Terms & Conditions

Last updated: 10 May 2026

These General Terms and Conditions apply to purchases made through the Mountain Passes South Africa online shop at shop.mountainpassessouthafrica.co.za.
By using this website, placing an order, or making a payment, you agree to these Terms and Conditions, together with any product-specific terms shown on the relevant product page.

Because the shop includes different types of products and bookings, the links below can be used to jump to the section most relevant to your purchase.

General shop terms

This online shop is operated by Mountain Passes South Africa.

The shop may offer, among other things:

  • Mountain Passes South Africa 4×4 tour bookings
  • 4×4 training bookings
  • Digital information products, including facts, stats, route and navigation-related material
  • Gift vouchers
  • Fundraising project contributions or related items
  • Other products or services added from time to time

No physical goods are sold through this shop, and no shipping or courier delivery applies unless specifically stated on a product page.

All prices are shown in South African Rand (ZAR). The price shown at checkout is the price payable for the selected item, unless there has been an obvious error. Where applicable, taxes, booking fees or other charges will be shown before payment is completed.

We may change prices, product descriptions and availability from time to time without prior notice, but this will not affect an order that has already been accepted and paid for.

Payment options

The shop currently offers the following payment options:

EFT – Electronic Funds Transfer

If you choose EFT, payment must be made into the bank account provided during checkout or on the order confirmation.

Please use your order number as the payment reference.

An EFT order is only confirmed once payment has been received and matched to your order. We may cancel an unpaid EFT order if payment is not received within a reasonable time, or within the period stated on the product page or order confirmation.

Proof of payment may help us identify your payment, but the order is only regarded as paid once the funds reflect in the relevant account, unless we confirm otherwise in writing.

PayFast

If you choose PayFast, you will be redirected to PayFast’s secure payment pages to complete payment.

Credit card and other PayFast-supported payments are processed by PayFast. We do not store your credit card details on this website.

An order paid through PayFast is only confirmed once PayFast confirms that the payment was successful. If a payment is declined, reversed, cancelled or flagged for review, we may cancel the order or suspend access until the matter has been resolved.

Order confirmation

After placing an order, you should receive an automated order email. This confirms that your order has been received.

For digital purchases, access or download details will be provided after payment has been confirmed.

For tour or training bookings, the booking is subject to the specific tour or training terms, availability, participant requirements, payment status and any other conditions shown on the relevant product page.

Tour cancellation policy

The following cancellation policy applies to Mountain Passes South Africa tour bookings, unless a specific tour product page states otherwise.

If you cancel more than 60 days ahead of the tour
  • If you are able to resell your place to a friend or family member: 100% refund or 100% credit voucher.
  • If we resell your ticket on your behalf: 80% refund or 100% credit voucher.
  • If we are unable to resell your ticket: 70% refund or 90% credit voucher.
If you cancel between 60 and 30 days before the tour
  • If you are able to resell your place to a friend or family member: 100% refund or 100% credit voucher.
  • If we resell your ticket on your behalf: 70% refund or 90% credit voucher.
  • If we are unable to resell your ticket: 60% refund or 80% credit voucher.
If you cancel less than 30 days before the tour
  • If you are able to resell your place to a friend or family member: 100% refund or 100% credit voucher.
  • If we resell your ticket on your behalf: 60% refund or 80% credit voucher.
  • If neither of the above takes place: 50% refund or 70% credit voucher.

Accommodation & meal refunds

Invoices are generally sent out between 4 and 6 weeks ahead of the tour start date.

If you have already received your invoice, you are liable for it, subject to us interacting with the various venues to get you a refund. We pay the venues up front for your accommodation.

Most of the establishments are reasonable and offer a full or partial refund, depending on how close to the booking date the cancellation occurs. Whatever we can negotiate will be credited to you in full.

If we cancel a tour

Should we cancel a tour, you will receive a full refund, or you may elect to choose an alternative tour or date where available.

No-show

Should you fail to arrive for the tour, there will be no refunds.

General tour terms

  1. Arrive on time as a courtesy to your fellow tourers.
  2. Ensure your vehicle has sufficient fuel and is in a sound mechanical condition.
  3. Ensure that the 12v outlet is in working condition as our radio sets will take power from this source.
  4. We will have a mandatory driver briefing before the tour commences where we will explain our routing for the day, the etiquette of convoy driving, and radio operation and protocol.
  5. Tours take place regardless of the weather. The passes and sequence may be altered at short notice depending on road conditions, traffic volumes and weather conditions.
  6. Drivers and passengers will be required to sign an indemnity form.

Tour routes, timings, stopping points and the sequence of passes may change due to weather, road conditions, access restrictions, safety concerns, traffic, delays, or other practical considerations. Mountain Passes South Africa and the tour guide may make route and timing changes where reasonably necessary.

You are responsible for ensuring that your vehicle is suitable for the tour, properly licensed, roadworthy, insured, fuelled and mechanically sound. You are also responsible for your own driving decisions and for complying with all road traffic laws.

Compulsory VHF radios

The guide speaks to all participants on the tour via VHF radio in English. It is mandatory to have a VHF radio in your vehicle. Our pricing system is structured to automatically include the radio rental.

Radios are checked at the end of the tour. You are responsible for taking reasonable care of the radio equipment issued to you.

Liquids, dust or misuse may cause irreparable damage to the radio set or microphone. If a radio or related equipment issued to you is damaged due to negligence or misuse, you may be held responsible for the replacement or repair cost. The current replacement cost for a radio unit is R3000.

Convoy driving etiquette

  1. Switch your headlights on dim. Use headlights, not parking lights.
  2. Remain in the convoy order that your guide has placed you.
  3. Do not tailgate. Allow enough space between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead of you for overtaking vehicles to safely get through the convoy.
  4. At intersections, you are responsible for the person behind you making the correct turn. Following vehicles have a responsibility to keep the vehicle ahead in sight at all times.
  5. If, due to mountainous terrain, vehicles at the rear of the convoy are not receiving radio communications from the lead vehicle, the last person in the convoy who can hear communications should relay messages to those further back, and vice versa.
  6. When stopping at scenic spots or historical sites, please park close to or alongside the next vehicle to allow sufficient space for the whole convoy to stop or park safely.

Radio etiquette

Please take care of the radios. The sets deliver good quality reception, but they do not like moisture or dust. Keep coffee, cool drinks, water and other liquids away from the radio set and microphone.

  1. The radios have a working range that depends on geographical position. Mountains, tunnels, buildings and forests can affect their range.
  2. If you are unable to hear a message from the lead vehicle, please ask one of the middle vehicles to relay the message or repeat the instruction.
  3. Only one person can speak on a channel at a time.
  4. Do not change the channel set on the radio unless instructed by the guide.
  5. If radio interference occurs, the guide may instruct the group to change to a different channel.
  6. Keep radio communication brief and courteous, as other participants may also need to speak.
  7. Hold the microphone approximately 20 cm away from your mouth. Speak clearly and slowly in a normal tone of voice.

4×4 training bookings

4×4 training bookings are subject to the terms shown on the relevant training product page, including dates, availability, participant requirements, vehicle requirements, payment terms, cancellations and safety requirements.

Where the training involves convoy driving, radio use, off-road driving, route changes, vehicle suitability or safety instructions, the relevant tour-style terms above may also apply where appropriate.

Digital products and downloads

Digital products may include route information, facts, statistics, navigation-related information, downloadable files, access links, electronic documents or other non-physical products.

Digital products are supplied for your personal use only, unless the product page clearly states otherwise.

You may not copy, resell, publish, share, distribute, upload, commercially exploit or make the digital product available to others without written permission from Mountain Passes South Africa.

We make reasonable efforts to ensure that digital information is accurate at the time of publication. However, mountain passes, roads, access rules, weather conditions, closures, GPS routes and travel conditions can change. You remain responsible for checking current conditions, legal access, weather, safety, vehicle suitability, fuel range, permits and local restrictions before travelling.

Digital products are supplied electronically. Please download and safely store any files or access information provided to you.

Refunds for digital products

For digital purchases, we will consider a refund or replacement where:

  • the wrong product was supplied;
  • the file or access link does not work and we cannot reasonably fix it;
  • the product was materially different from the description; or
  • a refund is required by law.

Because digital products can be accessed, copied or downloaded after purchase, we do not usually offer refunds for a change of mind once access has been provided or the download has been made available, except where required by law.

If you have a problem with a digital purchase, please contact us within a reasonable time so that we can try to assist.

Gift vouchers

Gift vouchers are issued electronically unless otherwise stated.

Gift vouchers are valid for 3 years from the date of issue, unless a longer period is clearly stated on the voucher or product page.

Gift vouchers may be used only for eligible Mountain Passes South Africa services, subject to availability and any voucher-specific terms.

Gift vouchers are not redeemable for cash. Lost, stolen or incorrectly shared voucher codes are the responsibility of the purchaser or recipient, unless the loss was caused by an error on our side.

Fundraising projects

From time to time, the shop may offer fundraising project items or contributions.

Unless clearly stated otherwise, a fundraising contribution is not a tour booking, product booking, membership, or tax-deductible donation receipt.

Funds received for a fundraising project will be applied to the project or purpose described on the relevant product page, or to a closely related Mountain Passes South Africa purpose if the original project changes, becomes impractical, or is completed.

Privacy and payment security

We collect and use personal information only as reasonably needed to process orders, manage bookings, communicate with customers, provide access to purchases and operate the website.

Please refer to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy for more information.

Card payments and supported online payment methods are processed through PayFast. We do not store your credit card details on this website.

Other General Terms

Customer information

You agree to provide accurate and complete information when placing an order.

We are not responsible for failed delivery of digital access, vouchers, booking confirmations or other communication if you provide an incorrect email address or contact details.

You are responsible for keeping your account login details confidential.

Website content and intellectual property

All website content, text, photographs, videos, maps, route information, digital files, product descriptions, logos and other material remain the property of Mountain Passes South Africa or its licensors, unless otherwise stated.

You may view and use the content for personal, non-commercial purposes. You may not copy, reproduce, scrape, republish, distribute or use the content commercially without written permission.

Errors and availability

We try to ensure that product descriptions, prices and availability are accurate. However, mistakes may occur.

If an obvious error affects your order, we may contact you to correct the error, cancel the order, or offer an alternative. If you have already paid and the order is cancelled, we will refund the amount paid.

Tour and training availability may be limited and is not guaranteed until confirmed.

Limitation of liability

We take reasonable care in operating the shop and providing our products and services.

However, to the extent allowed by law, Mountain Passes South Africa will not be liable for indirect loss, loss of profit, loss of data, travel costs, wasted expenses, injury, damage, route changes, road closures, weather conditions, access restrictions or other losses outside our reasonable control.

Nothing in these Terms limits any rights you may have under South African consumer protection law.

Changes to these Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. The updated version will apply from the date it is published on the website.

The version that applied when you placed your order will generally apply to that order, unless a change is required by law.

Governing law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa.

Any dispute will first be dealt with by contacting us and giving both parties a reasonable opportunity to resolve the matter.

Contact

For questions about orders, digital purchases, vouchers, tour bookings or these Terms, please contact us at:

Email: info@MountainPassesSouthAfrica.co.za

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