General Terms and Conditions

General Terms and Conditions Kanga Homestay GmbH

Introduction

These General Terms and Conditions govern the legal relationship between guests and Kanga Homestay GmbH, Switzerland.

Kanga Homestay is an agency that acts as an intermediary, connecting guests with local homestays that offer immersive cultural experiences. Kanga Homestay arranges stays with hosts and transfers to and from the homestays for guests.

Definitions

• Kanga Homestay: Kanga Homestay GmbH, based in Zurich, at Elsastrasse 18, 8004 Zurich, Switzerland, hereinafter referred to as Kanga Homestay
• Services Kanga Homestay: Includes arranging homestay accommodations and transfers provided by third parties.
• Guests: Individuals who book stays through Kanga Homestay.
• Hosts: Local families or individuals offering accommodation, meals, and providing various cultural, community-based, and nature-based experiences.

Communication and Complaint Handling

• Language: The communications will be conducted in English and German.
• Complaints Procedure: Any issues or complaints during the stay should be addressed in the following order: Host, Local Coordinator, Regional Manager, and finally Kanga Homestay.

Booking and Payment

• Booking Process: Guests can book stays by contacting Kanga Homestay directly, through platforms or through our website. A booking is confirmed upon receipt. A stay resulting from direct agreements with involved parties such as host, Local Coordinator, Regional Manager or third parties is strictly prohibited and may have consequences for guests, hosts and other involved parties. No refunds will be provided for guests.
• Payment Terms: If guests book more than 30 days in advance, a EUR 50 deposit is required at the time of booking. The remaining balance is due 30 days before the stay. A payment link will be sent approximately 45 days before the stay. If the booking is not paid by 30 days prior to the stay, Kanga Homestay will consider it cancelled. For any bookings made less than 30 days prior to the stay, full payment is required at the time of booking.
• Accepted payment methods: include major credit cards (via Stripe). Different providers involve varying fees, which guests must cover. Cash payments are not accepted on-site (only for excluded activities).
• Payment Currency: All payments must be made in EUR. If payment is made in a different currency, exchange fees and currency risk are the responsibility of the guest.

Pricing

• Applicable Rates: Bookings are subject to the prices valid at the time of confirmation. Prices and promotional offers may be changed at any time without prior notice.
• Platform Variations: Variations in pricing may occur across different platforms. Guests are not entitled to any compensation or price adjustment based on such differences.
• Discounts and Promotions: Coupons, discounts, and vouchers are not combinable with each other or with other special offers or promotions. They are valid exclusively for bookings made through the official Kanga Homestay website and cannot be redeemed via third-party platforms.
• Age-Based Pricing: Kids aged 5 to 12 are eligible for a 50 % discount, while children under 5 years of age stay free of charge if they sleep in the same bed as the accompanying adult. From the age of 13, the full rate applies. For prices that depend on the age of the individual, such as child discounts, the age on the initially booked stay date will be used to determine the price. We reserve the right to recalculate the price and charge any difference in case of incorrect information, even after the trip has ended.

Essential Booking and Stay Conditions

Check-in and check-out times are as follows:

• Check-in: After 2:00 PM
• Check-out: Before 11:00 AM

Meals: Homestays typically include 3 meals a day on a full day of stay:

• Breakfast (not on day of arrival)
• Lunch (not on day of departure)
• Dinner (not on day of departure)

Guests should inform Kanga Homestay of any special dietary needs or preferences during the booking process.

Activities: Homestays typically include basic cultural activities. Additional activities offered by hosts or third-party providers may incur extra fees. These costs are to be paid on-site in cash and in the local currency by the guests.

Passport Copy: Please note that a copy or photo of each guest’s passport is required for check-in. Without it, we will not be able to accommodate your stay, nor will any important pre-arrival information be provided. The passport copies must be submitted at least 20 days prior to the booking date, or, for bookings made within 20 days, they must be provided during the booking process or shortly thereafter.

Personal Information: At the time of booking, guests must provide their own full name as well as the full names of all accompanying guests exactly as they appear in the identification documents (e.g. passports) used for the trip. Bookings are personal and non-transferable.

Responsibility for Group Bookings: If the person making the booking registers additional guests, they are liable for all contractual obligations of those guests – especially for payment of the total price – just as they are for their own obligations. The General Terms and Conditions of Kanga Homestay apply to all guests.

Sharing of Guest Data for Booking and Stay Coordination: Guest data may be shared with hosts and other individuals involved in fulfilling the booking, such as local coordinators or regional managers, insofar as this is required for the proper organization and execution of the stay.

No Refund for Limited Offerings: The absence of listed amenities or facilities, a limited selection of food provided by the hosts, or the unavailability of certain activities during the guest’s stay does not entitle the guest to any refund, whether full or partial.

Important Pre-Arrival Information and Conditions

Guests will receive an email with all essential details about their stay 15 days before the arrival date, or within 2 days for bookings made less than 15 days in advance. This will include the exact location of the homestay, directions, contact information, transport options, and more.

Guests will only receive this information if they have completed their booking, made full payment, and submitted full passport copies. If these conditions are not met, we will not be able to accommodate your stay, and the pre-arrival details will not be provided.

Please note that the information provided is the property of Kanga Homestay and is intended solely for official guests. Sharing this confidential information with third parties or publishing it is strictly prohibited.

Changing the Date of the Booking

A reschedule request can be made by email at hello@kangahomestay.com.

Guests can reschedule for free up to 10 days before their stay (once only), with new dates within 2 months, subject to availability. A EUR 30 fee applies for a second rescheduling or a reschedule request made less than 10 days before arrival.

Cancellation Policy

Guest Cancellations:

• A booking can be canceled via the link provided in the booking confirmation or by email at hello@kangahomestay.com.
• For cancellations made up to 20 days before the booked stay, Kanga Homestay retains EUR 50 per booking.
• For cancellations made less than 20 days before the initially booked stay, no refund will be provided (rescheduling is still possible, see above).
• If you have pre-booked a private transfer and canceled your booking at least 3 days before your intended stay, the transfer costs will be fully refunded. For cancellations made less than three days in advance, no refund for the booked transfer will be issued.
• Private transfers are linked to the overall homestay booking and cannot be canceled separately. If the entire homestay booking is canceled, the transfer will be canceled accordingly, and the refund policy for cancellations applies.

Host Cancellations: In rare cases where a host cancels, Kanga Homestay will offer a comparable alternative homestay in the same region or a full refund.

Cancellation by Kanga Homestay: In the unlikely event that Kanga Homestay cancels a booking due to unforeseen circumstances (such as political unrest, severe weather events, operational cessation, or other disruptions beyond our control, ), the full amount paid will be refunded to guests.

In the event that Kanga Homestay has to cancel a booking due to incomplete payment, failure to submit passport copies for homestay guests, or a breach of these General Terms and Conditions (GTC), no refund will be provided. Additionally, in the event of inappropriate conduct toward hosts or involved parties, Kanga Homestay reserves the right to cancel the booking immediately without refund.

Refund Processing

Refunds are processed within 15 days and will be credited back to the original payment method used for the booking. Please note that refund transfers may incur fees, and customers are responsible for any exchange rate costs as well as the risk of currency fluctuations for refunds in different currencies, regardless of which party has canceled and the reason for the cancellation.

Guest Responsibilities

• House Rules: Guests must respect and follow the house rules provided by their hosts.
• Damages: Guests are responsible for any damages caused during their stay and must compensate the host accordingly.
• Transfer and Location Information: Guests who do not book transfers through the website will be provided with information about the homestay’s location and directions. However, these guests are responsible for ensuring they reach the homestay on their own.
• Guest Responsibility for Timing and Delays: Guests are responsible for managing their own time during arrival and departure, ensuring they are on schedule for pick-up times and any subsequent activities or transfers. They must be aware that traffic delays or unexpected events may occur, and Kanga Homestay is not liable for any consequences related to such delays or missed connections.

Liability Disclaimer

Liability, Third-Party Activities and Transfers: Kanga Homestay acts as an intermediary and is not responsible for third-party activities or transfer services, which are provided by external service providers. Guests participate in homestay visits, activities, and transfers at their own risk. Kanga Homestay disclaims any liability for damages, including those related to transfers, drivers, or transfer providers, or any delays caused by them, and is not responsible for any property, financial, or personal damages, regardless of the cause.

Personal Belongings: Kanga Homestay is not responsible for personal belongings, luggage, theft, misconduct, foodborne illnesses, gross & ordinary negligence or injuries during the stay.

Exclusion of Liability:

Kanga Homestay is not liable if the non-fulfillment or improper fulfillment of the contract is due to:

• omissions by the guest before or during the stay;

• unforeseeable or unavoidable omissions of third parties not involved in providing the contractual services;

• failure of guests to be reachable for coordinating arrival/departure times, pick-up locations, or other essential details. Guests are responsible for ensuring they are reachable at the contact numbers provided during booking, including having mobile data and a functional device and similar to maintain communication for these purposes.

Force Majeure: Kanga Homestay is not liable for delays or failures in performance due to Force Majeure events, including but not limited to pandemics, natural disasters, political unrest, strikes, government actions, or transport disruptions. Kanga Homestay will make reasonable efforts to provide alternatives but cannot guarantee specific outcomes. Guests acknowledge that Kanga Homestay is not responsible for damages or compensation, or claims arising from such events, and any liability – including for immaterial damages or inability to fulfill the contract – is excluded.

Information Ownership

• Confidentiality: All information and materials provided by Kanga Homestay to guests remain the property of Kanga Homestay, including, but not limited to, contact details, addresses, descriptions, informational content, images, icons, and logos.
• Non-Disclosure: Guests agree not to share, publish, or distribute these materials and information without express written permission from Kanga Homestay. Violation may result in legal consequences.

Insurance, Visa, and Vaccination Requirements

• Guests are strongly advised to obtain travel insurance that covers personal belongings, cancellations, medical emergencies, including illness and accidents, as well as any other potential risks that may arise during their stay.
• It is the sole responsibility of guests to obtain the necessary visa for their visit.
• Guests must ensure they meet all recommended vaccination requirements before traveling.

Confidentiality and Privacy

Kanga Homestay is committed to protecting guests’ personal data in accordance with applicable privacy laws, including GDPR for European guests, the Swiss Federal Data Protection Act (DPA) for guests from Switzerland, and relevant Tanzanian data protection regulations. The Kanga Homestay Privacy Policy, which forms an integral part of these General Terms and Conditions, applies to both website visits and bookings. By using the website and completing a booking, guests acknowledge and accept the terms of the Privacy Policy. Guest data may be shared with hosts and other individuals involved in fulfilling the booking, such as local coordinators or regional managers, insofar as this is required for the proper organization and execution of the stay.

Governing Law

These terms are governed by Swiss law. Any disputes will first be addressed through mediation in Switzerland. If mediation fails, legal proceedings will take place in Zurich, Switzerland, which will have exclusive jurisdiction.

Changes to Terms and Conditions

The terms and conditions applicable at the time of booking shall apply. Kanga Homestay reserves the right to modify these terms and conditions, which will take effect upon activation, and will apply to new bookings thereafter.

Contact Information

For any questions or concerns regarding these terms and conditions, please contact Kanga Homestay at hello@kangahomestay.com.

Effective Date: June 1, 2025