Terms and conditions
Your booking will become effective upon receipt of your (partial) payment of the project fee. Until then, your booking will be considered unconfirmed.
Once we have received your (partial) payment, we will send you a confirmation. From that moment onward, your booking is confirmed and all the terms and conditions outlined below will apply.
Cancellations must be submitted in writing (via email or letter). The cancellation will take effect from the date we receive your notification.
We will make every effort to find a replacement participant as quickly as possible. However, cancellations can have a financial and operational impact on the project. Therefore, refunds of the project fee will be processed according to the following sliding scale:
| Days before project start | Refund amount |
|---|---|
| 31 days or more | Project fee minus 25% to cover our costs |
| 30 days or less | No refund |
Please note: Due to exchange rate fluctuations, the refunded amount may differ from what you originally paid in your local currency.
If you arrive more than 1 hour late after the scheduled start time of the activity (as indicated on the website) or leave early after commencing the project, no refunds will be given, nor will we cover any related costs or losses. We and our affiliated parties accept no responsibility in such cases.
We will do our best to accommodate changes to your booking upon receipt of a written request (email or letter), provided there is sufficient time. We will inform you in advance of any additional charges, and by continuing with the revised booking, you agree to pay these charges.
The following minimum administration fees apply if we receive your written change request within the periods below and if a suitable alternative date can be arranged. You will also be responsible for any additional costs incurred by us or third parties due to the change:
| Days before project start | Type of Change | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| 31 days or more | Extending your stay | Free (fees may be waived) |
| Other changes | 25% of the project fee | |
| 30 days or less | Extending your stay | Free (fees may be waived) |
| Other changes | Subject to cancellation terms |
By booking your visit to the Elephant Freedom Project, you acknowledge that participation carries inherent risks, including injury or death, and you accept full responsibility for your participation.
On behalf of yourself, your heirs, and your personal representatives, you agree to release, discharge, indemnify, and hold harmless Volunteers at Work, The Sanctuary (TS), The Sanctuary in the Netherlands B.V., Elephant Freedom Project B.V., Elephant Freedom Project, Ananda Restaurant, and their assigns, successors, agents, staff, officers, committee members, employees, contractors, and representatives from any claims, demands, or causes of action arising out of or related to your visit. This includes, but is not limited to, attorney fees, animal bites, accidents, loss of property, or injuries.
Elephant Freedom Project B.V. acts solely as an intermediary between visitors and Elephant Freedom Project and Ananda Restaurant. Elephant Freedom Project and Ananda Restaurant are responsible for providing the services and assume all associated risks. Elephant Freedom Project B.V. shall not be liable for any damage, loss, or injury related to the services provided by the sanctuary.
You are required to have adequate travel insurance covering at least the following:
Cancellation costs of your booking
Loss, damage, or delay of baggage and personal possessions
Medical expenses, including repatriation in the event of serious illness, injury, or death
Legal expenses and liabilities
Liability for personal injury to yourself or third parties
Cancellation due to reasons beyond our control, including our liquidation
The information provided on this website and all other written communications is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. We do not accept liability for any damages resulting from inaccuracies or incomplete information. Use of this information requires our prior approval.
We reserve the right to update or modify these terms and conditions at any time. Your continued use of our services implies acceptance of the most recent version.
If any clause in these Terms and Conditions is deemed invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of the Terms shall remain in full effect.
Welcome! This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information when you visit our website, contact us, make bookings, or otherwise interact with us.
By using our website and services, you agree to the terms described here.
We collect only the personal information that is reasonably necessary to provide you with our services, such as:
Your name, email address, and contact details
Booking information
Payment details (processed securely by our payment partners)
We collect and use your personal data based on the following lawful grounds:
When you provide us with personal information or agree to specific uses, such as:
Responding to your inquiries
Processing your bookings
You can withdraw your consent at any time by contacting us. Please note that withdrawing consent may affect our ability to provide some services.
We may use your data without explicit consent when it’s necessary for our legitimate interests, provided these do not override your privacy rights. These include:
Improving our website and services
Maintaining security and preventing fraud
Upgrading technical infrastructure
When you accept our Terms & Conditions, we process your data to fulfill our contract with you, such as managing your booking.
We may process your data to comply with laws, protect vital interests, or assist with legal processes.
We store your personal information only as long as necessary to provide our services or fulfill legal obligations.
We use your personal information to:
Respond to your inquiries
Manage bookings and payments
Communicate important information about your booking
Improve our services and website experience
We do not sell your data or share it for marketing purposes.
We share your personal information only with trusted partners who help us deliver our services, including:
Our partners: To provide customer support and communicate with you
Google Sheets: To securely store booking information (Google Privacy Policy)
Payment processors: WebXpay (Privacy Policy) and Mollie (Privacy Policy) securely handle your payment info. We do not access your credit card details.
Email provider: Gmail (Privacy Policy)
Analytics: Google Analytics collects usage data to improve our site (Privacy Policy). You can opt out via Google Analytics Opt-out.
We may disclose your information to authorities or third parties when required by law or to:
Prevent fraud or illegal activity
Protect the safety of users and the public
Enforce our Terms of Service
Our project is based in Sri Lanka. If you are outside Sri Lanka, your data will be transferred there. We take appropriate measures to safeguard your information according to applicable laws.
Depending on your location and applicable laws, you may have the right to:
Access your personal data
Request corrections or updates
Request deletion or restriction of processing
Object to certain processing activities
Withdraw consent at any time
To exercise these rights, please contact us. We may ask you to verify your identity for your security.
Our website and services are not intended for anyone under 16 years old. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 16. If we discover we have such data, we will delete it promptly.
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, your personal data, or would like to make a complaint, please contact us.
If you are in the European Economic Area (EEA), you can also contact your local data protection authority.