Privacy Policy & Terms of Service

1. Who We Are

KrugerGuide.com is an independent safari planning and operator-matching service based in the Lowveld, South Africa. We are not a tour operator, travel agent, or booking platform. We help visitors to Kruger National Park and the surrounding area understand their options and connect with appropriate local operators.

For the purposes of POPIA, KrugerGuide.com is the responsible party — the entity that determines the purpose of and means for processing your personal information.

2. What Personal Information We Collect

We collect personal information only when you voluntarily provide it to us — through our enquiry form, via WhatsApp, or by email. We do not collect personal information through passive tracking beyond standard website analytics.

Information you provide directly

• Your name
• Your email address
• Your WhatsApp or phone number (if provided)
• Your travel dates and intended accommodation area
• Group size and composition, including children's ages where relevant to safari type
• Any additional information you choose to share in the enquiry message field

Information collected automatically

• Standard website analytics data via Google Analytics 4 (pages visited, session duration, general location at country/region level, device type). This data is aggregated and not linked to your identity.
• Cookies as described in the Cookies section below.

3. How We Use Your Information

We process your personal information for one primary purpose: to match you with an appropriate licensed safari operator, transfer provider, or local activity operator in the Kruger National Park and Lowveld region, and to respond to your enquiry.

Specifically, we use your information to:

• Understand your safari requirements and match you with the most suitable operator for your location, dates, and group
• Contact you with options, availability, and pricing information from matched operators
• Send you an automated acknowledgement that your enquiry has been received
• Follow up on your enquiry if you have not responded
• Improve our matching service based on aggregated, anonymised enquiry patterns

We do not use your information for:

• Unsolicited marketing unrelated to your enquiry
• Selling, renting, or trading your personal information to any third party
• Profiling, automated decision-making, or any purpose unrelated to fulfilling your request
• Adding you to mailing lists without your explicit consent

The legal basis for processing your personal information under POPIA is the performance of a pre-contractual or contractual service — specifically, the safari matching and referral service you have requested by submitting an enquiry.

4. Sharing Your Information with Third Parties

The nature of our service means we share relevant parts of your enquiry with operators in order to obtain availability and pricing on your behalf. We share the minimum information necessary for this purpose.

Operators we refer your enquiry to

When we match your enquiry to an operator — a licensed safari operator, transfer provider, or local activity provider — we share the information required for them to provide a quote: typically your name, travel dates, accommodation area, group size, and relevant requirements. We do not share your contact details with operators without your knowledge.

Operators we work with are based in South Africa and are required to handle your personal information in accordance with POPIA. By submitting an enquiry, you consent to this referral.

Service providers

We use a small number of trusted third-party services to operate this website and manage enquiries:

• Make.com — automation platform that routes enquiry form submissions to a Google Sheet log and triggers automated responses
• Google Sheets — used to log and manage incoming enquiries
• Google Analytics 4 — anonymised website analytics
• Hostinger — website hosting and email
• WhatsApp (Meta) — if you choose to contact us via WhatsApp, your message is processed by Meta's platform under their own privacy policy

These service providers act as operators or third-party processors and are bound by their own terms and data protection commitments. We do not authorise them to use your personal information for any purpose beyond providing their service to us.

Legal disclosure

We may disclose your personal information if required to do so by law, court order, or regulatory authority, or where necessary to protect the rights, property, or safety of KrugerGuide.com or others.

We will not otherwise share, sell, or disclose your personal information to any party not described in this policy.

5. Your Rights Under POPIA

As a data subject under the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013, you have the following rights in relation to the personal information we hold about you:

• Right to access: You may request confirmation of whether we hold personal information about you and a copy of that information.
• Right to correction: You may request that we correct inaccurate or incomplete personal information.
• Right to deletion: You may request that we delete your personal information, subject to any legal retention obligations.
• Right to object: You may object to the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.
• Right to withdraw consent: Where processing is based on consent, you may withdraw that consent at any time. Withdrawal does not affect the lawfulness of processing prior to withdrawal.
• Right to lodge a complaint: You have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa if you believe your personal information has been processed unlawfully.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at info@krugerguide.com. We will respond within a reasonable period and in compliance with POPIA requirements.

6. Data Storage and Retention

Your personal information is stored on servers located in the European Union (Hostinger) and processed through Google's infrastructure (Google Sheets, Google Analytics). Where personal information is transferred outside South Africa, we take reasonable steps to ensure it receives an equivalent level of protection.

We retain your enquiry information for a period of 12 months from the date of your enquiry, or for as long as necessary to complete the service you requested. After this period, enquiry records are deleted or anonymised. You may request earlier deletion at any time.

We implement reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorised access, loss, or misuse. These include access controls, secure email transmission, and limiting access to personal information to those individuals who need it to perform their role.

7. Cookies and Tracking

KrugerGuide.com uses cookies — small text files stored on your device — to support basic website functionality and to collect anonymised analytics data.

Cookies we use

• Analytics cookies (Google Analytics 4): Used to understand how visitors use our website — pages visited, time on site, general geography, and device type. This data is aggregated and anonymised and is not linked to your identity. Google Analytics data is processed under Google's data processing terms.
• Functional cookies (WordPress / LiteSpeed): Used to support basic website performance and caching. These do not collect personal information.
• Session cookies: Temporary cookies that expire when you close your browser, used for standard site functionality.

We do not use advertising cookies, retargeting cookies, or any cookies designed to track you across other websites.

You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect the functionality of some parts of this website. Most browsers also support opt-out mechanisms for Google Analytics — see tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.

1. What KrugerGuide.com Is — and Is Not

KrugerGuide.com is an independent safari planning and operator-matching service. We provide guidance, planning information, and referrals to help visitors to Kruger National Park and the surrounding Lowveld connect with appropriate local operators.

KrugerGuide.com is not:

• A licensed tour operator
• A travel agent as defined under the Tourism Act
• A booking platform or online travel agency (OTA)
• Affiliated with SANParks, any government body, or any specific safari operator
• A party to any booking or service agreement between you and a third-party operator

Our role is to match you with an appropriate operator and facilitate the introduction. Once a booking is made, the contractual agreement for the safari, transfer, or activity is solely between you and the operator. KrugerGuide.com is not a party to that agreement.

2. The Matching and Referral Service

When you submit an enquiry, we will use the information you provide to identify the most appropriate operator for your requirements. We will pass your enquiry details to that operator and present you with their available options and pricing.

Our matching service is provided at no cost to you. We earn a commission from the operator on confirmed bookings. This commission does not affect the price you pay — our commitment to visitors is that safari bookings made through KrugerGuide.com are at the same rate as booking directly with the operator.

We do not guarantee that:

• An appropriate operator will be available for your specific dates, location, or requirements
• Any quoted price will remain available until confirmed in writing by the operator
• A safari will produce specific wildlife sightings or outcomes

An enquiry does not constitute a booking. No booking is confirmed until you have received written confirmation directly from the operator and any required payment has been made to the operator in accordance with their booking terms.

3. Third-Party Operators — Your Agreement Is with Them

All safaris, transfers, and activities facilitated through KrugerGuide.com are operated by independent third-party operators. These operators are licensed and regulated under applicable South African law and are responsible for the conduct, safety, and delivery of the services they provide.

When you confirm a booking with an operator:

• You enter into a direct contractual agreement with the operator, subject to their booking terms and conditions
• Any cancellation policy, refund terms, or deposit requirements are those of the operator, not KrugerGuide.com
• Any complaints, claims, or disputes arising from the safari, transfer, or activity should be directed to the operator in the first instance
• KrugerGuide.com is not liable for the acts, omissions, negligence, or breach of contract of any third-party operator

We take reasonable care in selecting operators we refer to and maintain only working relationships with operators we believe to be reputable and appropriately licensed. However, we cannot guarantee the conduct or performance of any third party and accept no liability in this regard.

4. Liability and Disclaimers

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable South African law:

• KrugerGuide.com provides this website and its content on an "as is" basis without warranties of any kind, express or implied
• We do not warrant that information on this website is accurate, complete, or current at all times. Conditions in and around Kruger National Park — including gate times, road conditions, operator availability, and conservation fees — change regularly. Visitors should verify current conditions with SANParks and relevant operators before travel.
• KrugerGuide.com is not liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential loss or damage arising from your use of this website, reliance on its content, or any booking made through our referral service
• We are not liable for any loss arising from circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to natural events, road closures, gate closures, park management decisions by SANParks, or operator cancellations

Nothing in these terms limits any liability that cannot be excluded under the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 or any other applicable South African consumer protection legislation.

5. Use of This Website

You may use this website for personal, non-commercial planning purposes. You may not:

• Reproduce, copy, or republish content from this website without written permission
• Use this website to transmit unsolicited commercial communications
• Attempt to gain unauthorised access to any part of this website or its systems
• Use automated tools to scrape, crawl, or extract content from this website at scale

All content on this website — including articles, guides, descriptions, and design — is the intellectual property of KrugerGuide.com or used with permission. Reproduction without written consent is not permitted.

6. Links to External Websites

This website may contain links to external websites, including SANParks, operator websites, and other resources. These links are provided for convenience and information purposes only. KrugerGuide.com has no control over and accepts no responsibility for the content, privacy practices, or availability of external websites. Linking to an external site does not constitute an endorsement.

7. Governing Law

These terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of South Africa. Any dispute arising out of or in connection with these terms shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the South African courts.

8. Changes to This Policy and These Terms

We may update this Privacy Policy and these Terms of Service from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or the services we provide. The current version will always be published on this page with the date of last update shown at the top.

Continued use of this website after an update constitutes acceptance of the revised terms. If you have an active enquiry or booking when terms are updated, the terms in force at the time of your original enquiry apply to that transaction.

Contact Us

For any questions about this Privacy Policy or these Terms of Service, to exercise your rights under POPIA, or to raise a concern about how we have handled your personal information, please contact us:

If you are not satisfied with our response to a privacy concern, you have the right to escalate your complaint to the Information Regulator of South Africa at inforeg@justice.gov.za.