Zambezi Bike FestivalTerms & Conditions

By registering for, attending, or participating in the Zambezi Bike Festival, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions, including the indemnity and assumption of risk provisions below.

If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not register for or participate in the event.

The event is organized and delivered with the involvement of the following partners:

• Zambezi Bike Festival
• Save the Zambezi Foundation
• Thorn Tree House & Tented Camp
• Sponsors, conservation partners, landowners, staff, and volunteers

Participants must be physically fit and sufficiently experienced for off-road cycling in a remote outdoor environment.

Participants under 18 years of age must have written consent from a parent or legal guardian.

The Organizers reserve the right to refuse, suspend, or remove any participant whose conduct, equipment, or condition presents a safety risk.

The Zambezi Bike Festival is an adventure cycling event that may include cross-country, trail, gravel, and other off-road riding formats across natural terrain.

Route conditions may vary at any time due to weather, wildlife activity, erosion, mechanical obstacles, emergency changes, or operational decisions.

Participants expressly acknowledge that parts of the event may take place in or near a national park and in areas where wild animals may roam freely.

Coming across wild animals is not optional and is an inherent risk of participation.

By participating, each rider accepts that wildlife encounters may occur before, during, or after a ride, including on trails, access roads, accommodation grounds, aid stations, and staging areas.

• Mountain biking on natural terrain involves inherent risk, including falls, collisions, mechanical failure, uneven surfaces, loose gravel, steep descents, dust, mud, water crossings, heat, dehydration, and fatigue.
• Certain trails may be located within or adjacent to a national park and wildlife habitat.
• Participants understand that encounters with wild animals are a real and unavoidable risk of the event environment.
• Wild animals may include elephants, buffalo, antelope, reptiles, insects, and other species that may be dangerous, unpredictable, or territorial.
• The Organizers cannot guarantee the complete absence of wildlife on any trail, route, transfer section, accommodation area, or event space.

Each participant is personally responsible for their own conduct, decisions, hydration, nutrition, equipment, pacing, and general safety.

• Wear an approved helmet at all times while riding.
• Use a bicycle that is in safe working condition.
• Follow all route markings, marshal instructions, safety briefings, and wildlife-control directions.
• Ride within your skill level and stop immediately when instructed by event officials.
• Respect wildlife, the environment, local communities, and all conservation rules.
• Do not litter, disturb habitats, or leave marked trails unless directed by officials.
• Do not participate while under the influence of alcohol, narcotics, or any substance that may impair judgment or performance.

By participating, you confirm that you are medically fit to take part in the event and that you do so voluntarily.

You consent to receiving first aid, medical treatment, evacuation, rescue, or emergency transport if deemed necessary by the Organizers, medical teams, guides, marshals, or emergency responders.

Any related costs, unless expressly covered by the Organizers in writing, remain your responsibility.

You fully understand and voluntarily assume all risks associated with the event, whether known or unknown, foreseeable or unforeseeable, including serious injury, permanent disability, psychological trauma, property loss, animal encounters, or death.

This assumption of risk applies to all event activities, including riding, route reconnaissance, transfers, accommodation use, camping, parking, spectating, and participation in associated festival activities.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, you release, waive, discharge, and hold harmless the Organizers from and against any and all claims, demands, actions, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses arising out of or connected with your participation in the event.

You further agree to indemnify and keep indemnified the Organizers against any third-party claim arising from your acts, omissions, negligence, misconduct, breach of these Terms, damage to property, injury to persons, or unlawful behavior during the event.

This release and indemnity applies whether the claim arises in contract, delict/tort, statute, common law, or otherwise, except where liability cannot legally be excluded.

You are solely responsible for your bicycle, helmet, clothing, accessories, electronics, tools, transport items, and other personal property.

The Organizers are not liable for any theft, loss, damage, delay, or mechanical failure affecting your property, whether at the venue, accommodation, trails, transition zones, or transport points.

Participants must behave responsibly and respectfully toward other riders, staff, communities, wildlife, and the environment.

Any harassment, reckless riding, abusive conduct, intoxicated participation, environmental damage, or refusal to obey lawful instructions may result in immediate removal without refund.

The event supports conservation values and participants must not interfere with wildlife or damage the surrounding ecosystem.

By attending the event, you grant the Organizers the right to photograph, film, record, and use your name, likeness, image, voice, and race results for promotional, documentary, editorial, social media, and marketing purposes without additional compensation.

Entry fees are subject to the event’s registration and refund policy.

The Organizers may change routes, start times, formats, distances, categories, venues, or schedules where reasonably necessary for safety, operational, conservation, legal, or environmental reasons.

The Organizers may cancel, postpone, shorten, neutralize, or suspend the event due to weather, wildlife movement, force majeure, government directives, safety threats, or any condition making the event impractical or unsafe.

These Terms and Conditions shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Zambia.

Any dispute arising from or related to these Terms or the event shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the competent courts of Zambia, unless otherwise required by applicable law.