Terms & Conditions

Terms & Conditions

About us

Operating for three decades, EcoTraining is the pioneer and leader in Africa’s safari guide and wildlife training. The safari industry widely recognises EcoTraining’s credibility and standard of excellence in nature guide training. We offer accredited career courses, gap year and sabbatical programmes, nature programmes, high school and university study abroad programmes, custom courses, and on-site professional guide training at safari lodges. All courses are run directly from EcoTraining’s unfenced bush camps in prime wilderness areas across South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, and Zimbabwe. EcoTraining has trained 14 000 people from 33 different countries worldwide.

Use of Site

You may only use this site to browse the content, make legitimate purchases, and shall not use this site for any other purposes, including without limitation, to make any speculative, false or fraudulent purchase. This site and the content provided on this site may not be copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded, posted, transmitted, or distributed. ‘Deep-linking’, ’embedding’, or using analogous technology is strictly prohibited. Unauthorized use of this site and/or the materials contained on this site may violate applicable copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property laws or other laws.

Disclaimer of Warranty

The contents of this site are provided “as is” without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including but not limited to warranties of merchantability, fitness for a purpose, and non-infringement.

The owner of this site, the authors of these contents, and in general anybody connected to this site in any way, from now on collectively called “Providers”, assume no responsibility for errors or omissions in these contents.

The Providers further do not warrant, guarantee or make any representation regarding the safety, reliability, accuracy, correctness, or completeness of these contents. The Providers shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, general, special, incidental, or consequential damages (including -without limitation- data loss, lost revenues, and lost profit) which may result from the inability to use or the correct or incorrect use, abuse, or misuse of these contents, even if the Providers have been informed of the possibilities of such damages. The Providers cannot assume any obligation or responsibility.

The use of these contents is forbidden where the law does not allow this disclaimer to take full effect.

Our Rights

We reserve the right to:

• modify or withdraw, temporarily or permanently, the Website (or any part of) with or without notice to you and you confirm that we shall not be liable to you or any third party for any modification to or withdrawal of the Website;
• and/or change these Conditions from time to time, and your continued use of the Website (or any part of) following such change shall be deemed to be your acceptance of such change. It is your responsibility to check regularly to determine whether the Conditions have been changed. If you do not agree to any change to the Conditions then you must immediately stop using the Website.
• We will use our reasonable endeavours to maintain the Website. The Website is subject to change from time to time. You will not be eligible for any compensation because you cannot use any part of the Website or because of a failure, suspension or withdrawal of all or part of the Website due to circumstances beyond our control.

Privacy Policy

We are committed to protecting your privacy. This privacy policy applies to all the web pages related to this website.

All the information gathered in the online forms on the website is used to personally identify users that subscribe to this service. The information will not be used for anything other than which is stated in the Terms & Conditions of use for this service. None of the information will be sold or made available to anyone.

The Site may collect certain information about your visit, such as the name of the Internet service provider and the Internet Protocol (IP) address through which you access the Internet; the date and time you access the Site; the pages that you access while at the Site and the Internet address of the Web site from which you linked directly to our site. This information is used to help improve the Site, analyze trends, and administer the Site.

We may need to change this policy from time to time in order to address new issues and reflect changes on our site. We will post those changes here so that you will always know what information we gather, how we might use that information, and whether we will disclose that information to anyone. Please refer back to this policy regularly. If you have any questions or concerns about our privacy policy, please send us an E-mail.

By using this website, you signify your acceptance of our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with this policy, please do not use our site. Your continued use of the website following the posting of changes to these terms will mean that you accept those changes.

Cookie/Tracking Technology

The Site may use cookie and tracking technology depending on the features offered. Cookie and tracking technology are useful for gathering information such as browser type and operating system, tracking the number of visitors to the Site, and understanding how visitors use the Site. Cookies can also help customize the Site for visitors. Personal information cannot be collected via cookies and other tracking technology; however, if you previously provided personally identifiable information, cookies may be tied to such information. Aggregate cookie and tracking information may be shared with third parties.

Third Party Links

In an attempt to provide increased value to our Users, we may provide links to other websites or resources. You acknowledge and agree that we are not responsible for the availability of such external sites or resources, and do not endorse and are not responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for the privacy practices or the content (including misrepresentative or defamatory content) of such websites, including (without limitation) any advertising, products or other materials or services on or available from such websites or resources, nor for any damage, loss or offence caused or alleged to be caused by, or in connection with, the use of or reliance on any such content, goods or services available on such external sites or resources.

Product availability

Availability will have to be checked before making a booking. Either contact the Sales department through email, website or telephone. Once availability is confirmed, the Sales department sends the necessary booking documents and registration forms to complete. A 25% deposit is required to confirm a booking, and the balance of 75% and any transfer fees must be settled four weeks before the start of a course.

Refunds Policy

Cancellation Policy (should you cancel your booking, the below cancellation policy will apply):

• 5 – 8 weeks before the start of the course, then 25% of the full course rate will be forfeited
• 28 to 34 days before the start of the course, then 40% of the full course rate will be forfeited
• 21 – 27 days before the start of the course, then 60% of the full course rate will be forfeited
• 14 – 20 days before the start of the course, then 70% of the full course rate will be forfeited
• Less than 14 days before the start of the course, then 100% of the full course rate will be forfeited
• The fee for all EcoTraining Online courses is non-refundable

An administration % fee of the full course rate will be charged for amendments to bookings and/or bookings canceled 9 weeks or more before the start of the course. We will only accept cancellation writing.

No refunds will be issued for missed or unused services. In the event of sickness, death, family emergency, or similar, EcoTraining may “bank” a course for 12 months (from cancellation date), during which time you can return to take up unused services. Failure to do so will result in forfeiture of the full course fee and monies already paid.  Dates are subject to availability and supporting documents are required (medical certificate etc.). All associated costs of returning to the course will be at your own expense.

The responsibility remains with the traveller to ensure they are fully aware of the most current immigration laws and visa requirements of the country/ countries they intend visiting. EcoTraining cannot assist in this regard. Please, will you contact your preferred travel professional for further advice?

Disclosure of outlet country at time of payment

South Africa

Standard Bank

Payment Options and Pricing

 All transactions will be processed in South African Rands (ZAR).

Credit Card

We accept MasterCard and Visa credit cards only. We, unfortunately, do not accept American Express and Diners Club cards. If you do not have a credit card please utilise one of the other payment options. You can find more information on other payment options by e-mailing enquiries@ecotraining.co.za or phoning the office at +27 (0)13 752 2532.

Security Policy

1. Virtual Card Services process all credit card transactions. All credit card transactions are 128-bit Secure Socket Layers (SSL) encrypted. The company registration documents and the site’s registered domain name are checked and verified by Thawte, ensuring the cardholder and merchant that nobody can impersonate VCS to obtain confidential information.
2. Virtual Card Services is committed to providing secure online services. All encryption complies with international standards. Encryption is used to protect the transmission of personal information when completing online transactions. Virtual Card Services Internet servers are protected by firewalls and intrusion detection systems.
3. The Merchant does not have access to credit details.
4. Virtual Card Services continually reviews and enhances its security in line with technological changes.

Monitoring

We have the right, but not the obligation, to monitor any activity and content associated with the Website. We may investigate any reported violation of these Conditions or complaints and take any action that we deem appropriate (which may include, but is not limited to, issuing warnings, suspending, terminating or attaching conditions to your access and/or removing any materials from the Website).

Law

The Conditions will be exclusively governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of South Africa whose Courts will have exclusive jurisdiction in any dispute, save that we have the right, at our sole discretion, to commence and pursue proceedings in alternative jurisdictions.

Updating of these Terms and Conditions

We reserve the right to change, modify, add to or remove from portions or the whole of these Terms and Conditions from time to time. Changes to these Terms and Conditions will become effective upon such changes being posted to this Website. It is the User’s obligation to periodically check these Terms and Conditions at the Website for changes or updates. The User’s continued use of this Website following the posting of changes or updates will be considered notice of the User’s acceptance to abide by and be bound by these Terms and Conditions, including such changes or updates.

Consent

I understand that all the designs and trademarks are registered to EcoTraining and hereby accept the terms and conditions. I undertake not to copy/duplicate the trademarks and designs directly or indirectly in anyway and understand the legal implications thereof. Should I be found to be in violation of this agreement I understand that I will be held liable for all legal costs incurred by EcoTraining for any civil action or any legal action deemed necessary against me.

Contact Details

Telephone
+27 (0)13 752 2532

Email
enquiries@ecotraining.co.za

Postal address:
PO Box 19122
Nelspruit
1200
South Africa

Physical address:
Cnr Ehmke and Van der Merwe Streets
The Outpost Centre, Shop 4
Nelspruit
South Africa

Last modified 29/11/2017

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POPIA & Privacy Policy

Website Privacy

& Cookies Policy

The Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (“POPI”) came into complete commencement on 1 July 2021, in this regard we have a number of obligations and duties in terms of POPI that we must comply with. The protection of your personal information is a high priority for us and we have taken steps to ensure that your personal information is protected and remains private.  

In addition to this document serving as our privacy policy, this document will also serve as our data subject notification as contemplated in section 18 of POPI. In this regard, this document will inform you of what personal information we collect, why we collect it, how we use it and what safety measures are in place to protect it.  

Where we refer to “process”, it means how we collect, use, store, make available, destroy, update, disclose, or otherwise deal with your personal information. As a general rule we will only process your personal information if this is required to deliver or offer a service, provide a product or carry out a transaction. 

We may combine your personal information and use the combined personal information for any of the purposes stated in this Privacy Policy. 

In this document any reference to “we” or “us” or “our” is reference Ecotraining (Pty) Ltd.

If you use our services, goods and/or products, you agree that we may process your personal information as explained under this Privacy Policy.  

We may change this Privacy Policy from time to time if the law or our business practices requires it. 

The version of the Privacy Policy displayed on our website at the time of your interaction with us will be applicable.  

What is personal information? 

Personal information refers to any information that identifies you or specifically relates to you. Personal information includes, but is not limited to, the following information about you: 

Age	Financial history	Personal views
Belief	Gender	Physical address
Birth	Identity number	Physical health
Biometric	Language	Pregnancy
Colour	Location information	Race
Conscience	Marital Status	Religion
Correspondence	Mental Health	Sex
Criminal history	Medical History	Sexual orientation
Culture	Name	Social origin
Disability	National Origin	Symbol
Education	Online identifier	Telephone number
E-mail address	Other particular assignment	Well being
Employment history	Personal opinions
Ethnic origin	Personal preferences

Is the supply of the personal information voluntary or mandatory? 

The supply of certain personal information is mandatory, meaning we have to collect this personal information from you by law. If you do not supply this information, we cannot comply with our legal obligations. In this regard, if you do not supply this personal information we cannot do business with you. We collect personal information as is required by the following legislation: 

Basic Conditions of Employment Act, No 75 of 1997

Continuing Education and Training Act (previously known as Further Education and Training Colleges Act) 16 of 2006

Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act, No. 130 of 1993

Credit Agreement Act, No. 75 of 1980

The Criminal Procedure Act, No. 51 of 1977

Debt Collectors Act, No. 114 of 1998

Employment Equity Act, No. 55 of 1998

Financial Intelligence Centre Act, No. 38 of 2001

Higher Education Act 101 of 1997

Income Tax Act 58 of 1962

Labour Relations Act, No 66 of 1995

National Credit Act, No. 34 of 2005

NQF Act No 67 of 2008

Pension Funds Act, No. 24 of 1956

Skills Development Act 97 of 1998

Unemployment Insurance Act, No. 63 of 2001

Financial Advisory and Intermediary Service Act, No. 37 of 2002

Occupational Health and Safety Act No. 85 of 1993

Prevention of Organised Crime Act No. 121 of 1998

In other instances the supply of personal information is voluntary, which means there is no law imposed on us to collect this personal information. Even though there is no law that imposes the collection of the personal information, we require the personal information to deliver the products and/or services to you. In this regard, if you do not supply the personal information, we cannot do business with you. 

Personal information we collect about you:

We may collect the following personal and special personal information:

• Full name, ID/passport number
• Country of origin/nationality  
• Contact details (email address, phone number, physical address)
• Emergency contact information
• Educational background and qualifications
• Medical or health information (if required for participation in activities)
• Biometric data (if applicable)
• Photographs and video footage during training sessions
• Payment and financial information
• Any other relevant information necessary for training, accommodation, or administration

When will we process your personal information? 

We will only process your personal information for lawful purposes relating to our business if the following applies:

• if you have consented thereto.
• if a person legally authorised by you, the law, or a court, has consented thereto.
• if it is necessary to conclude or perform under a contract, we have with you.
• if the law requires or permits it.

• if it is required to protect or pursue your, our or a third party’s legitimate interest.
• For registration and enrolment in courses
• For communication and updates regarding training programmes
• For ensuring safety and health during training
• For providing accommodation and dietary arrangements
• For processing payments and issuing invoices
• For Marketing (with your consent)

What is special personal information? 

Special personal information is personal information about the following: 

Biometric information	Philosophical beliefs	Sex life
Criminal behaviour	Political persuasion	Trade union membership
Ethnic origin	Race
Health	Religious beliefs

When will we process your special personal information? 

We may process your special personal information in the following circumstances: 

• if you have consented to the processing. 
• if the information is being used for any Human resource or payroll requirement. 
• if the processing is needed to create, use, or protect a right or obligation in law. 

• if the processing is for statistical or research purposes and all legal conditions are met. 
• if the special personal information was made public by you. 
• if the processing is required by law. 
• if racial information is processed, and the processing is required to identify you; and / or if health information is processed, and the processing is to determine your insurance risk, or to comply with an insurance policy or to enforce an insurance right or obligation. 

When and from where we obtain personal information about you? 

We may collect personal information about you from the following sources: 

• We may collect personal information directly from you. 
• We may collect personal information from a public record. 
• We may collect personal information from an area where you have deliberately made it public. 
• We may collect information about you based on your use of our products, services, or service channels.  

• We may collect information about you based on how you engage or interact with us such as via our support desk, emails, letters, telephone calls and surveys. 
• We may collect personal information from another source if you give us consent to do so.  
• Directly from you (via application forms, enrolment, email, or phone communication)
• Through our website and online platforms
• From third-party service providers (with your consent)
• During on-site activities or field training sessions

If the law requires us to do so, we will ask for your consent before collecting personal information about you from third parties. 

The third parties from whom we may collect your personal information include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• Partners of our company for any of the purposes identified in this Privacy Policy. 
• your spouse, dependents, partners, employer, and other similar sources. 
• attorneys, tracing agents, debt collectors and other persons that assist with the enforcement of agreements. 
• payment processing services providers, merchants, banks, and other persons that assist with the processing of your payment instructions, like EFT transaction partners. 
• insurers, brokers, other financial institutions, or other organisations that assist with insurance and assurance underwriting, the providing of insurance and assurance policies and products, the assessment of insurance and assurance claims and other related purposes. 

• law enforcement and fraud prevention agencies and other persons tasked with the prevention and prosecution of crime; 
• regulatory authorities, industry ombudsman, governmental departments, local and international tax authorities. 
• trustees, Executors or Curators appointed by a court of law. 
• our service providers, agents and sub-contractors like couriers and other persons we use to offer and provide products and services to you. 
• courts of law or tribunals. 

Reasons we need to process your personal information. 

We will process your personal information for the following reasons: 

• to provide you with products, goods, and services  
• to market our products, goods, and services to you. 
• to respond to your enquiries and complaints. 

• to comply with legislative, regulatory, risk and compliance requirements (including directives, sanctions, and rules), voluntary and involuntary codes of conduct and industry agreements or to fulfil reporting requirements and information requests. 
• to conduct market and behavioural research, including scoring and analysis to determine if you qualify for products and services or to determine your credit or insurance risk. 
• to develop, test and improve products and services for you. 
• for historical, statistical and research purposes, like market segmentation. 
• to process payment instruments. 

• to create, manufacture and print payment issues (like a payslip) 
• to enable us to deliver goods, documents, or notices to you. 
• for security, identity verification and to check the accuracy of your personal information. 
• to communicate with you and carry out your instructions and requests. 
• for customer satisfaction surveys, promotional offerings. 

• insurance and assurance underwriting and administration. 
• to process or consider or assess insurance or assurance claims. 
• to provide insurance and assurance policies and products and related services. 
• to enable you to take part in customer loyalty reward programmes, to determine your qualification for participation, earning of reward points, determining your rewards level, monitoring your buying behaviour with our rewards partners to allocate the correct points or inform you of appropriate products, goods, and services you may be interested in or to inform our reward partners about your purchasing behaviour. 
• to enable you to take part in and make use of value-added products and services. 

• to assess our lending and insurance risks; and / or 
• for any other related purposes. 

Collection of Children’s Personal Information (Excursions and Activities)

EcoTraining may collect, process, and store personal information of minors (children     under the age of 18) for the purposes of coordinating and managing participation in excursions, field-based educational activities, or related events.

This may include:

• Full name and age of the child
• Medical conditions or allergies
• Emergency contact details
• Signed parental or guardian consent forms

In accordance with Section 34 of POPIA, such information is only collected with explicit, written consent from the parent or legal guardian. 

The data will be used solely to:

• Ensure the safety and wellbeing of the child
• Communicate effectively with guardians
• Plan and manage field activities or offsite excursions

EcoTraining will:

• Limit access to authorised personnel only
• Retain this information only as long as necessary for its intended purpose
• Ensure the secure handling and storage of all child-related personal data

Parents or guardians have the right to:

• Access the personal information provided
• Request correction or deletion
• Withdraw consent at any time (subject to legal or safety requirements)

How we use your personal information for marketing 

• We will use your personal information to our products and services to you. 
• We will do this in person, by post, telephone, or electronic channels such as SMS, email, and fax. 

• If you are not our client, or in any other instances where the law requires, we will only market to you by electronic communications with your consent. 
• In all cases you can request us to stop sending marketing communications to you at any time. 

When how and with whom we share your personal information? 

In general, we will only share your personal information if any one or more of the following apply: 

• if you have consented to this. 

• if it is necessary to conclude or perform under a contract, we have with you; 
• if the law requires it; and / or 
• if it’s necessary to protect or pursue your, our or a third party’s legitimate interest. 
• Accredited training and certification bodies
• Emergency services (where necessary)
• Accommodation and catering providers
• Third-party service providers under strict confidentiality agreements

Under what circumstances will we transfer your information to other countries? 

We will only transfer your personal information to third parties in another country in any one or more of the following circumstances: 

• where your personal information will be adequately protected under the other country’s laws or an agreement with the third-party recipient. 
• where the transfer is necessary to enter into or perform under a contract with you, or a contract with a third party that is in your interest. 
• where you have consented to the transfer; and / or 
• where it is not reasonably practical to obtain your consent, the transfer is in your interest. 

This transfer will happen within the requirements and safeguards of the law. Where possible, the party processing your personal information in the other country will agree to apply the same level of protection as available by law in your country or if the other country’s laws provide better protection the other country’s laws would be agreed to and applied. 

How we secure your personal information 

• We will take appropriate and reasonable technical and organisational steps to protect your personal information according to industry best practices. Our security measures (including physical, technological, and procedural safeguards) will be appropriate and reasonable. This includes the following:
• keeping our systems secure (like monitoring access and usage);
• storing our records securely.
• controlling the access to our buildings, systems and/or records; and

• safely destroying or deleting records.
• Ensure compliance with best practice standards.

How long do we keep your personal information? 

We will keep your personal information for as long as: 

• the law requires us to keep it. 

• a contract between you and us requires us to keep it. 
• you have consented for us keeping it. 
• we are required to keep it to achieve the purposes listed in this Privacy Policy. 
• we require it for statistical or research purposes. 
• a code of conduct requires us to keep it; and / or 

• we require it for our lawful business purposes. 

Take note: We may keep your personal information even if you no longer have a relationship with us, for the historical data that may be required by your employer or employee. 

Our cookie policy 

A cookie is a small piece of data sent from our websites or applications to your computer or device hard drive or Internet browser where it is saved. The cookie contains information to personalise your experience on our websites or applications and may improve your experience on the websites or applications. The cookie will also identify your device, like the computer or smart phone. 

By using our websites or applications you agree that cookies may be forwarded from the relevant website or application to your computer or device. The cookie will enable us to know that you have visited the website or application before and will identify you. We may also use the cookie to prevent fraud and for analytics. 

Your duties and rights about the personal information we have about you:

You must provide proof of identity when enforcing the rights below. 

You must inform us when your personal information changes. 

Please contact our Information Officer to give effect to any of the below rights. 

You have the right to request access to the personal information we have about you by contacting us. This includes requesting: 

• confirmation that we hold your personal information. 
• a copy or description of the record containing your personal information; and 
• the identity or categories of third parties who have had access to your personal information. 

We will attend to requests for access to personal information within a reasonable time. You may be required to pay a reasonable fee to receive copies or descriptions of records, or information about third parties. We will inform you of the fee before attending to your request. 

Please note that the law may limit your right to access information. 

You have the right to request for us to correct or delete the personal information we have about you if it is inaccurate, irrelevant, excessive, out of date, incomplete, misleading, obtained unlawfully or we are no longer authorised to keep it. You must inform us of your request in writing. It may take up to 15 business days for the change to reflect on our systems. We may request documents from you to verify the change in personal information. 

A specific agreement that you have entered into with us may determine how you must change your personal information provided at the time when you entered into the specific agreement. Please adhere to these requirements. If the law requires us to keep the personal information, it will not be deleted upon your request. The deletion of certain personal information may lead to the termination of your business relationship with us. 

You may object on reasonable grounds to the processing of your personal information. 

We will not be able to give effect to your objection if the processing of your personal information was and is permitted by law; you have provided consent to the processing and our processing done according to your consent or the processing is necessary to conclude or perform under a contract with you. 

Where you have provided your consent for the processing of your personal information, you may withdraw your consent. If you withdraw your consent, we will explain the consequences to you. We may proceed to process your personal information even if you have withdrawn your consent if the law permits or requires it. It may take up to 15 business days for the change to reflect on our systems, during this time we may still process your personal information. You must inform us of any objection in writing.  

You have a right to file a complaint with us or any Regulator with jurisdiction about an alleged contravention of the protection of your personal information by us. We will address your complaint as far as possible. 

The contact details for the Information Regulator is as follows: 

Email:	POPIAComplaints@inforegulator.org.za
Postal Address:	P.O. Box 31533, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, 2017
Physical Address:	JD House, 27 Stiemens Street, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, 2001.

How can you get in touch with us? 

For any queries in relation to this letter or our processing of your personal information in general, you can contact our Information Officer and/or Deputy Information Officer at the following details: 

Name:	Arno Dewald Fourie
Contact Number:	(083) 957 9470
Email Address:	fm@ecotraining.co.za
Physical Address:	Shop 5A, Jock n Java Centre, Nelspruit  Corner of Ehmke and Van Der Merwe Street, 1200

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