Our Policy 

Vehicle hire price
The price of the car hire depend on the car type and number of days, if self drive or shuffler driven.  Please contact our support team for the actual quote.

Type of accommodation 
Smart rentals gives you the choice to select your preferred type of accommodation. 

The three levels of accommodation that you can choose from comprising of economy, standard, and luxury. In some parks, there is the option of deluxe accommodation.

The type of visa that you need
As a tourist, you will need to obtain a tourist visa in order for you to be allowed to enter the country and go for your safari. In the past, it has been possible for guests to apply for visas at the airport upon arrival. However, the government has introduced an electronic tourist visa that needs to be applied online before you fly into the country. You can also apply for a tourist visa from the Kenyan embassy in your home country. The cost for the visa is from $50. When filling the visa application, your address should be the address of the safari lodge or tented camp that you will be staying in.

Transport on Safari
The transport when on safari will be mainly through the roads or through the air in case you opt for the fly-in safari. Once in the parks or the game reserves, transport will be by pop-up roof safari minivan or by a pop-up roof 4×4 Land Cruiser.

Self Drive car hire

Smart rentals will allow the hirer to drive the said vehicle but will not allow use of the said vehicle into the following areas unless with prior arrangement:  LAMU (TURKANA DELTA). Masai Mara, Lake Turkana, Maralal, Marsabit and northern frontier of Kenya or any country outside Kenya unless further agreed.           Penalty USD2000 or KSHS.200,000/-

Additional days
Smart rentals accept any additional days while on safari or on self drive vehicles. Nevertheless a prior communication has to be done with the reservation team and an agreement reached on how to remit the additional payment.

BOOKING DEPOSIT
A 50%  BOOKING DEPOSIT is required to guarantee your booking unless otherwise agreed with the reservation team. The balance to clear on arrival before  picking the vehicle. 

Best time to visit
Kenya is all year round warm weather and thus is visited any time of the year.   If your interest is the Wildebeest migration in Masai Mara, the best time for safari is Mid July to October.

What to wear on safari  
Casual clothing is recommended and warm clothing for the evening. 

Travel insurance 
We strongly advice that you get your travel insurance before you go for your safari.

Good Safari Camera
Please bring good safari cameras but smart phone can do too. 

Power/Electricity  
In Kenya, the voltage is usually 220volts. Nevertheless, it is important you take note that plugs that are in use in Kenya are not the same with the plugs that are commonly used in Europe and North America. Thus, Feather trail safaris recommends that you pack an international adapter even though the popularly used adapter has three square prongs.

Please take note that in some lodges and tented camps, the generators are at times switched off during the day (when you are out on game viewing) or during the night (whil3 you are sleeping). Thus, at such times, there will be no electrical power. For that reason, we urge you to ensure that your cameras, phones, and other electrical gadgets are charged when the power is available. Alternatively, you might also consider bringing a power bank with you.

Tips and Gratuities 
Your safari price includes all applicable service charges. However, it is custom to tip the driver guide or the waiter serving you in your hotel, lodge, or tented camp. The specific amount that you are expected  to tip is solely dependent on you.  For waiters and attendants, a tip of $1 is considered ok.

Meals on safari
All meals on safari are included in the safari price quoted by Feather Trail Safaris. Normally, when on safari, the meals are provided in the safari lodge or tented camp that you have selected for your accommodation. When you are out on full day safari, picnic lunch will be carried from your safari lodge or tented camp.

Last minute booking
We advice that you call us rather than email to be advised if there is any seat or vehicle available. 

Health and vaccinations 
There exists no mandatory vaccination requirements for guests to enter Kenya unless in situations where the guests are arriving from a country that has been infected with Yellow Fever. In such cases, the guests will be required to produce a Yellow Fever certificate at the point of entry to Kenya.

In all lodges and tented camps, there are mosquito nets that are used to ensure that you are protected from mosquitoes that usually emerge once the sun has set. It is also recommended that you wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts if you are going out after the dark. Moreover, you might also consider using insect repellent just to make sure that you are protected from insects.

Parks and animals to see when on safari
Different game reserves and parks offer different wildlife viewing opportunities. Thus, it is important that you have a clear idea of the animals that you want to spot so that our safari experts can be able to advice you on your best safari destinations. For example, if you want to experience the annual migration, your safari has to include a visit to Masai Mara since this is where the action happen. Likewise, if you are keen on bird watching, then you have to visit the Great Rift Valley lakes that are home to tens of bird life. Contact our safari experts and they will help you make the right decision on your safari destinations.

Checking and checking out  
Check in from lodges, tented camps, or hotels is usually after 11 am while checking out has to be before 10 am. Please remember to pay any supplementary bills accrued from drinks taken from the bar or the restaurant.

CAR BOOKING TERMS AND CONDITIONS 
Deposits and balance clearance

• A deposit of 50% has to be paid when making the bookings. Balance will be paid on arrival.
• If you prefer to make payments in full at once when making the bookings, it is still possible to do that.
• Payments can be made electronically through bank transfer or by credit or debit cards at no added costs. For payments made through Wire Transfer, please remember to include bank charges.

Cancellation policy
If for some reasons you happen to want to cancel  a car you had booked in advance, SMART RENTALS is going to deduct all cancellation costs related to car on standby and service charges. The following will be the amount to be deducted from the deposit paid.

All refunds will be processed within 30 days of cancelling the car hire

What is included in the price
The quoted PRICE INCLUDES: Free mileage

Liabilities 
Smart rentals and its agents only act as agents of the car hired and can thus not be held liable for any delays, injuries or loss.

Smart rentals cannot be held responsible for loss or damage of anything including baggage inside the hired vehicle.