Privacy Policy

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1. Introduction

Safari Artistry is committed to protecting your privacy and personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your personal information in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act, 4 of 2013 ("POPIA"), and other applicable South African data protection laws. By engaging with our services, you consent to the processing of your personal information as described in this policy.

2. Who We Are

We act as an "Operator" (as defined by POPIA) when processing personal information on behalf of the travel service providers (airlines, hotels, tour operators, etc.) with whom you book your travel. We also act as a "Responsible Party" (as defined by POPIA) for the personal information we collect directly from you for our own business purposes (e.g., marketing, client management).

3. What Personal Information We Collect

We collect personal information that is necessary to provide you with travel services and manage our business relationship. This may include:

• Identity Information: Full names (as per passport/ID), gender, date of birth, nationality, passport numbers, ID numbers.
• Contact Information: Physical address, email address, phone number (mobile and landline).
• Travel Details: Travel preferences, special requests (e.g., dietary requirements, accessibility needs), frequent flyer numbers, loyalty program details, flight details, accommodation preferences, car rental details, tour preferences.
• Payment Information: Credit card details (card type, number, expiry date, CVV – note: we do not store CVV codes and process securely), bank account details for refunds.
• Health Information (Sensitive Information): Limited health information may be collected if it is relevant to your travel arrangements (e.g., for medical assistance, special dietary needs, or to arrange accessible facilities). This is considered "Special Personal Information" under POPIA and will only be collected with your explicit consent for specific travel-related purposes.
• Children's Information: When children are included in a booking, we collect their personal information (names, dates of birth, passport details) for travel purposes, with the consent of a parent or legal guardian.
• Communication Information: Records of your correspondence with us (emails, phone calls, chat logs).
• Marketing Preferences: Your preferences for receiving marketing communications from us.
• Technical Data: IP address, browser type, operating system, and other usage data when you visit our website (if applicable).

4. How We Collect Your Personal Information

We collect personal information through various channels:

• Directly from You: When you inquire about travel, request a quote, make a booking (online, via phone, email, or in person), subscribe to our newsletters, or contact us with queries.
• From Third Parties:
  • From other members of your travel party when they provide your details for a group booking.
  • From travel service providers (Suppliers) if they need to share information with us regarding your booking.
  • From publicly available sources (e.g., websites) where appropriate.
• Through Our Website: Via cookies and similar technologies (if applicable, see Section 11).

5. How We Use Your Personal Information

We use your personal information for the following purposes:

• To Provide Travel Services:
  • To process your travel inquiries, provide quotes, and manage your bookings (flights, accommodation, car hire, tours, cruises, etc.).
  • To communicate with you regarding your travel arrangements (confirmations, itineraries, changes, updates).
  • To facilitate payments and refunds.
  • To process specific requests, such as dietary or accessibility needs, by sharing them with relevant Suppliers.
• For Customer Service: To respond to your queries, resolve issues, and provide support before, during, and after your travel.
• For Internal Business Operations:
  • For record-keeping, administrative purposes, and financial management.
  • To improve our services and tailor our offerings.
  • For internal research and analysis.
• For Marketing and Communication (with consent):
  • To send you newsletters, promotional offers, and information about travel deals that may be of interest to you, where you have consented to receive such communications.
  • You can opt-out of marketing communications at any time.
• For Legal and Regulatory Compliance:
  • To comply with our legal obligations, including tax, financial, and regulatory requirements.
  • To respond to lawful requests from public and government authorities.
  • To protect our rights, privacy, safety, or property, and/or that of our affiliates, you, or other third parties.

6. Disclosure of Your Personal Information

We share your personal information with third parties only when necessary to provide our services, for legal reasons, or with your explicit consent. These third parties may include:

• Travel Service Providers (Suppliers): Airlines, hotels, car rental companies, tour operators, cruise lines, transfer services, and other travel-related service providers necessary for your booking. They will process your information in accordance with their own privacy policies.
• Payment Processors: Secure third-party payment gateways for processing credit card and other financial transactions.
• Government and Law Enforcement Agencies: Where required by law, court order, or governmental regulation, or to prevent illegal activities.
• Insurance Providers: If you purchase travel insurance through us or need to make a claim.
• Other Third-Party Service Providers: Such as IT service providers, marketing platforms, and professional advisors (e.g., lawyers, accountants) who assist us in our business operations.
• Your Travel Companions: If you are part of a group booking, we may share relevant information with other members of your group for coordination purposes.

7. International Transfers of Personal Information

As a travel agency, it is often necessary to transfer your personal information to countries outside of South Africa to facilitate your international travel bookings (e.g., to airlines, hotels, or ground operators located in your destination country).

When we transfer your personal information outside of South Africa, we will ensure that:

• The recipient country has laws that provide an adequate level of protection for personal information that is similar to POPIA
• The transfer is necessary for the performance of a contract with you (i.e., your travel booking)
• You have explicitly consented to the transfer
• We have put in place appropriate safeguards (e.g., contractual clauses) to protect your personal information.

8. Security of Your Personal Information

We are committed to protecting the personal information we hold from loss, misuse, unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction. We implement reasonable technical and organisational measures to safeguard your data, including:

• Secure networks and encryption.
• Access controls and authentication procedures.
• Regular security assessments.
• Staff training on data protection and privacy.

While we strive to protect your personal information, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. Therefore, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

9. Retention of Personal Information

We retain your personal information only for as long as is necessary to:

• Fulfill the purposes for which it was collected.
• Comply with legal, accounting, or reporting requirements (e.g., tax laws, consumer protection regulations).
• Resolve disputes or enforce our agreements.

Once your personal information is no longer required for these purposes, we will securely destroy or de-identify it.

10. Cookies 

Our website may use "cookies" and similar technologies. A cookie is a small file placed on your device when you visit a website. Cookies help us to:

• Improve your Browse experience.
• Understand how you use our website.
• Personalize content and advertising.
• Remember your preferences.

You can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings. Please note that disabling cookies may affect the functionality of our website.

13. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or the processing of your personal information, please contact us at sales@safariartistry.com