Svalbard
Mammals and Seabirds of the Norwegian Arctic
June 30 to July 12, 2011

Walrus

Svalbard is a Norwegian archipelago extending from 74° to almost 82° north, within 500 nautical miles of the North Pole. At this latitude, the sun will not set during our mid-summer voyage, providing endless possibilities for spectacular photography. Spend eleven days on board the Polar Pioneer traveling through arctic waters among wildlife and icebergs. Enjoy encounters with Walrus, Bearded Seal, and possibly Ringed, Harp, and Hooded seals. Keep a sharp eye out for Polar Bears stalking seals on the sea ice and scan the oceans for Belugas and other rare arctic whales. Explore amazing cliffs covered with cliff-nesting birds, where kittiwakes and several species of alcids breed by the thousands. As most of Svalbard is now protected, it contains some of the densest nesting sites in the northern hemisphere. Travel by Zodiac along the fjords to see large colonies of Pink-footed, Barnacle, and Brant geese, along with Common Eider, King Eider, Long-Tailed Duck, and Svalbard Ptarmigan. Landings will provide the opportunity to see Arctic Fox, Svalbard Reindeer (an endemic subspecies), Ivory Gull, and Snow Bunting. Incredible wildlife plus breathtaking glacial landscapes make this an unforgettable voyage!

At a Glance

Companion Safari: We added a second expedition to Svalbard on July 10 to 22, just after this one. You may even consider taking both back-to-back!

Cost: $5,200 to $9,600 per person, double occupancy, depending on cabin choice. Cost does not include airfare. All meals onboard are included. Review cost details, including cabin options and costs.

Leaders: Ted Cheeseman, with Dag Nevestad, Bjørn Frantzen, Tom Murphy, Rod and Marlene Planck, and the ship's Captain.

Size: 54, not including leaders.

Days: 13.

Conditions: A non-smoking safari for people who are very interested in all wildlife and spending the maximum time in the field.

Update: This itinerary was updated in January 2011. View the plain text version, great for printing!

Synopsis:

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Detailed Itinerary

Map of Svalbard Islands

NOTE: Flexibility is paramount in expedition travel. July is the perfect time to visit Svalbard as ice still abounds while passages around the archipelago are still navigable, however, the following itinerary depends on the conditions at the time of travel.

June 30, Thursday — Flights from home to Longyearbyen via Oslo, Norway
Depart at the latest by June 30 to connect in Europe to Oslo, Norway. Some flight schedules may require that you depart a day or two earlier, giving you time for an overnight in Oslo rather than on a plane. There are several choices for flights to Oslo, such as a daily non-stop flight from Newark to Oslo on Scandinavian Airlines (SAS). You may also find flight routes through other European airports, such as Stockholm, Sweden or Reykjavik, Iceland. Review flight details and hotel options for overnights in Oslo, which are not included.

July 1, Friday — Morning flight to Longyearbyen and afternoon embarkation
At the latest, fly by this morning to Longyearbyen, the administrative center of Spitsbergen, the only populated island in the Svalbard Archipelago. Upon arrival, you may transfer directly to our ship at the dock, located between the Svalbard Airport and town.

Longyearbyen is a charming town and well worth a visit, so if you wish to arrive earlier, we can arrange a hotel for you. Options range from the Radisson to a simple guesthouse. The small town is colorful and its environs are bright with wildflowers beginning to bloom, Svalbard Ptarmigan (a subspecies of the Rock Ptarmigan) and Snow Buntings nesting on the outskirts. Please note: Do not walk away from roads and developed areas in Lonyearbyen as bears are often nearby. Longyearbyen, the northernmost town in the world, is home to a population of only 2,000 people. Three other small settlements include another 1,000 people, with most in the Russian settlement of Barentsburg. The rest of the 62,000 square kilometers of Spitsbergen, and the remainder of the archipelago, are largely pristine.

We board the Polar Pioneer by 4:00 pm and will embark at about 6:00 pm. We will sail out of the Fjord Isfjorden by early evening. The waters are very calm compared to the Antarctic and due to the shallow seas and the northward flow of the Gulf Stream, the climate is much milder than one would expect so far north. The Arctic summertime will be in full swing, so bring plenty of sunscreen, as well as the other polar essentials like warm clothes!

Picturesque Svalbard Islands

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July 2 - 10, Saturday - Sunday — Expedition travel through the Svalbard Archipelago!
We are traveling in the heart of the summer season, a time that is brilliant for the density and vibrancy of bird colonies. We also can expect plenty of ice - the perfect place to find bears and seals. We will forge the itinerary around ice and weather conditions. As this is an in-depth voyage dedicated to exploration of the unique and beautiful Arctic environment of Svalbard, each day will be filled with landings, Zodiac cruising, and ship-based wildlife viewing. As we cruise looking for the special wildlife of Svalbard, lecturers will discuss wildlife behavior, geology, photography, and High Arctic history.

If there is a lot of sea ice in the north, we'll go south from Longyearbyen into Bellsund Fjord and Hornsund Fjord down to the sea ice off south Spitsbergen. The small island of Sørkapp, just south of the southern tip of Spitsbergen, is where Harp Seals congregate to molt on ice floes. Another great area to explore is Bjørnøya (Bear Island) and the edge of the Continental Shelf west of Bear Island. This region is a good place to look for whales and foraging seabirds. Bear Island has bird colonies as dense as anywhere in the northern hemisphere. The bird cliffs here are phenomenal sea stacks that rise hundreds of feet out of nowhere, packed with birds, some of which breed here almost exclusively. The cliffs are on the west side of the island, which is more vulnerable to wind than the east, making landings more difficult. Weather permitting, we will be able to land and hike up from the east side of this narrow island to walk alongside the cliffs and look down from above the nesting area. In these waters, we have our best chance of seeing pelagic whale species such as Humpback, Blue, or Greenland (Bowhead) whale.

As we travel, we will find the edge of the pack ice, very good for foraging Polar Bears, seals, and seabirds, plus chances for Bowhead Whales along the ice. We'll continue along the pack ice to the east until the ice brings us to North Spitsbergen, and maybe into Hinlopen Strait. We'll sail back along the west Spitsbergen coast with landings until we return to Longyearbyen.

In lighter ice conditions, we may begin by sailing north, concentrating on the ice along the Spitsbergen coast and crossing the Arctic Circle, an area rich in Walrus. Sail into the eastern parts of the Svalbard archipelago, very rich in Polar Bears, seals, and seabirds. At Diskobukta, on the west side of Edgeøya (and island east of Spitsbergen), we may land near an enormous Black-legged Kittiwake colony, which occupies both sides of a canyon. The kittiwake colony attracts Arctic Fox and female Polar Bears with young cubs preying on young birds falling from the nesting ledges. Glaucous Gulls pirate the cliffs as well. Along the landing beach, tree trunks have drifted all the way from Siberia and Northern Right Whale bones are scattered right into the inland tundra.

South of the big island of Edgeøya is Tusenøyane, a localized archipelago containing a myriad of small islands. Two of the tiny islands, Zieglerøya and Dielitschøya, have lakes where many birds nest including Red-throated Loons, Long-tailed Ducks, King Eiders, Brant Geese, and Red Phalaropes (known as Grey Phalaropes in Europe). These islands, and nearby Andreetangen, are breeding grounds for Walrus and a favorite hunting area of Polar Bears.

Little Auks

We'll visit some of the fantastic bird cliffs where Black-legged Kittiwakes, Northern Fulmars, and several species of alcids breed, including Dovekie, Black Guillemot, Brünnich's Guillemot (Thick-billed Murre), and Atlantic Puffin. We'll keep our eyes out for Narwhal, which on rare occasions pass through these northern waters in July. There is a decent chance to see Beluga in the southern fjords, and we'll see Polar Bears, seals, and Ivory Gulls where ice abounds. We'll get inland a bit to see goose colonies - Pink-footed, Barnacle, and Brant - along with Common Eider, King Eider, Oldsquaw, and Svalbard Ptarmigan.

Unlike Antarctica, Svalbard has terrestrial predators - the Arctic Fox and Polar Bear - so almost all of the birds nest on cliffs inaccessible to these hungry prowlers. The wildlife is not quite as approachable as in Antarctica, but because Svalbard never had an indigenous population, its wildlife is less afraid of people than in any other Arctic region. Reindeer, Arctic Fox, and Walrus can at times be approached within 20 feet. Polar Bear will also allow such proximity, but we will keep some distance!

While walking, we will stay alert for nesting shorebirds, such as Red Phalaropes, terns, and skuas. Arctic Terns and Arctic Skuas are quick to dive bomb if they are disturbed. Ivory Gulls breed on nunataks (from an Inuit word meaning "lonely peak"); these peaks poking up through the ice are mostly far inland. There is a chance to reach one Ivory Gull nesting cliff on foot, but mostly we'll see these beautiful gulls foraging along the sea ice, where they may be joined by a Ross' Gull. Also on land, we'll see Arctic Fox and Svalbard Reindeer (an endemic subspecies with very short legs). Our group will have the time, flexibility, and freedom to hike, view bird colonies, explore, and photograph while on shore, however, we must follow Polar Bear protection procedures, which involve staying in groups and keeping within sight of guides who are prepared to deal with Polar Bear encounters.

The following are more of the possible landing sites that we may visit as we circumnavigate Spitsbergen. First, a few notes about Norwegian geography terms (as seen in many of the following place names): "bukta" means gulf or bay, "sund" means sound, "sundet" or "stretet" means channel or strait, "øy" or "øya" means island, "landet" means land or country, "fjord" or "fjorden" means inlet (or fjord), and "breen" means glacier.

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Polar Bear Mother and Cubs

Possible Landing Sites

• Hornsund - A major fjord south of Bellsund and north of the tip of Spitsbergen is the large and rugged Hornsund, which has 14 large glaciers and rich marine wildlife, including seabird cliffs, Polar Bears, seals, and Belugas, plus interesting geological formations. One of the major migration routes of a Polar Bear population is up Hornsund Fjord, across to the east side of Spitsbergen, south to the tip at Sørkapp, and back up the west side into Hornsund again. The mountain peaks on the south side of Hornsund, Hornsundtind and Bautaen, show why the early Dutch explorers named the island Spitsbergen, meaning "pointed mountains." A Polish research station is located in Hornsund Fjord and the mountains behind it are home to thousands of nesting Dovekies (Little Auks).
• Stormbukta - Going south, before reaching the tip of Spitsbergen, we may try to land at Stormbukta near a Kittiwake colony and postvolcanic springs.
• Sandhamna - Near Sørkapp Island, where Harp Seals like to molt at the southern tip of Spitsbergen, we may make a landing at Sandhamna. Due to different ocean currents that meet and swirl around this southern tip of land, dead animals are often washed ashore here, attracting Polar Bears to the area. The land is dotted with lakes, which are home to geese and loons, and, occasionally, migrant birds that have lost their way are also spotted here.
• Isbukta - On the southeastern side of Spitsbergen, Isbukta is a secluded ice-filled bay surrounded by a spectacular glacier front. Its waters are rich in marine mammals.

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  Purple Saxifrage

  Bölscheøya - This charming island is in the small archipelago of Tusenøyane, to the south of Edgeøya. Bölscheøya has many remains of Walrus and Right Whales. On a happier note, there are Red Phalaropes, Arctic Skuas, Red-throated Loons, and possibly the Pale-bellied Brant Goose, a subspecies found only on Spitsbergen, Franz Josef, and occasionally in Greenland.
• Aekongen - Also in this same multitude of small islands south of Edgeøya, Aekongen has a complete Right Whale skeleton, spectacular basalt rock columns, and Common Eiders often nesting in July.
• Risetreppen - There are two beautiful canyons located at Risetreppen in Keilhaubukta, south of Edgeøya. The canyons are home to small colonies of Black-legged Kittiwakes and Black Guillemots. There are also raised beaches littered with sub-fossil whale skeletons. The beaches are foraging areas for the hardy Spitsbergen Reindeer.
• Kraussbukta - Just north of Kvalpynten, the southwest tip of Edgeøya, there is a big Thick-billed Murre colony at Kraussbukta. The tundra here is covered with small ponds for breeding Red-throated Loons, Pink-footed Geese, and Grey Phalaropes.
• Freemansundet - At the northwest tip of Edgeøya we may proceed through Freemansundet, the strait between Barentzøya and Edgeøya. This passage is wonderful for observing Walruses, seals, and even the elusive Northern Right Whale, which was hunted to near extinction in the 19th century.
• Kong Karls Land - In the eastern part of the Svalbard Archipelago is Svalbard's most strictly protected nature reserve, Kong Karls Land. This is the most important denning area for Polar Bears and is a haven for seabirds and other mammals. Ships may not approach the reserve closer than 500 meters (1,650 feet); landings obviously are prohibited. Cruising northeast, we may pass Svenskøya, the westernmost island in Kong Karls Land. There will be plenty of pack ice and there is a good chance we will see Polar Bears, Harp and Ringed seals, Ivory Gulls, and Pomarine Jaegers (Skuas).
• Svartknausflya - On southern coast of Nordaustlandet, the most northerly of the major islands, is Svartknausflya, a "polar desert" that gets so little precipitation that even the hardy tundra plants cannot survive. The bare, sandy hills are a strong contrast to the world's third largest ice cap, several hundred miles long, which plunges into the sea not far away.
• Alkefjellet - If ice conditions permit, we will sail northwest through Hinlopenstretet, the strait that separates Spitsbergen to the west and the big island of Nordaustlandet to the northeast. Along Lomfjordshalvøya, a big glacial thumb protruding from the coast of Spitsbergen into the strait, are the bird cliffs of Alkefjellet. The basalt pillars, rising to hundreds of feet, and the overhanging ice cap with its waterfall are amazing. The cliffs are the breeding ground for thousands of Thick-billed Murres (Brünnich's Guillemots).
• Augustabukta - On the eastern side of Hinlopenstretet, across from Lomfjordshalvøya, the huge island of Nordaustlandet offers more great wildlife sites. Augustabukta is a good place to see Spitsbergen Reindeer, Pink-footed Geese, and Walrus. We may also visit a cliff where the rare Ivory Gull breeds.
• Liefdefjorden - If the ice is light here in the northernmost regions of Spitsbergen, we may sail to the mouth of Liefdefjorden and go ashore for a walk on the tundra of Andøya. Many Common Eiders and Pink-footed Geese nest here and the less common King Eider may also be seen. Monacobreen, with its five-kilometer long face, is an impressive glacier at the end of this large fjord. Polar Bears have been seen on the glacier and the waters from its front are a favorite feeding spot for thousands of Kittiwakes.
• Raudfjorden - Further west along the north coast of Spitsbergen, Raudfjorden is a beautiful fjord with spectacular glaciers. It is home to Ringed and Bearded Seals, seabird colonies and surprisingly rich vegetation.
• Ytre Norskøya - The small island of Ytre Norskøya, on the northwest coast of Spitsbergen, has an accessible breeding ground of Little Auks, Black Guillemots, Brünnich's Guillemots, Puffins, and Arctic Skuas.

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  Arctic Fox

  Krossfjorden - On the west side of Spitsbergen, on our way back to Longyearbyen, Krossfjorden is a good place for a Zodiac cruise along the famed 14th of July Glacier or Fjortende Julibreen. Large numbers of Kittiwakes and Brünnich's Guillemots nest on the nearby cliffs. There is also a good chance of spotting Arctic Foxes below the cliffs and Bearded Seals in the fjord.
• Ny Ålesund - Just south of Krossfjorden is Ny Ålesund, the world's northernmost settlement. Once a mining village served by the world's most northerly railway, it is now home to a research base for the Norwegian Polar Institute. The tiny settlement is a breeding ground for Barnacle Geese, Pink-footed Geese, and Arctic Terns. Ny Ålesund is also the location of the anchoring mast used by Amundsen and Nobile in the airship Norge and by Nobile in the airship Italia before their flights to the North Pole in 1926 and 1928 respectively.
• Alkhornet - At the mouth of Isfjorden, the largest of all Spitsbergen's fjords, we may land at Alkhornet where seabirds nest on the cliffs and Arctic Foxes search the cliff base for fallen eggs and chicks. Also at the base of the cliffs, Spitsbergen Reindeer graze the relatively luxuriant vegetation. Continue up Isfjorden to return to Longyearbyen.

July 11, Monday — Disembark and fights homeward
We will disembark after breakfast, approximately 9:00 a.m. A bus will shuttle us to town, then to the airport after a couple of hours for those leaving today. In town, you can have a chance to shop or walk the outskirts of Longyearbyen to see the dramatic changes in the vegetation and nesting birds since we arrived. Flights depart Longyearbyen in the early afternoon to arrive in Oslo in the evening. We are happy to assist with any overnights in Oslo on the return. Lunch is on our own today.

July 12, Friday — Arrive home or extend your trip
Contact us for trip extension assistance or recommendations.

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Staff

Ted Cheeseman

Ted Cheeseman (Ecologist, Expedition Leader, Lecturer, Zodiac Driver and Photographer) has traveled with Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris since the early 80's and has led and organized expeditions since finishing his graduate degree in conservation biology at Duke University in 2000. Ted's great passion is creating expeditions in which travelers can spend the maximum time possible with wildlife, believing that by coming to know wildlife and wilderness intimately, travelers will have even more respect for the value of wild places in their pristine state.

Dag Nevestad (Maritime Archaeologist and Arctic Ecologist) has extensive knowledge of the cultural history, polar exploration and natural environment of Svalbard. He is a Senior Conservator at the Norwegian Maritime Museum. Since 1980 he has been doing fieldwork in Svalbard on the history and natural environment, with a focus on whaling and mammals of the Arctic. He frequently guides and lectures and recently he consulted on the BBC program Oceans.

Bjorn Frantzen (Naturalist, Ornithologist, and Arctic Ecologist) brings a great sense of humor and personality in addition to his in-depth knowledge of the Arctic. As leader of the Norwegian Polar Institute's office in Svalbard, former president of the Norwegian Ornithological Society, and current head of the Svalbard Nature Conservation Society in Svalbard, he has extensive experience. Bjørn has also worked with nature conservation in the Russian part of the Barents Region and as a monitor of the oil transportation from the Russian Arctic to Europe and the USA.

Rod Planck (Professional Photographer, Lecturer, and Zodiac Driver) and Marlene Planck (Naturalist and Zodiac Driver) are both excellent naturalists, spending every moment possible on watch. Rod and Marlene lead outstanding nature photo workshops and seminars. Rod's book, Nature's Places, is a masterpiece of photography. On shore, Rod always welcomes you to join him and ask questions about photography or about the wildlife encountered. Rod is a professional natural history photographer; his work can be seen at www.rodplanck.com.

Tom Murphy (Professional Photographer, Lecturer, and Zodiac Driver) founded Wilderness Photography Expeditions and teaches a well-known and respected photography seminar series primarily in Yellowstone National Park. Tom will teach photo sessions on ship and ashore, one on one and in groups, to help you bring your wildlife photography to new levels of excellence. He is the author of several books including The Light of Spring and The Seasons of Yellowstone. You can see Tom's work and read about him online at www.tmurphywild.com. He has also been featured in a PBS Nature series program, Chistmas in Yellowstone.

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Ship

Polar Pioneer

The Polar Pioneer is ideal for exploring the Svalbard region due to its strength and maneuverability. This 236-foot long, 2,140-ton ship can cruise at up to 12.5 knots, has an ice rating equivalent to Lloyd's 100 1A, and is fully equipped with excellent navigational and radio systems, as well as a passive stabilization system for rough weather. In 2000, the ship was completely refurbished to serve as a small and comfortable expedition ship. The enthusiastic Russian captain and crew are among the most experienced ice-navigators in the world. Review more ship details including the deckplan.

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Costs

Cabin Options:

Payments and Cancellations: All reservations require a deposit. Upon receiving your deposit, we will send a receipt listing the remaining payment schedule. We reserve the right to charge for cost increases, including changes in exchange rates or fuel costs, that occur between the date this itinerary is printed and the date of travel.

Cancellation Policy: Refunds are given depending on the time left before departure according to the following table. You can purchase trip cancellation insurance that would refund your trip costs in the event of your cancellation. Please take the time to learn if this insurance would be in your best interest. Read about travel insurance and our recommendations and requirements.

Single Occupancy: No single cabins are available. Double occupancy cabins may be booked on a single basis at 1.9 times the published rate. If you are willing to have a roommate assigned, there will be no single supplement charge.

Included:

• Eleven days and ten nights on board the Polar Pioneer.
• All meals from dinner on July 1 through breakfast on July 11.
• Six naturalist guides, including the Expedition Leader.
• Landing fees and port taxes.

Not Included:

• All airfare, including airport tax and arrival/departure taxes. Approximately $1,500-2,000 from the USA to Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen (quoted March 2010, subject to change).
• Excess baggage fees.
• Separate transfers in Longyearbyen.
• Overnights in Longyearbyen or Oslo.
• Meals except onboard ship (listed above).
• Gratuities: Tipping is, of course, discretionary, however we suggest budgeting $8 to $12 per day per participant (a total of $90 to $130 per participant) to be distributed among all the ship's crew. Cheeseman staff need not be tipped. The gratuity will be collected at the end of the voyage.
• Personal expenses such as bar, laundry, and shop charges.

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Sign-up

Reservations: Please contact us to assure space availability and to let us answer your questions. Then, fill out our reservation form, and mail it to us with your deposit:

Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris
20800 Kittredge Road
Saratoga, CA 95070

Toll Free: (800) 527-5330
Local: (408) 741-5330
Fax: (408) 741-0358
Email: info@cheesemans.com

Other Details

Flights: Arrive in Longyearbyen (LYR) by the morning of July 1, at the latest. From your home airport, depart at the latest by June 30 to connect in Europe in most cases through Oslo Gardermoen Airport (OSL), located just north of Oslo, Norway. Some flight schedules may require that you depart a day or two earlier with an overnight in Oslo. There are many choices for flights to Oslo, with costs ranging from $800 to $1,300 roundtrip from the east coast of North America. Iceland Air offers reasonably priced flights routing through Reykjavik, an intriguing stopover option.

From Oslo to Longyearbyen, all flights are operated by Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), most stopping in Tromsø en route. There is a possibility that we will offer an OSL-LYR group fare. Approximately eleven months before the departure date, we will have the flight schedules and fares and will determine if we can offer a group fare Oslo/Longyearbyen/Oslo. OSL-LYR flights cost an estimated $500 to $700 round trip.

Depart from Longyearbyen on July 11 or later. We will dock mid-morning, giving us some time in downtown Longyearbyen before early afternoon flights to Oslo.

Hotel Options: For extra nights in Oslo before or after your trip, we recommend the either the airport or downtown Radisson. The airport Radisson is perfect for overnight stopovers, a convenient short walk from the airport, while the downtown Radisson is ideal for longer stays, located across the street from a train line direct from the airport. This express train takes just under an hour from the airport. There are many other hotel choices as well. It is well worth enjoying some of Oslo's very interesting attractions, such as the Fram and the Kon-Tiki museums.

Travel Insurance: Due to the remoteness of this destination and by Svalbard law, Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris requires, at a minimum, trip insurance to cover emergency medical care and evacuation for the duration of the tour. Trip cancellation insurance is also available and highly recommended. In the event of your cancellation, you will be responsible for the cancellation fee as stipulated in the trip itinerary. Read about travel insurance and our recommendations and requirements.

Seasickness: Don't let a fear of seasickness prevent you from signing up! The waters of Svalbard are very sheltered and seasickness is not a problem for the majority of travelers; information about remedies will be provided in your trip materials. Read our suggestions for coping with seasickness.

Conditions: Travel to remote places like the Arctic is exciting, but understanding and accepting the risks, both medical and logistical, is important. There is a small infirmary on board the ship and minor medical problems can be treated, but due to the remoteness of most of our itinerary, there can be no expectation for immediate medical evacuation by air or ship, even in cases of trauma. If this fact concerns you too much, do not choose this trip for your vacation. Anyone with health problems needing close medical supervision should not consider going on this trip. Bring enough medication for the duration of the trip for any chronic medical needs, including medication or patches for seasickness. When you send your tour deposit and signed reservation form, you certify to us that you do not knowingly have any physical or other conditions that would create a risk for yourself or for other trip participants. Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris has a strict non-smoking policy.

Expedition Log: After the completion of your expedition, you can look forward to an illustrated expedition log mailed directly to you. This very descriptive log includes daily sightings, personal accounts, and excellent photographs from our incredible journey.

Non-smoking Policy: We have a strict non-smoking policy - smoking is not permitted at any time or any place during our tours.

Mailing List: If you would like to be on our mailing list or request information, please use our online information request form or contact us to give us your name, address, email address and phone number. Please note we will never share your personal information with anybody!

Responsibility: Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris, Saratoga, California, act only as agents and shall not be responsible or become liable for any delay incurred by any person in connection with any means of transportation, nor for the loss, damage, or injury to person or property by reason of any event beyond the control of the agency or default of such agency suppliers. We reserve the right to cancel the tour prior to departure in which case full refund will constitute full settlement to the passenger. No refund will be made for any unused portion of the tour unless arrangements are made at the time of booking. All rates are based on current tariffs, exchange rates and fuel prices and are subject to adjustment in the event of any change therein. By sending your initial deposit, you agree to accept our payment schedule as a contract. If payments are still outstanding two weeks after the due date, your space may be forfeited. Baggage is at the owner's risk.

Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris is registered as California Seller of Travel #2063050-40. Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California. Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris is a participant in the Travel Consumer Restitution Corporation (TCRC). In event of a client canceling where a refund is applicable in accordance with the schedule above, or in the event that CES needs to cancel the trip, all payments for transportation or travel service not provided to the client shall be promptly refunded, unless the client instructs us otherwise in writing. All client payments are deposited into a trust account in accordance with California law. If for any reason a valid refund is not forthcoming, the client may request reimbursement from the TCRC within six months of the scheduled end of the tour. Please feel free to ask us for more information.

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All material © Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris.
All photos © Doug or Ted Cheeseman, unless otherwise credited.
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