TRIP TIMES
As all trips are weather-dependent and subject to operational requirements, meeting, pick-up, departure and return times are subject to change and may vary from the time originally booked.
The time selected during the booking process constitutes an operational scheduling slot only and does not constitute a guaranteed meeting, departure or return time.
Apex Shark Expeditions reserves the right to advance, delay, shorten, extend, combine, substitute, reschedule or cancel any trip due to weather conditions, sea conditions, wildlife activity, harbour operations, vessel availability, staffing requirements, safety considerations, mechanical issues or any other operational requirement.
Guests are required to maintain flexibility for the entire day on the booked date and acknowledge that departure times may be amended with limited notice. Guests who are unable to accommodate schedule amendments may be treated as voluntary cancellation, and the standard cancellation policy shall apply.
DAY BEFORE CONFIRMATION
It is important to contact us the day before after 14h30 and before 16h00 to confirm exact timings should you not receive these via email or WhatsApp. The onus is on you to contact us.
TRANSFER GUESTS
Guests will be collected from their hotel. The exact times will be confirmed with you the day before.
Please double-check that you have given us the correct hotel details. If you are booked under a different name from the name booked, please inform us.
LATE ARRIVAL
Planes and trains do not wait. Neither do boats.
Any guests not present at the confirmed meeting point and time will regrettably be left behind. There is no refund, credit or rescheduling for guests who miss the boat due to late arrival, incorrect travel arrangements, traffic delays, navigation errors, missed transfers, or any other reason beyond Apex Shark Expeditions' control.
DIRECTIONS
Apex Shark Expeditions, Simon’s Town Boardwalk Centre, Corner Wharf & St Georges (Main) Street, Simon’s Town
Take the M3 Southbound highway towards Muizenberg. (It will be best to get directions from the hotel to the highway).
Follow the M3 until the freeway ends. Take the right turn at the end of the freeway, to Ou Kaapse Weg (M64), turn right, passing Silvermine Nature Reserve.
At the foot of Ou Kaapse Weg, proceed straight, passing through three traffic lights with two shopping malls on your right. At the third traffic light proceed straight up the hill onto Glencairn Expressway/Blackhill Express (M6).
At the bottom of Glencairn Expressway, turn right at the traffic lights towards Simon’s Town.
Upon entering Simon’s Town, you will pass the train station on the left side.
Approximately 1 kilometer from here, turn left into Wharf Street.
This will take you into the large parking lot with the Simon’s Town Pier in front. This is a paid parking.
The Apex Shark Expeditions shop is in Simon’s Town Boardwalk shopping center on your right. We are situated above Bertha’s restaurant inside the center.
Google GPS Coordinates: -34.193231, 18.432711
WHAT TO BRING
Dress in layers, warm weather jacket, closed shoes, beanie, scarf, hat/cap, polarized sunglasses, towel, bathing costume (under your clothes), sunblock and camera.
If you are prone to motion sickness, seasick bracelets are available instore to purchase– these are great! And work instantly.
For your enjoyment of the trip, we recommend that you do not overindulge in alcohol the night before, as this may result in you being very seasick the next day.
CANCELLATION POLICY
If the trip is cancelled due to inclement weather, sea conditions, harbour restrictions or safety concerns, there is no charge. This decision is made solely by the skipper and Apex Shark Expeditions management and is based on wind, swell, sea state and operational conditions.
No third-party weather forecast, weather application, online forecast service or guest opinion shall override the operational decision of Apex Shark Expeditions.
We will try to reschedule you if we have availability. Should you agree to an alternative date or departure time, this constitutes a confirmed booking, and the cancellation policy applies from that point onward.
1–5 Guests:
30 days or more before the start date:
A full refund less than 3.5% banking and transaction fees.
Less than 30 days before the start date:
50% of the fee.
Less than 15 days before the start date:
100% of the fee.
No-show or late arrival:
100% of the fee.
6+ Guests and Exclusive Charters:
Refunded on bad weather cancellation less 3.5% banking and transaction fees.
Exclusive charters and group bookings may be subject to additional cancellation terms communicated at the time of booking.
FORCE MAJEURE
Apex Shark Expeditions shall not be liable for any cancellation, delay, amendment, interruption or failure to perform arising directly or indirectly from circumstances beyond its reasonable control.
Such circumstances include but are not limited to:
Pandemic or epidemic; Public health emergencies; Government restrictions; International or domestic travel restrictions; Border closures; Airspace closures; Harbour closures; Port restrictions; War or threat of war; Armed conflict; Terrorism; Civil unrest; Riots; Political instability; Strikes and labour disputes; Fuel shortages; Utility interruptions; Cyber incidents; Natural disasters; Extreme weather conditions; Fire; Flood; Earthquake; Marine pollution incidents; Regulatory action; Wildlife protection restrictions; Mechanical failure; Vessel damage;
Any other event beyond the reasonable control of Apex Shark Expeditions.
In such circumstances Apex Shark Expeditions may, at its discretion, offer a rescheduled departure, booking credit and or voucher, less any non-recoverable costs, transaction fees and administrative charges.
All payments are taken in ZAR and refunds are processed in ZAR. Apex Shark Expeditions has no control over exchange rate fluctuations or foreign bank charges.
FITNESS AND MEDICAL CONDITIONS
Guests participate entirely at their own risk and are responsible for ensuring that they are physically fit and medically capable of participating in a marine-based activity. Guests who are pregnant suffer from significant medical conditions, injuries, mobility limitations, heart conditions, epilepsy, back or neck problems, or any condition that may be aggravated by sea travel should seek medical advice before booking.
Apex Shark Expeditions reserves the right to refuse participation where participation may endanger the guest, crew, other passengers or the vessel. No refund shall be due in such circumstances.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
Guests making travel and booking arrangements with Apex Shark Expeditions are strongly advised to obtain comprehensive travel insurance.
Any loss of funds due to cancellation within the penalty period resulting from illness, hospitalisation, accident, family emergency, travel disruption, weather-related interruption, force majeure events, missed flights or other unforeseen circumstances must be claimed from your travel insurance provider.
Apex Shark Expeditions will provide supporting documentation where reasonably required for a claim.
NO SIGHTINGS POLICY
Wildlife sightings, shark sightings, marine mammal sightings, specific species sightings, behavioural interactions and photographic opportunities can never be guaranteed.
There are no refunds for no sightings.
If a shark has been sighted from the boat, this is considered a successful trip.
At the discretion of the General Manager, a two-year voucher for a complimentary trip may be extended for a no-sight trip.
The voucher is not transferable. Your name and passport number will be recorded on the voucher.
The voucher has no cash value and may not be exchanged for a refund.
GUEST CONDUCT
Guests are required to follow all safety instructions issued by the skipper and crew.
Apex Shark Expeditions reserves the right to refuse boarding or terminate participation where a guest:
Appears intoxicated; Is under the influence of drugs; Behaves aggressively or abusively; Endangers themselves, crew or other guests; Refuses to comply with safety instructions.
No refund shall be due in such circumstances.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
Apex Shark Expeditions shall not be liable for any indirect or consequential losses arising from cancellation, delay, rescheduling, amendment of departure times, wildlife activity or operational changes.
This includes but is not limited to flights, accommodation, tours, transfers, car hire, missed connections, loss of earnings, loss of enjoyment or additional travel expenses incurred by guests.
PAYMENT OPTIONS ACCEPTED
Payment may be made via Visa, MasterCard and Amex for online bookings.
Bank transfers will be accepted for direct bookings into the Apex Shark Expeditions bank account, the details of which will be provided upon request.
We do not accept cash.
CREDIT CARD ACQUIRING AND SECURITY
Credit card transactions will be acquired for Apex Shark Expeditions via PayGenius, the approved payment gateway.
PayGenius uses Secure Socket Layer 3 (SSL3) encryption, and no credit card details are stored on the website.
MERCHANT OUTLET COUNTRY AND TRANSACTION CURRENCY
The merchant outlet country at the time of presenting payment options to the cardholder is South Africa.
The transaction currency is South African Rand (ZAR).