deposit, the balance at least 13 weeks out and a three-step ladder: the deposit alone to 92 days, 60% at 91 to 61 and 100% inside 60. ATOL 5356 for flight-inclusive holidays and ABTOT 5704 for the rest, both in its conditions. Prices are thin: a guide that a good safari is possible for £5,000 per person, and one priced itinerary, from 2015. Its company record → | Price 10/20 · Deposit 20/20 · Balance date 15/15 · Ladder 28/30 · Protection 15/15 |
| 5. Micato Safaris | 85/100 | New York | Full published terms: a 30% deposit, the balance 120 days out and a three-tier ladder of 20% from 120 days, 50% at 119 to 60 and 100% inside 59, with eleven safaris priced from US$20,700 per person. No financial protection scheme is named, and Micato could not be found in USTOA's member directory. Its company record → | Price 19/20 · Deposit 20/20 · Balance date 15/15 · Ladder 27/30 · Protection 4/15 |
| 6=. Audley Travel | 82/100 | Oxfordshire · Boston | Its US terms, as read on 25 September, set the deposit on each quotation, the balance normally at least eight weeks out and a five-step scale: the deposit before the balance date, then 30%, 60%, 90% and 100% within two days. ATOL 4817 and ABTOT 5297, USTOA for US bookings, and guide prices on its itineraries, such as £4,900 per person in Kenya. Both booking-terms PDFs refused our reader on 7 October. Its company record → | Price 16/20 · Deposit 12/20 · Balance date 14/15 · Ladder 25/30 · Protection 15/15 |
| 6=. Yellow Zebra Safaris | 82/100 | London | A three-step ladder (the deposit beyond 90 days, 50% at 61 to 90, 100% inside 60), a balance date of 90 days and from-price ranges on its trips, such as £4,983 to £8,726 per person for eight nights in Botswana. The deposit is due at booking without a percentage, and ATOL 10614, on its about page, covers flight-inclusive trips only. Its company record → | Price 18/20 · Deposit 12/20 · Balance date 15/15 · Ladder 28/30 · Protection 9/15 |
| 8. Natural World Safaris | 81/100 | Sussex | A stated 30% deposit, the balance at 90 days (190 on some trips) and from-prices on its trip pages. The ladder is the bluntest here: the deposit only to 90 days, then 100% from day 89. Its terms say flight packages are protected by ATOL without printing a number, and Trust My Travel covers customers outside the UK and EU. | Price 17/20 · Deposit 20/20 · Balance date 14/15 · Ladder 22/30 · Protection 8/15 |
| 9. Go2Africa | 80/100 | Cape Town | Booking terms that loaded in full on 7 October: a 30% deposit (50% for villas, flights in full), the balance 60 days out and a two-step ladder, the deposit to 61 days and 100% inside 60. Protection is named properly: SATSA bonding and a Money-Back Guarantee on supplier insolvency, which its FAQ caps at $30,000 a person. Prices only on enquiry. Its company record → | Price 9/20 · Deposit 20/20 · Balance date 15/15 · Ladder 22/30 · Protection 14/15 |
| 10. Journeys by Design | 72/100 | Brighton | Booking terms located on 7 October, one set for UK and EU residents and one for everyone else: a 30% deposit (35% for its rare adventures), the balance 16 weeks out and a two-step ladder, the deposit beyond 112 days and 100% inside. ATOL 9680 for flight-inclusive trips, with no scheme named for the rest. No prices. Its company record → | Price 6/20 · Deposit 20/20 · Balance date 15/15 · Ladder 22/30 · Protection 9/15 |
| 11. Jacada Travel | 63/100 | London | A deposit at booking without an amount, the balance 90 days out and a three-step ladder (the deposit beyond 91 days, 50% at 61 to 90, 100% inside 60), but "From $0 pp" on its itineraries and no ATOL, ABTA or ABTOT number; the contract is under Puerto Rico law. Its company record → | Price 4/20 · Deposit 12/20 · Balance date 15/15 · Ladder 28/30 · Protection 4/15 |
| 12. Extraordinary Journeys Partner | 57/100 | Washington, D.C. | Publishes terms without day thresholds: deposits non-refundable, 100% once the final invoice is paid, a final invoice about four months out, and discretionary refunds less a stated $500 per person administration fee. Itineraries are priced, from $10,000 per person for eleven days in Kenya. No protection scheme is named; the company says client payments are held in a separate account from its operating funds. Its company record → | Price 17/20 · Deposit 12/20 · Balance date 10/15 · Ladder 14/30 · Protection 4/15 |
| 13. ROAR AFRICA | 39/100 | Miami Beach | Prices everything it sells, from $23,850 to $187,500 per person, but the page at its terms address is a privacy statement. No deposit, balance date, ladder or protection scheme could be found. Its company record → | Price 19/20 · Deposit 5/20 · Balance date 5/15 · Ladder 6/30 · Protection 4/15 |
No operator had any input into its position, and labels never move a score. Read on each operator's own pages on 10 September and 7 October 2026; Audley's US terms as read on 25 September.
Payment terms score out of 100, thirteen safari operators
Twelve published ladders, side by side
Twelve of thirteen publish a cancellation position, and the differences between them are larger than most buyers expect. They are reproduced here as published, because none of them is visible from a brochure.
| Operator | Deposit | Balance due | Cancellation ladder as published |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original Travel | 20%, non-refundable | 60 days before departure | Deposit only from 60 days · 40% at 59 to 43 days · 60% at 42 to 29 · 90% at 28 to 7 · 100% inside 7 days |
| Red Savannah | 25% on packages, at least £250 or USD 400 a person; 30% on accommodation only | 60 days before departure | Deposit only from 61 days · the deposit or 60%, whichever is higher, at 60 to 30 days · 100% inside 30 days |
| Cazenove+Loyd | 20% of the trip price plus supplier prepayments | 12 weeks before departure | Loss of deposit beyond 12 weeks · 45% at 12 to 9 weeks · 80% at 8 to 4 weeks · 100% inside 4 weeks |
| Aardvark Safaris | 30% | At least 13 weeks before departure | Deposit and any upfront costs to 92 days · 60% at 91 to 61 days · 100% inside 60 days |
| Micato Safaris | 30% | 120 days before departure | 20% from 120 days · 50% at 119 to 60 days · 100% inside 59 days |
| Audley Travel (US terms) | Set on each quotation | Normally at least eight weeks before departure | Deposit only before the balance date · 30% to 43 days · 60% at 42 to 29 · 90% at 28 to 3 · 100% within 2 days |
| Yellow Zebra Safaris | Due at booking; percentage not stated | 90 days before departure | Deposit only beyond 90 days · 50% at 61 to 90 days · 100% inside 60 days |
| Natural World Safaris | 30% of the total | 90 days before departure, 190 on some trips | Deposit only to 90 days · 100% from 89 days |
| Go2Africa | 30%; 50% for villas; flights paid in full | 60 days before departure | Deposit only from 61 days · 100% inside 60 days |
| Journeys by Design | 30%, or 35% for rare adventures | 16 weeks before departure | Deposit only beyond 112 days · 100% inside 112 days |
| Jacada Travel | Due at booking; amount not stated | 90 days before departure | Deposit only beyond 91 days · 50% at 61 to 90 days · 100% inside 60 days |
| Extraordinary Journeys | Non-refundable; amount not stated | Final invoice about four months out | No day thresholds · deposit forfeit on cancellation · 100% once the final invoice is paid · discretionary refunds less $500 per person |
As published on each operator's terms page, read on 7 October 2026; Audley's US terms as read on 25 September. ROAR AFRICA publishes no payment terms. The mechanics of deposits and payment schedules are on the safari deposits and payment terms guide, which this page does not duplicate.
Two comparisons are worth making explicitly. Micato charges 20 per cent of the whole trip even 120 days out, where the others charge only the deposit: on a $40,000 itinerary that is about $8,000 to walk away four months early, a legitimate commercial position and one to know before signing. And Natural World Safaris, Go2Africa and Journeys by Design have no middle step at all: deposit only, then 100 per cent. Original Travel and Cazenove+Loyd, at the other end, give five and four tiers. Neither shape is wrong, because camps are paid a long way ahead and somebody carries that risk, but they are very different exposures on the same trip. To see what the camps themselves charge before choosing an operator, BookAllSafaris and Safari.com carry live inventory (affiliate links).
How the five criteria work
Price disclosure 20, deposit terms 20, balance date 15, cancellation ladder 30 and financial protection 15, weighted to 100. The ladder carries the heaviest weight because it is where the money is lost: a deposit is a known risk taken deliberately, and the ladder is the schedule on which a known risk turns into a large one.
| Criterion | Weight | What scores |
|---|---|---|
| Price disclosure | 20 | What is published before an enquiry: a price against an itinerary, a range, or nothing. Carried unchanged from every other index on this site so the scores read across the cluster. |
| Deposit terms | 20 | Whether the deposit percentage or amount is published. A stated percentage scores 20; a deposit due at booking without a figure, or set on each quotation, scores 12; nothing published scores 5. |
| Balance date | 15 | Whether the balance due date is published as a fixed number of days or weeks before departure, rather than agreed later in correspondence. |
| Cancellation ladder | 30 | The schedule of charges by days before departure, as published. More tiers is not automatically better: what scores is whether a buyer can read their exposure on any date before committing. A two-step cliff scores 22; terms with no day thresholds 14. |
| Financial protection | 15 | Numbered cover for flight and non-flight bookings (ATOL with ABTA or ABTOT) or USTOA membership 15; a named bond with an insolvency guarantee 14; one numbered scheme 9; a scheme named without a number 8; nothing named 4. |
This index scores disclosure, not quality, and one rule decides several rows: a terms page that exists but returns nothing readable scores as unpublished. Go2Africa shows the rule working both ways. Its booking terms sit in a PDF that returned nothing on 10 September and scored as unpublished; the same PDF loaded in full on 7 October and is now scored on what it says. Audley's booking-terms PDFs refused our reader on 7 October, so its row stands on the US terms read on 25 September. If an automated reader cannot get at terms, neither can the growing share of buyers who ask an assistant rather than open thirteen tabs.
The one that publishes nothing, and two that publish part
ROAR AFRICA is the only operator of the thirteen with no readable payment terms. It prices every journey it sells, from $23,850 to $187,500 per person, but the page at its terms-and-conditions address is a privacy statement, and no deposit, balance date, ladder or protection scheme appears elsewhere on the site.
Two more publish part of the picture. Extraordinary Journeys' terms make the deposit non-refundable and the trip fully non-refundable once the final invoice, sent about four months out, is paid, but give no deposit amount and no day thresholds. Jacada publishes a ladder and a balance date but no deposit amount, shows "From $0 pp" on its itineraries and names no protection scheme. Journeys by Design, now readable, has one detail worth a question before paying: its ATOL certificate names Black and Green Trading Ltd, trading as Journeys by Design, while its terms name Journeys by Design Limited.
Why good operators score badly here
This index scores disclosure, not conduct, and the two come apart. Micato scores 85 here on full published terms and names no financial protection scheme. ROAR AFRICA publishes every price and no terms. Go2Africa moved from 43 to 80 without changing a single commercial term: the terms existed all along, and our reader could not open them.
That is why this page runs separately from the operator rankings. A company can plan superb safaris and tell you nothing about the money; a company can document the money impeccably and hold no bonding. Planning judgement, review evidence and country coverage are scored on each company's review, and the safari planner index ranks the planners on those scores; what happens to your money if the operator fails, rather than if you cancel, is on the US versus UK protection index; and the checks to run before paying anyone are on how to verify a safari operator. To price the same camps directly while you compare terms, BookAllSafaris and Safari.com carry live inventory (affiliate links).
Re-scored quarterly, and the cheapest index on the site to move. Every criterion measures something each company already knows and has not written down: a deposit percentage, a balance date, a ladder, a scheme number. Publish it, point us at the page, and the row is recomputed within the week, free and unconditionally, as everywhere else here.
Straight answers to the questions readers ask
Which safari operators publish their payment and cancellation terms?
Eleven of thirteen publish a cancellation ladder with day thresholds. Original Travel and Cazenove+Loyd publish the most granular, at five and four steps; Red Savannah, Micato, Aardvark, Yellow Zebra, Jacada and Audley, on its US terms, publish three or more; Natural World Safaris, Go2Africa and Journeys by Design publish two, the deposit and then 100 per cent. Extraordinary Journeys publishes terms without day thresholds, and ROAR AFRICA publishes no payment terms a buyer can read.
What deposit does a luxury safari operator take?
Where it is published, 20 to 35 per cent. Cazenove+Loyd states 20 per cent plus any supplier prepayments and Original Travel 20 per cent, non-refundable; Red Savannah takes 25 per cent on packages, at least £250 or USD 400 a person; Micato, Natural World Safaris, Aardvark and Go2Africa take 30 per cent, Go2Africa 50 for villas; Journeys by Design takes 30, or 35 for its rare adventures. Yellow Zebra and Jacada take a deposit at booking without a percentage, Audley sets it on each quotation, and Extraordinary Journeys makes it non-refundable without stating the amount.
When is the balance due on a safari booking?
Between eight weeks and 120 days before departure among the operators that publish it. Audley's US terms say normally at least eight weeks; Original Travel, Red Savannah and Go2Africa 60 days; Cazenove+Loyd twelve weeks; Aardvark thirteen; Yellow Zebra, Natural World Safaris and Jacada 90 days; Journeys by Design 16 weeks; and Micato 120 days, the earliest. Natural World Safaris notes that some trips need the balance 190 days out, and Extraordinary Journeys sends a final invoice about four months before travel.
What happens if you cancel a safari?
It depends on the operator and the date, which is why the ladder carries the heaviest weight on this page. Cancelling four months out costs only the deposit at most of the thirteen, but 20 per cent of the whole trip at Micato. Cancelling ten weeks out still costs only the deposit at Original Travel, Red Savannah and Go2Africa, but 45 per cent at Cazenove+Loyd, 50 per cent at Yellow Zebra, Micato and Jacada, 60 per cent at Aardvark, and 100 per cent at Natural World Safaris and Journeys by Design. On a five-figure trip those are very large differences.
Which safari operator has the fairest cancellation terms?
On published terms, Original Travel and Cazenove+Loyd, because their ladders step up in five and four stages rather than a cliff: Original Travel charges only the deposit until 60 days out, then 40, 60, 90 and 100 per cent; Cazenove+Loyd the deposit beyond twelve weeks, then 45, 80 and 100 per cent. Natural World Safaris, Go2Africa and Journeys by Design move from the deposit straight to 100 per cent. Both shapes are defensible given how far ahead camps are paid, but they are very different risks.
Does a low score here mean an operator is untrustworthy?
No. This index scores disclosure, not conduct. Go2Africa scored 43 here on 10 September because its terms sat in a PDF our reader could not open; when the PDF loaded on 7 October, the same terms scored 80. A low score means a buyer cannot check the terms in advance, which is a real cost on a deposit held nine to twelve months, and it is almost always fixable in an afternoon.
How does this compare with UK and US financial protection?
They are separate questions and this page keeps them separate. Payment terms are what the operator charges if you cancel; financial protection is what happens to your money if the operator fails. An operator can publish an exemplary ladder and name no protection scheme, which is Micato's position at 85 here. The regime comparison is on the US versus UK page.
Can an operator improve its score on this page?
In an afternoon, and for nothing. Every criterion here measures something the company already knows and has not written down: its deposit percentage, its balance date, its cancellation ladder, its protection scheme. Additions and recomputations are free and unconditional, as everywhere on this site. Publish the terms, point us at the page, and the row is rescored within the week, with no placement, sponsorship or relationship of any kind involved.