Terms of Use — Travellers

Article 1. Purpose and scope

These Terms of Use (TOU) govern the use of the TerangaGuest platform, accessible at www.teranguest.com, operated by Universal Technologies Africa SARL (UTA). They apply to any person (the Traveller) who browses the platform, creates an account or makes a booking.

Use of the platform implies full acceptance of these TOU. Travellers who do not accept all or part of the TOU must refrain from using the platform.

Article 2. Definitions

• Platform: the TerangaGuest website and mobile applications
• UTA: Universal Technologies Africa SARL, operator of the Platform
• Traveller: any individual using the Platform
• Partner: any provider listed on the Platform (hotel, villa, car rental, guide, etc.)
• Booking: any transaction confirmed between a Traveller and a Partner through the Platform
• Account: the personal area created by the Traveller on the Platform

Article 3. UTA’s role — Intermediation

UTA acts as a technical intermediary between Travellers and Partners. UTA is not a party to the service contract (accommodation, rental, excursion) which is formed directly between the Traveller and the Partner upon booking confirmation.

Consequently, UTA is not liable for the quality, compliance or proper execution of services provided by Partners. The Platform undertakes, however, to use reasonable means to verify the reliability of listed Partners.

Article 4. Account creation and management

• 4.1 Creating an account on the Platform is free. It requires providing accurate, complete and up-to-date information.
• 4.2 The Traveller guarantees the accuracy of the information provided and undertakes to update it in case of change.
• 4.3 Login credentials are strictly personal and confidential. The Traveller is solely responsible for the use of their account.
• 4.4 In case of loss or theft of credentials, the Traveller must immediately notify UTA to allow suspension of the account.
• 4.5 UTA reserves the right to suspend or delete any account in case of violation of these TOU, fraudulent use, or behaviour harming the Platform or other users.

Article 5. Booking process

• 5.1 The Traveller selects a service (accommodation, rental, excursion, etc.), a date and the number of persons concerned.
• 5.2 The Platform displays the total price including all applicable taxes and any service fees.
• 5.3 The booking is confirmed after payment validation by the Traveller and acceptance by the Partner. Confirmation is sent by email and SMS within 30 seconds of payment.
• 5.4 The Traveller acknowledges having read, before booking confirmation, the characteristics of the service, the total price, the applicable cancellation terms, and the identity of the Partner.

Article 6. Prices and payment methods

• 6.1 Prices displayed on the Platform are in FCFA, inclusive of all taxes. Indicative conversions to other currencies may be displayed but only the FCFA price is binding.
• 6.2 Payment is made exclusively online via methods offered on the Platform: Wave, Orange Money, Free Money, Visa and Mastercard, American Express, PayPal.
• 6.3 Transactions are secured by SSL/TLS encryption and PCI DSS compliant for card payments.
• 6.4 For bookings over FCFA 500,000, a two-instalment payment may be offered: 50% at booking, 50% thirty days before arrival.
• 6.5 If payment is rejected for any reason, the booking is not confirmed and no obligation is created between the parties.

Article 7. Cancellations, modifications and refunds

• 7.1 Each Partner sets its own cancellation policy, classified in three levels: flexible, moderate, strict. The applicable policy is clearly displayed before booking confirmation.
• 7.2 The Traveller may cancel or modify a booking from their personal area, under the terms of the applicable policy.
• 7.3 Refunds are processed within 48 hours of cancellation validation. The actual credit time depends on the payment method: immediate for mobile money, 3 to 5 business days for cards, up to 7 days for PayPal.
• 7.4 In case of cancellation by the Partner (unavailability, overbooking, force majeure), UTA intervenes to offer an equivalent replacement or full refund. No additional fees are charged to the Traveller.

Article 8. TerangaGuest Traveller Guarantee

UTA commits to intervene in favour of the Traveller in the following cases:

• Accommodation not matching the description upon arrival
• Service unilaterally cancelled by the Partner less than 48h before delivery
• No check-in or key provided on arrival without justification
• Manifestly insufficient hygiene or safety conditions

Article 9. Traveller obligations

The Traveller undertakes to:

• Respect property and persons during the service (proper use of accommodation, respect for neighbours and host rules)
• Present themselves at the agreed dates and times with valid ID
• Pay any additional fees billed directly by the Partner (minibar, excessive cleaning fees, damages)
• Not use the Platform for illegal or unethical purposes
• Not make fictitious bookings, fraudulent tests or system manipulation

Article 10. Reviews and comments

• 10.1 Travellers who have completed a stay may publish a review about the Partner. Reviews must be honest, factual and respectful.
• 10.2 UTA reserves the right to moderate reviews that are insulting, defamatory, racist, promotional, or manifestly unfounded.
• 10.3 Published reviews engage solely the responsibility of their authors. UTA does not endorse the opinions expressed by Travellers.

Article 11. Intellectual property

• 11.1 All content on the Platform (text, images, logos, interface, source code) is the property of UTA or its partners and is protected by copyright and Senegalese law no. 2008-09 of 25 January 2008.
• 11.2 Any reproduction, representation, distribution or adaptation, in whole or in part, without prior written authorisation of UTA, is strictly forbidden.
• 11.3 The TerangaGuest trademark and associated logo are the exclusive property of UTA and registered with the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI).

Article 12. Personal data protection

UTA processes Travellers’ personal data in accordance with Senegalese law no. 2008-12 of 25 January 2008 and the recommendations of the Personal Data Protection Commission (CDP).

Detailed terms are set out in the Privacy Policy available on the Platform. The Traveller notably has rights of access, rectification, erasure, opposition, restriction, portability and withdrawal of consent.

Article 13. Limitation of liability

• 13.1 UTA uses all reasonable means to ensure proper functioning of the Platform. However, UTA does not guarantee that the Platform will be free of errors, interruptions or technical failures.
• 13.2 UTA is not liable for indirect damages, including loss of business, loss of opportunity, or moral damage resulting from use or inability to use the Platform.
• 13.3 UTA’s liability, whatever the cause, is in any event limited to the amount of the booking concerned.

Article 14. Force majeure

UTA cannot be held liable for non-performance or improper performance of its obligations in case of force majeure, including natural disaster, pandemic, act of war, general strike, government decision, widespread telecommunications failure.

Article 15. Modification of the TOU

UTA reserves the right to modify these TOU at any time. Modifications take effect upon publication on the Platform. Travellers with an account are informed by email of any substantial modification.

The TOU applicable to a booking are those in force at the time of booking confirmation.

Article 16. Governing law and jurisdiction

These TOU are governed by Senegalese law. In case of dispute, the parties will seek an amicable solution. Failing that, exclusive jurisdiction is attributed to the Dakar Commercial Court, subject to mandatory consumer law provisions.

Article 17. Contact

By using the Platform, the Traveller acknowledges having read and accepted these Terms of Use.