Privacy Policy

Last updated: 19 April 2026

1. Introduction

Camp El Olam 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:

• visit our website
• contact us by phone, email, WhatsApp, or website form
• submit a booking enquiry
• enquire about or apply for a camp or programme
• apply for the Ablaze programme
• otherwise interact with Camp El Olam

By using this website or submitting your information to us, you agree to the collection and use of your personal information as described in this Privacy Policy.

2. Who We Are

Camp El Olam is a youth camp and education centre based in Eston, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Our website provides information about our camp facilities, catered and self-catered camps, full package camps, group bookings, and the Ablaze programme.

For the purposes of this Privacy Policy, “Camp El Olam”, “we”, “us”, and “our” refer to the organisation operating this website and managing related enquiries, bookings, and programme administration.

3. What Personal Information We Collect

Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect personal information such as:

• your name and surname
• your phone number
• your email address
• your parent or guardian’s contact details
• booking or enquiry details
• school, church, organisation, or group details
• communications you send to us
• information you include in comments, messages, or application forms
• limited technical information about your use of the website, such as browser type, device information, IP address, pages visited, and similar usage data

Where relevant to a booking, camp administration, or participant safety, we may also receive additional information that you, a parent, guardian, school, church, or group organiser choose to provide, such as emergency contact details, dietary information, health-related information, or other welfare-related information.

4. How We Collect Personal Information

We may collect personal information:

• directly from you when you complete a form or contact us
• from a parent, guardian, school, church, or group organiser acting on your behalf
• through email, phone calls, WhatsApp messages, and other communications
• through booking, enquiry, or application processes
• automatically through normal website and server activity

5. Why We Collect and Use Personal Information

We may use personal information for purposes including:

• responding to enquiries and messages
• preparing quotations
• processing and administering bookings
• communicating before, during, and after camp
• administering the Ablaze programme and other camp-related programmes
• maintaining participant records
• managing health, safety, welfare, and operational requirements
• complying with legal, accounting, insurance, and record-keeping obligations
• improving our website, services, and administration
• sending service-related communications
• sending marketing or updates where you have asked for them, consented to them, or where otherwise permitted by law

We will only process personal information where we have an appropriate justification to do so, including where:

• you have consented
• it is necessary to respond to your request or take steps related to a booking or application
• it is necessary to perform an agreement with you
• it is required by law
• it is reasonably necessary for our legitimate operational interests or to protect a legitimate interest

6. Children and Group Bookings

Camp El Olam is a youth camp and education venue, and some of our services are directed at school groups, church groups, and young people. Because of that, we may receive personal information relating to children or other minors from parents, guardians, schools, churches, and authorised group organisers as part of enquiries, bookings, supervision arrangements, safety information, and camp administration.

If you provide us with personal information about a child or another person, you confirm that you are authorised to do so.

We ask that only the minimum personal information reasonably necessary for the relevant enquiry, booking, application, or camp administration be provided.

7. Sharing of Personal Information

We do not sell personal information.

We may share personal information where reasonably necessary with:

• Camp El Olam staff and authorised administrators
• programme leaders, facilitators, or camp management
• service providers who help us operate the website, email, hosting, communications, or administration systems
• professional advisers such as accountants, insurers, attorneys, or auditors where necessary
• emergency services, medical providers, or other third parties where reasonably necessary for health or safety
• regulators, authorities, or other parties where required by law

Where we use third-party service providers, we aim to require that they handle personal information appropriately and only for authorised purposes.

8. WhatsApp, Email, and Other Third-Party Platforms

Our public contact information directs users to contact us by phone, email, and WhatsApp in some cases. If you contact us through third-party platforms or services, your information may also be processed by those third parties under their own privacy terms and policies.

Our website may also include links to third-party websites, social media platforms, or embedded services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third-party websites or services.

9. Cookies and Website Usage Data

Our website and hosting environment may automatically collect limited technical information through server logs, cookies, or similar technologies. This may include information such as your IP address, browser type, device type, referring pages, and general usage activity.

We use this kind of information to:

• help operate and secure the website
• understand general website usage
• improve performance and user experience
• diagnose technical issues

If you use browser settings that disable cookies, some parts of the website may not function properly.

10. Security of Personal Information

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

However, no website, email system, or online transmission method is completely secure. While we take reasonable precautions, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

If we become aware of a security incident affecting personal information, we will respond in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

11. Retention of Personal Information

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, including:

• managing enquiries and bookings
• administering camps and programmes
• keeping operational and safety records
• complying with legal, tax, accounting, insurance, or dispute-related obligations

When personal information is no longer reasonably required, we will take steps to delete, destroy, anonymise, or de-identify it where appropriate.

12. 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 or updating of inaccurate or incomplete information
• request deletion or destruction of information where appropriate
• object to certain forms of processing
• withdraw consent where processing is based on consent
• complain if you believe your personal information has been processed unlawfully

To protect privacy and security, we may ask you to verify your identity before acting on a request.

13. Complaints

If you have a privacy concern or would like to make a complaint, please contact Camp El Olam first so that we can try to resolve the issue.

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may lodge a complaint with the South African Information Regulator through its complaints and eServices processes.

14. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will take effect when the updated version is published on this website. Please check this page periodically to stay informed of any updates.

15. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or about how your personal information is handled, please contact us:

Camp Bookings / Main Contact
Phone: 072 282 1416
Email: camps@elolam.co.za

General Enquiries
Rae Hawyes
Phone: 082 578 9980
Email: rae@elolam.co.za

Garth Hawyes
Phone: 082 804 4962
Email: garth@elolam.co.za