Visit Reserve

Privacy Policy

Last updated: 23 June 2026

Drie Valleyen Reserve respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, share, and protect personal information when you use this website or communicate with us.

By using this website or submitting information to us, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy.

1. Who We Are

This website is operated for Drie Valleyen Reserve, a permanent nature reserve situated in the Garden Route, South Africa.

For the purposes of this Privacy Policy, “Drie Valleyen Reserve”, “we”, “us”, or “our” refers to the reserve, its authorised representatives, trustees, team members, advisors, and service providers where applicable.

2. Purpose of this Privacy Policy

The purpose of this Privacy Policy is to explain:

  • what personal information we may collect;

  • how and why we collect it;

  • how we use and protect it;

  • when we may share it;

  • how long we keep it;

  • what rights you have in relation to your personal information.

We aim to process personal information responsibly, lawfully, and transparently in accordance with applicable South African privacy laws, including the Protection of Personal Information Act, 4 of 2013.

3. Personal Information We May Collect

We may collect personal information that you provide to us directly, including:

  • your name and surname;

  • email address;

  • phone number;

  • organisation, institution, or company name;

  • role or professional title;

  • enquiry details;

  • information relating to a proposed visit, collaboration, research request, educational activity, or conservation engagement;

  • any other information you choose to submit through the website or by email.

We may also collect limited technical information when you use the website, including:

  • IP address;

  • browser type;

  • device information;

  • pages visited;

  • time spent on the website;

  • referral source;

  • general location information derived from website analytics;

  • cookie and tracking information, where applicable.

4. How We Collect Personal Information

We may collect personal information when you:

  • complete a contact form on the website;

  • send us an email;

  • request information about the reserve;

  • enquire about visits, collaborations, research, education, or conservation activities;

  • subscribe to updates, newsletters, or communications, if available;

  • interact with our website;

  • communicate with us through third-party platforms or social media.

We may also collect information automatically through cookies, analytics tools, hosting systems, website security tools, or similar technologies.

5. Why We Use Personal Information

We may use personal information for the following purposes:

  • to respond to your enquiries;

  • to communicate with you;

  • to assess requests for visits, collaboration, research, educational involvement, or conservation engagement;

  • to manage approved visits or engagements with the reserve;

  • to maintain records of correspondence;

  • to improve the website and user experience;

  • to understand how visitors use the website;

  • to protect the website against misuse, spam, security threats, or unauthorised access;

  • to comply with legal, administrative, operational, or regulatory obligations;

  • to send updates or communications where you have requested or consented to receive them.

We will not use your personal information for purposes that are incompatible with the reason it was collected, unless permitted or required by law.

6. Legal Basis for Processing

We may process your personal information where:

  • you have given consent;

  • processing is necessary to respond to your enquiry or request;

  • processing is necessary for a legitimate operational, conservation, research, administrative, or communication purpose;

  • processing is necessary to comply with a legal obligation;

  • processing is necessary to protect our rights, property, website, users, or the reserve;

  • processing is otherwise permitted by applicable law.

7. Cookies and Website Analytics

This website may use cookies or similar technologies to improve functionality, analyse website traffic, and understand how visitors interact with the site.

Cookies are small files placed on your device when you visit a website. They may help the website remember certain preferences, improve performance, or provide analytics information.

We may use cookies for:

  • website functionality;

  • performance monitoring;

  • security;

  • analytics;

  • understanding visitor behaviour;

  • improving website content and layout.

You can adjust your browser settings to block, delete, or manage cookies. Some parts of the website may not work properly if cookies are disabled.

If third-party analytics tools are used, they may collect information in aggregated or anonymised form where possible.

8. Direct Marketing and Communications

We will only send you marketing, newsletter, or update communications where you have consented to receive them or where we are otherwise permitted by law.

You may unsubscribe from such communications at any time by using the unsubscribe option provided, where available, or by contacting us directly.

We do not sell your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.

9. Sharing of Personal Information

We may share personal information with trusted third parties where necessary for legitimate purposes, including:

  • website hosting providers;

  • website maintenance and development service providers;

  • email, communication, or form management providers;

  • analytics and security service providers;

  • professional advisors;

  • conservation, research, or educational partners, where relevant to your enquiry or approved engagement;

  • legal or regulatory authorities where required by law.

We will only share personal information where there is a lawful reason to do so and, where appropriate, will require third parties to handle the information responsibly and securely.

10. International Transfers

Some of our service providers, website tools, analytics platforms, or hosting systems may process or store information outside South Africa.

Where personal information is transferred outside South Africa, we will take reasonable steps to ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place and that the information is protected in a manner consistent with applicable privacy requirements.

11. Security of Personal Information

We take reasonable technical, organisational, and administrative measures to protect personal information against loss, misuse, unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.

These measures may include:

  • secure website hosting;

  • access controls;

  • password protection;

  • security monitoring;

  • software updates;

  • limiting access to personal information to authorised persons;

  • reasonable procedures for handling enquiries and records.

However, no website, email system, or online transmission is completely secure. You use the website and submit information at your own risk.

12. Retention of Personal Information

We will keep personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law.

Retention periods may depend on:

  • the nature of your enquiry;

  • whether there is an ongoing relationship or engagement;

  • legal, administrative, or record-keeping requirements;

  • operational needs;

  • dispute or risk management considerations.

When personal information is no longer needed, we will take reasonable steps to delete, destroy, de-identify, or securely archive it.

13. Your Rights

Subject to applicable law, you may have the right to:

  • ask what personal information we hold about you;

  • request access to your personal information;

  • request correction of inaccurate, outdated, incomplete, or misleading personal information;

  • request deletion or destruction of personal information where legally permitted;

  • object to the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances;

  • withdraw consent, where processing is based on consent;

  • object to direct marketing;

  • lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa.

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the details provided at the end of this Privacy Policy.

We may need to verify your identity before responding to certain requests.

14. Children’s Personal Information

This website is not directed at children.

We do not knowingly collect personal information from children without appropriate consent from a parent, guardian, or competent person where required by law.

If you believe that a child has provided personal information to us without the necessary consent, please contact us so that we can take appropriate steps.

15. Research, Education, and Conservation Engagements

Where personal information is collected in connection with research, educational activities, field visits, biodiversity records, conservation projects, or collaborative engagements, additional forms, permissions, agreements, indemnities, or consent processes may apply.

This Privacy Policy should be read together with any specific documentation provided for those activities.

16. Links to Third-Party Websites

This website may contain links to third-party websites, platforms, databases, articles, social media pages, or external resources.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices, security, or content of third-party websites. We recommend that you review the privacy policies of any external websites you visit.

17. Updates to this Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our website, operations, legal requirements, or privacy practices.

The latest version will be published on this page with an updated “Last updated” date.

Your continued use of the website after changes are published means that you accept the updated Privacy Policy.

18. Contact Details

For questions about this Privacy Policy or to exercise your personal information rights, please contact us:

Drie Valleyen Reserve
Email: info@drievalleyen.co.za
Location: Wilderness, Garden Route, South Africa

19. Information Regulator

You may also contact the Information Regulator of South Africa if you believe your personal information has been processed unlawfully or your privacy rights have been infringed.

Information Regulator of South Africa
Website: inforegulator.org.za
Email: enquiries@inforegulator.org.za