Terms & Conditions

These terms and conditions apply to all offers, bookings and agreements made with The Dakar Experience (a trading name of Frank Samateh, based in Gambia; hereinafter: “TDE”, “we” or “us”). By placing a booking you confirm that you have read and agree to these terms.

Expeditions take place in West Africa — primarily Gambia and Senegal. By booking you acknowledge that conditions on the ground (infrastructure, healthcare, legislation, weather and road conditions) may differ substantially from what you are used to in your home country. You participate with full awareness of this.

Included in the trip price

• Rental of the Yamaha Ténéré XT660Z including basic vehicle insurance
• Guidance by an experienced tour leader throughout the entire expedition
• Accommodation as described in the relevant trip programme
• Meals as indicated in the programme
• Activities and excursions as listed in the trip programme
• On-site support for technical issues with the motorcycle

Not included in the trip price

• Flights to and from Gambia — you book and pay for these yourself
• Travel insurance (mandatory — see article 7)
• Cancellation insurance (strongly recommended)
• Visas and any border fees
• Vaccinations and medical preparation
• Alcoholic beverages and personal expenses
• Any damage to the motorcycle caused by the participant
• Costs arising from illness, repatriation or medical care

A booking is concluded once payment has been successfully processed. The booking is confirmed once you have received a payment confirmation.

• Payment: the full trip price is paid at the time of booking via our online payment system (Stripe)
• Payment method: credit card, debit card or iDEAL via Stripe

No claim to a reserved place can be made prior to receipt of the payment confirmation.

We reserve the right to increase the trip price in the event of unforeseen cost increases (currency fluctuations, taxes, fuel surcharges). If the increase exceeds 8%, you have the right to cancel the agreement free of charge, provided you notify us in writing within 5 working days of the announcement.

Cancellations must be submitted in writing to thedakarexperience@outlook.com. The date of receipt of the cancellation by us is decisive. The following percentage of the paid trip price will be retained:

Any remaining amount will be refunded within 14 days. We strongly recommend taking out cancellation insurance. Flights booked by you independently are outside our responsibility and will never be reimbursed by us.

We reserve the right to cancel or modify an expedition programme in the following circumstances:

• Insufficient participants (fewer than 3 confirmed riders), notified no later than 4 weeks before departure
• Force majeure: political unrest, armed conflict, natural disasters, pandemics, official travel advisories that make participation impossible
• Weather or road conditions that endanger the safety of the group

If we cancel, you will receive a full refund of the amount paid. We are not liable for additional costs you have incurred yourself, such as flights, visas, vaccinations or travel insurance.

Route changes on the ground (due to road conditions, safety or logistics) do not constitute a cancellation and do not give rise to any refund. Route maps and programmes are indicative; the tour leader makes final decisions on the ground in the interest of the group.

Licence and experience

Participation is only possible with a valid category A motorcycle licence (or a foreign equivalent valid in Gambia and Senegal). By booking you declare:

• That you hold the required licence
• That you have demonstrable experience riding large motorcycles (minimum 2 years active riding)
• That you are comfortable riding on unpaved roads and in varying weather conditions
• That you are physically and mentally capable of completing the expedition

We reserve the right to exclude a participant from further participation without refund if the safety of the group or the participant themselves is at risk due to insufficient riding ability or health issues.

Health and vaccinations

You are personally responsible for your health preparation. Consult a travel doctor in good time for the West Africa travel region. Recommended or mandatory vaccinations may include: yellow fever (mandatory for Senegal), hepatitis A and B, typhoid, rabies, tetanus and malaria prophylaxis. The situation may change; always consult the current guidelines of your national health authority.

Any medical costs incurred during the expedition are entirely at the participant’s own expense.

Motorcycle insurance

The Yamaha Ténéré XT660Z is covered by basic third-party liability insurance for use during the expedition. Damage to the motorcycle caused by the participant (through riding errors, negligence or failure to follow instructions) is at the participant’s expense.

Personal travel insurance — mandatory

It is mandatory to hold a valid travel insurance policy at the start of the expedition covering the following risks:

• Medical costs and hospitalisation on site (minimum € 1,000,000 cover)
• Medical repatriation to your home country
• Personal injury and liability towards third parties
• Death risk

Upon arrival you may be asked to provide proof of insurance. Without valid insurance, participation may be refused with no right to a refund.

Cancellation insurance

Cancellation insurance is not mandatory but is strongly recommended, given the cancellation costs in article 4 and the fact that flights fall outside our liability.

Participating in a motorcycle expedition in West Africa carries inherent risks: unpaved roads, heavy traffic, extreme temperatures, limited medical facilities and long distances to professional emergency services. By booking you consciously and expressly accept these risks.

TDE is not liable for:

• Personal injury, death or material damage arising during the expedition
• Theft or loss of personal belongings
• Damage resulting from failure to follow the tour leader’s instructions
• Delays, programme changes or cancellations due to force majeure or circumstances beyond our control
• Costs of medical treatment, repatriation or other emergency expenses
• Indirect or consequential damage

Our liability is in all cases limited to a maximum of the trip price paid by you, except in cases of intent or gross negligence on our part.

In the event of motorcycle problems or incidents on site, we will do our utmost to provide support. However, we are not liable for technical failures, repair costs or downtime resulting from use or normal wear and tear. In the event of a serious defect for which no adequate replacement motorcycle is available, you will receive a proportionate refund of the motorcycle rental costs.

Every participant undertakes to follow the instructions of the tour leader. The tour leader has authority at all times over route choices, pace and safety measures. Participants who endanger the safety of the group or violate local laws and regulations may be excluded from further participation without any refund.

You must respect the local culture, customs and legislation in Gambia and Senegal. Respectful behaviour towards local residents, guides and authorities is required. The Dakar Experience has close ties with the local community and attaches great importance to this.

Riding under the influence of alcohol or drugs is strictly prohibited and will immediately result in exclusion without refund.

Flights are not included in the trip price and are entirely the responsibility of the participant. We recommend not booking flights until you have received a definitive booking confirmation from us.

You are personally responsible for holding a valid passport (valid for at least 6 months after the travel date), any required visas and proof of vaccination in good time. Check with the embassies or consulates of Gambia and Senegal for current requirements. TDE is not liable for costs arising from denied entry, missed flights or missing travel documents.

Complaints should be reported to the tour leader on site as soon as possible, so that we have the opportunity to resolve the issue directly. Complaints not reported on site cannot be processed after the fact.

Complaints not resolved on site must be submitted in writing within 14 days of the end of the expedition to thedakarexperience@outlook.com. We aim to respond within 14 working days.

The personal data you provide will only be used for the execution of the travel agreement and related communications. For more information, please refer to our privacy policy.

All agreements are governed exclusively by Dutch law. Disputes will first be resolved amicably. If that is not possible, disputes will be submitted to the competent court in the Netherlands.

Although TDE is based in Gambia, it has chosen Dutch law to apply due to its primary customer base in the European Union.