Your money, protected.
KATO bonded, TRA licensed and audited. Every Imara safari includes AMREF Flying Doctors evacuation cover, secure online payments via Pesapal, DPO, Flutterwave or Paystack, and supplier-failure protection in writing.
Six layers between your wallet and a problem
From the moment your deposit lands to the day you fly home, every part of your booking is underwritten by regulated, independently-audited systems.
AMREF Flying Doctors cover
Every Imara safari includes AMREF Flying Doctors emergency evacuation cover for the duration of your trip in East Africa. If something serious happens in the bush, you're flown to a fully-equipped hospital in Nairobi within hours.
Licensed and bonded
Fully licensed by the Tourism Regulatory Authority (TRA) and active bonded members of the Kenya Association of Tour Operators (KATO). Both bodies enforce strict financial, safety and ethical standards on every member.
Secure online payments
All online payments are processed over encrypted connections (TLS 1.3) through PCI-DSS compliant providers; Pesapal, DPO, Flutterwave and Paystack. We never see or store your full card details.
Supplier failure protection
If an included lodge, camp or airline fails between booking and departure, we rebook you into an equivalent or better option at no extra cost. Guaranteed, in writing.
Transparent paperwork
Detailed confirmation of every inclusion, an itemised invoice and a booking receipt with our company registration and supplier references. No hidden fees, ever.
Flexible payment schedule
A deposit — typically around 30%, though it varies by safari type and is agreed with your safari curator — confirms your dates and locks in supplier rates; the balance follows before departure. Pay by card, bank transfer or M-Pesa, all receipts clearly issued.
Licensed, bonded and audited
Every credential below can be verified with the issuing body. Click view certificate & member no. to open the official KATO and TRA documents.
KATO Bonded Member
Kenya Association of Tour Operators
TRA Licensed Operator
Tourism Regulatory Authority of Kenya
Santa Imara Africa Safaris Limited (trading as Imara Africa Safaris) · Registered in Nairobi, Kenya. Our KATO bonded-member number and TRA licence details appear on the official certificate above — click to view and verify.
Four steps from deposit to departure
Imara's standard schedule is a deposit of around 30% on confirmation — though it varies by safari type and what you agree with your safari curator — with the balance before departure. Every milestone is documented in writing.
- 01
Confirm with your deposit
A deposit — typically around 30%, though it isn't fixed and varies by safari type and what you agree with your safari curator — holds your dates, lodges and any park or gorilla permits. Your safari designer issues a written confirmation the same day with the full inclusions list and supplier references.
- 02
Balance, when it suits you
The remaining balance is flexible. Pay it any time before arrival, or settle on arrival in Nairobi; your safari designer agrees the timing with you during planning. No fixed deadline, no rushed wires.
- 03
AMREF cover registered
On payment of the balance, your AMREF Flying Doctors evacuation cover is registered for the trip duration. You receive the membership reference with your final dossier.
- 04
You travel
Your safari designer remains your single point of contact. The Nairobi ops desk is on WhatsApp 24/7 from departure to your final airport drop-off.
What travellers usually ask
- What happens if Imara Africa Safaris ceases trading?
- Imara is a bonded member of KATO and licensed by the TRA. Both bodies require members to maintain financial standards and offer protections for clients in the unlikely event of a member ceasing trading. We're happy to share our registration details and bonded-member status on request so you can verify directly.
- Is my safari deposit refundable?
- Your deposit (typically around 30%, though it varies by safari type and what you agree with your safari curator) is refundable for 30 days after booking, less any non-refundable supplier deposits (gorilla permits, some charter flights, single-supplement lodge nights). After 30 days the standard cancellation schedule applies. See our Cancellation Policy for the full sliding scale.
- Do you recommend travel insurance?
- Travel insurance is not mandatory, but we strongly recommend a comprehensive policy that covers trip cancellation, curtailment, lost luggage and medical care abroad. Note that every Imara safari already includes AMREF Flying Doctors emergency evacuation cover for the trip duration in East Africa, so your policy only needs to cover the rest.
- How do I pay securely?
- We accept payment three ways. Use the secure online link in your booking confirmation (hosted by Pesapal, DPO, Flutterwave or Paystack — all PCI-DSS compliant), pay by direct bank transfer to our company account, or pay via M-Pesa paybill. We never ask for card details by email or chat.
- What's not included in my safari price?
- Our safari quote bundles in everything listed under Inclusions on your itinerary. The following are typically excluded so you can budget for them separately:
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