Terms of Service

1. Introduction

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of the Access Namibia — National Park Permits platform ("the Platform"), operated by The Grow Namibia Foundation, powered by About Africa Co. ("we", "us", "our"). By accessing or using the Platform, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, please do not use the Platform.

2. Service Description

The Platform provides an online facilitation service for purchasing entrance permits to Namibian national parks and protected areas managed by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT). We act as an independent digital gateway — not as a government agency — operating under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with MEFT for information sharing and digitalisation.

3. Fees and Payment

All permit fees displayed on the Platform are set by MEFT and are denominated in Namibian Dollars (NAD). These fees are collected on behalf of MEFT and held in trust until remitted according to the terms of the MOU.

In addition to MEFT park entrance fees, a facilitation and service fee is charged by The Grow Namibia Foundation to cover the costs of operating the Platform, payment processing, and customer support. This fee is clearly displayed as a separate line item before payment.

Payments are processed in South African Rand (ZAR), which is pegged 1:1 to the Namibian Dollar, via Stripe, a PCI-DSS Level 1 certified payment processor. We do not store your credit card details.

4. Payment Processing

All card payments are processed securely through Stripe, Inc. By making a payment, you also agree to Stripe's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Stripe handles all sensitive payment data in compliance with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS).

We do not have access to your full card number, CVV, or card expiration date at any time. Payment confirmation is received via secure webhook notifications from Stripe.

5. Cancellations and Refunds

Refund requests must be submitted before the permit entry date. Refunds are processed at the discretion of the administration team and are subject to the following conditions:

Full refunds may be issued for orders that have not yet been verified by MEFT. For verified permits, partial refunds may be available depending on the circumstances. Refunds are processed via Stripe back to the original payment method and may take 5–10 business days to appear on your statement.

Cancellations, voids, and refunds each generate a formal credit note with a unique reference number for your records and audit purposes.

For full details on our cancellation and no-refund policy, please see our Cancellation Policy

6. Permit Validity

Permits issued through this Platform are valid only for the parks, dates, and party composition specified at the time of purchase. It is your responsibility to ensure that all information provided is accurate.

All permits are initially issued as DRAFT documents pending verification by MEFT. Once verified, a final stamped permit will be emailed to you. You must present your verified permit at the park gate upon entry.

7. Limitation of Liability

The Platform is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind. We are not liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from your use of the Platform. Our total liability is limited to the amount you paid for the specific permit in question. We are not responsible for park closures, access restrictions, or changes to MEFT fee schedules that may occur after your purchase.

8. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Namibia. Any disputes arising from these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Namibia.