Privacy Policy

Hermanus Whale Festival

Last Updated: May 2026

The Hermanus Whale Festival respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act, 4 of 2013 (“POPIA”) of South Africa.

By using our website, attending the festival, submitting forms, or interacting with our services, you agree to the terms outlined in this Privacy Policy.

1. Who We Are

The Hermanus Whale Festival is an annual eco-marine festival hosted in Hermanus, South Africa, celebrating ocean conservation, tourism, education, and community engagement.

Website:
https://www.hermanuswhalefestival.co.za

2. Information We Collect

We may collect and process the following information:

  • Name and surname

  • Email address

  • Phone number

  • Company or organisation details

  • Vendor or exhibitor information

  • Competition entries

  • Sponsorship applications

  • Media accreditation information

  • Website usage data and analytics

  • Cookies and browser information

  • Images and videos taken during festival activities

3. How We Use Your Information

Your information may be used for:

  • Festival communication and updates

  • Vendor and exhibitor applications

  • Ticketing and event administration

  • Responding to enquiries

  • Marketing and promotional purposes

  • Newsletters and announcements

  • Website improvement and analytics

  • Safety, compliance, and event management

We only process personal information where legally permitted under POPIA.

4. POPIA Compliance

In accordance with POPIA, we undertake to:

  • Process personal information lawfully and responsibly

  • Collect information only for legitimate festival-related purposes

  • Protect personal information from misuse or unauthorised access

  • Allow users to request access, correction, or deletion of personal information where applicable

You may request access to your personal information or request removal from our systems by contacting us directly.

5. Cookies Policy

Our website uses cookies to improve user experience and website performance.

Cookies may be used to:

  • Remember website preferences

  • Analyse visitor traffic and behaviour

  • Improve website functionality

  • Support social media integrations

  • Monitor website performance

By continuing to use our website, you consent to the use of cookies.

Users may disable cookies through their browser settings, although some website functionality may be affected.

6. Third-Party Services

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, booking systems, sponsors, social media platforms, ticketing providers, or external services.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of third-party websites.

7. Photography & Video Disclaimer

The Hermanus Whale Festival is a public event. By attending, you acknowledge that photographs and video footage may be captured for promotional, marketing, media, archival, and social media purposes.

These images and videos may be used by the festival and authorised media partners without compensation.

8. Information Security

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

However, no online platform can guarantee complete security.

9. Your Rights

You have the right to:

  • Request access to your personal information

  • Request correction of inaccurate information

  • Withdraw consent where applicable

  • Request deletion of personal information where legally permissible

  • Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa

10. Contact Information

For privacy-related enquiries, please contact:

Hermanus Whale Festival
Email: festival@hermanuswhalefestival.co.za
Website: https://www.hermanuswhalefestival.co.za

11. Policy Updates

This Privacy Policy may be updated from time to time. Any updates will be published on this page.