Terms of Engagement
The shape of working together.
Last updated · June 2026
1. The studio
These terms govern the relationship between IMAGINE Journey Design Ltd, a private travel design studio registered in Kampala, Uganda ("IMAGINE", "we"), and the traveller commissioning an itinerary ("you"). They apply to every enquiry, proposal, and confirmed journey.
2. The design fee
A non-refundable design fee — quoted privately with the proposal — is payable to begin the composition of your itinerary. It covers the studio's time: the research, the calls, the rewriting, the holding of lodges and permits while the trip is being shaped. The fee is credited in full against the final cost of the journey once it is confirmed.
3. Deposits, balances, and currency
A 30% deposit is required to confirm the itinerary and release the holds we have placed on your behalf. The balance is due 60 days before the first night of travel. Bookings made inside 60 days are payable in full. All quotes are issued in United States Dollars; payment is accepted by international bank transfer to our nominated account.
4. Cancellation
Cancellation terms are set by the lodges, aviation operators, and permit-issuing authorities involved in your specific journey and are disclosed in full with the proposal. As a guide: gorilla and chimpanzee permits, once issued, are non-refundable. Most premier lodges hold a 30% non-refundable deposit and apply a sliding scale inside 60 days. We do everything we reasonably can to recover what is recoverable.
5. Insurance
Comprehensive travel insurance — covering medical evacuation, cancellation, and personal effects — is a condition of travel with IMAGINE. You are responsible for arranging it. We will not issue final travel documents until proof of insurance is on file.
6. Passports, visas, and health
You are responsible for ensuring that every traveller in your party holds a passport valid for at least six months beyond the return date, the correct visas, and the required vaccinations (yellow fever is mandatory for entry into Uganda). We will guide you on each, and connect you with travel medicine specialists when helpful.
7. Force majeure
Neither party is liable for failure to perform where prevented by events beyond reasonable control — political unrest, natural disaster, pandemic, lodge closure, or government action. In such cases we will work in good faith to reschedule, redirect, or recover what is recoverable, but cannot guarantee a full refund of monies already paid to third parties.
8. Liability
IMAGINE acts as a designer and coordinator of services provided by independent third parties — lodges, guides, aviation operators, restaurants. We choose our partners with great care and visit them in person, but we cannot accept liability for their acts or omissions. Our total liability in any matter is limited to the design fee paid for that itinerary.
9. Governing law
These terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of Uganda. Disputes that cannot be resolved through a conversation will be settled in the courts of Kampala.
10. Questions
Read the privacy notice for how we handle your information. For anything else, write to journeys@imagine.travel.