Effective Date: 29/05/2026
Last Updated: 29/05/2026
Version: 1.0

1. Introduction

Simakade Safari Group ("Simakade", "we", "us", or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy and handling personal information lawfully, transparently, and securely.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, disclose, and protect personal information when you access or use the Simakade website, services, content, downloadable resources, applications, and related platforms (collectively referred to as the "Platform").

This Privacy Policy applies to all individuals whose personal information is collected, processed, stored, or received by Simakade, including website users, account holders, accommodation representatives, tour operator representatives, experts, contributors, business partners, and individuals who communicate with us.

By accessing or using the Platform, creating an account, contacting Simakade, or otherwise interacting with our services, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy.

This Privacy Policy should be read together with the Simakade Terms of Use.

Simakade aims to comply with applicable privacy and data protection laws, including the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 ("POPIA") and, where applicable, the General Data Protection Regulation ("GDPR").

2. Who We Are

Simakade is an African safari field guide, travel research platform, information resource, and marketplace designed to help travellers understand, compare, and plan safari experiences across Africa.

The Platform may contain information relating to:

• Countries
• Regions
• National Parks
• Game Reserves
• Community Reserves and Concessions
• Private Reserves and Concessions
• Cities and Towns
• Wildlife
• Birds
• Activities and Experiences
• Safari Planning Guides
• Accommodation
• Tour Operators
• Other tourism-related content

At the time of publication, Simakade is not a travel operator and does not facilitate or manage safari bookings on behalf of travellers.

Bookings, reservations, travel agreements, and traveller payment arrangements are conducted directly between travellers and third-party providers where applicable.

Simakade may process payments relating to stakeholder services, including listing subscriptions, featured listings, advertising products, marketplace services, and other business-to-business offerings.

Company Name: Simakade Safari Group
Registration Number: 2024/538810/07
Country of Operation: South Africa
Address: Brackenfell, Cape Town, 7560, South Africa
Email: info@simakade.com

3. Information Officer

For the purposes of POPIA, Simakade Safari Group acts as the Responsible Party for personal information processed through the Platform.

Information Officer
Simakade Safari Group
Email: info@simakade.com

4. Lawful Basis for Processing Information

Simakade processes personal information on one or more of the following legal grounds:

• Your consent
• Performance of a contract or requested service
• Compliance with legal obligations
• Protection of legitimate business interests
• Prevention of fraud, abuse, or unlawful activity
• Protection of users, stakeholders, and the Platform

Where consent is required by law, users may withdraw consent at any time, subject to legal and operational limitations.

5. Information We Collect

5.1 Information You Provide

We may collect information that you voluntarily provide.

Account Information

• Email address
• Password credentials (stored securely in encrypted or hashed form)

Account Activity

• Saved content
• Favourites lists
• Hearted pages
• User preferences

Communications

• Emails sent to Simakade
• Support requests
• Feedback
• Enquiries
• Business correspondence

Stakeholder Communications

• Accommodation listing enquiries
• Tour operator enquiries
• Partnership enquiries
• Expert onboarding discussions
• Industry stakeholder communications

Marketing and Subscriptions

• Newsletter subscriptions
• Marketing preferences
• Email communication preferences

5.2 Payment Information

Where stakeholders purchase services from Simakade, including listing subscriptions, featured listings, advertising products, or other paid services, payment-related information may be processed through authorised third-party payment providers.

Simakade does not intentionally store complete payment card details unless specifically required and supported by the payment provider's infrastructure and security standards.

Information collected may include:

• Billing information
• Business information
• Payment confirmation records
• Subscription information
• Transaction history
• Invoicing information

Payment processing providers maintain their own privacy policies and security standards.

5.3 Information Collected Automatically

When you use the Platform, certain information may be collected automatically, including:

• IP address
• Browser type and version
• Device type
• Operating system
• Screen resolution
• Geographic location information where available
• Session information
• Website activity
• Navigation paths
• Referral sources
• Click behaviour
• Date and time access information
• Security monitoring information
• Performance information
• Diagnostic information
• Error logs

5.4 Saved Content and Favourites

Users may save and favourite content available throughout the Platform.

This may include:

• Countries
• Regions
• National Parks
• Game Reserves
• Community Reserves and Concessions
• Private Reserves and Concessions
• Cities and Towns
• Wildlife
• Birds
• Activities and Experiences
• Safari Planning Guides
• How to Plan Your Safari pages
• Educational content
• Accommodation listings
• Tour operator listings
• Future marketplace content

Saved content may be used to operate favourites lists, personalise experiences, improve the Platform, and support future recommendation features.

6. How We Use Information

Simakade may use personal information for the following purposes:

• Providing access to the Platform
• Creating and managing user accounts
• Operating favourites and saved content systems
• Processing stakeholder subscriptions and payments
• Responding to enquiries and communications
• Improving user experience
• Website analytics and reporting
• Security monitoring
• Fraud prevention
• Spam prevention
• Error tracking and diagnostics
• Product development
• Research and analysis
• Marketing communications
• Business administration
• Legal compliance
• Protecting the rights and interests of users and Simakade

7. User Accounts

Users may create an account using an email address and password.

Account functionality currently includes:

• User authentication
• Login access
• Session management
• Saved content
• Favourite lists
• Hearted pages

Passwords are stored using secure encryption or hashing technologies and are not accessible to Simakade personnel.

Users may request account deletion by contacting Simakade at info@simakade.com.

Simakade may retain limited information following account deletion where necessary for:

• Security purposes
• Fraud prevention
• Legal obligations
• Dispute resolution
• Record keeping
• Legitimate business interests

8. Accommodation, Tour Operators and Stakeholders

The Platform may provide information for accommodation providers, tour operators, guides, experts, and other tourism stakeholders.

At present, the "Apply to List" functionality provides information only and does not collect onboarding information directly through the website.

Where stakeholders voluntarily contact Simakade through email or other communication channels, information provided may be used for:

• Listing discussions
• Partnership evaluations
• Onboarding processes
• Expert participation
• Marketplace development
• Business communications
• Subscription management

9. Marketing and Communications

Simakade may send communications including:

• Platform updates
• Service notices
• Support responses
• Listing communications
• Newsletters
• Marketing communications
• Product announcements

Users may unsubscribe from marketing communications at any time by following unsubscribe instructions or contacting Simakade directly.

Simakade follows anti-spam principles and does not knowingly send unsolicited marketing communications.

10. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Simakade may use cookies, tracking technologies, and similar tools to operate, secure, analyse, and improve the Platform.

These technologies may include:

Functional Technologies

• Login cookies
• Session cookies
• Security cookies
• Preference storage
• Cloudflare services

Analytics Technologies

• Website analytics tools
• Search performance tools
• Traffic analysis tools
• User behaviour analysis tools
• Google Analytics
• Google Search Console
• Other Google services where applicable

Marketing Technologies

Future services may utilise:

• Advertising pixels
• Remarketing systems
• Campaign measurement tools
• Social media integrations

Where required by law, users will be asked to provide consent before non-essential cookies are used.

Users may manage cookie settings through their browser settings, although certain Platform features may not function correctly if cookies are disabled.

11. Third-Party Service Providers

Simakade may engage trusted service providers to assist with operating the Platform.

These providers may include:

• Hosting providers
• Cloudflare
• Analytics providers
• Email providers
• Payment providers
• Security providers
• Developers
• Legal advisors
• Business consultants
• Marketing providers
• Infrastructure providers

These providers may process information only as necessary to perform services on behalf of Simakade and are expected to implement reasonable safeguards to protect personal information.

12. Sharing Information

Simakade may disclose information where reasonably necessary:

• To comply with legal obligations
• To respond to lawful requests
• To protect the rights, safety, and security of users
• To investigate fraud or unlawful activity
• To process payments and subscriptions
• During mergers, acquisitions, restructuring, or business transfers
• To enforce legal rights and agreements

Simakade does not sell personal information.

13. External Links and Third Parties

The Platform may contain links to third-party websites, services, booking platforms, accommodation providers, tour operators, social media platforms, and other external resources.

These third parties operate independently and maintain their own privacy policies.

Users are encouraged to review the privacy policies of any third-party websites they visit.

Simakade is not responsible for the privacy practices, content, or security of third-party services.

14. Data Security

Simakade implements reasonable technical, administrative, and organisational measures to protect personal information against loss, misuse, unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.

These measures may include:

• Password protection
• Encryption technologies
• Restricted access controls
• Security monitoring
• Cloudflare security services
• Infrastructure protections
• Incident response procedures

While reasonable safeguards are implemented, no internet-based service can guarantee absolute security.

15. Data Breach Response

In the event of a suspected or confirmed data breach, Simakade will:

• Investigate the incident
• Assess the scope and impact
• Take reasonable steps to contain and remediate the issue
• Notify affected parties where required by applicable law
• Notify relevant authorities where legally required

16. Data Retention

Simakade retains personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfil the purposes described in this Privacy Policy or as required by law.

Current retention guidelines include:

• User accounts: retained until deletion is requested
• General enquiries: up to 24 months after last communication
• Support communications: up to 24 months after resolution
• Stakeholder and onboarding communications: up to 7 years after last communication
• Subscription and payment records: up to 7 years where required by law
• Security logs: up to 12 months
• Marketing subscriptions: until unsubscribed
• Analytics information: according to provider retention settings

Where appropriate, information may be anonymised rather than deleted.

17. International Transfers

Personal information may be processed, stored, or transferred outside South Africa through service providers, cloud infrastructure providers, analytics providers, security providers, payment providers, or other legitimate service providers.

Where international transfers occur, Simakade aims to implement reasonable safeguards designed to protect personal information.

18. Children

The Platform is not directed at children under the age of 16.

Simakade does not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 16.

If Simakade becomes aware that personal information relating to a child under 16 has been collected without appropriate authority, reasonable steps will be taken to remove such information.

19. Your Rights

Subject to applicable law, users may have the right to:

• Access personal information
• Correct personal information
• Delete personal information
• Restrict processing
• Object to processing
• Withdraw consent
• Request portability of personal information
• Lodge complaints with relevant authorities

Requests may be submitted to info@simakade.com.

20. Future Features

As Simakade evolves, future services may include:

• Traveller profiles
• Saved itineraries
• Travel journals
• Community features
• Wildlife sightings
• Photo uploads
• Video uploads
• Reviews
• Staff mentions
• Guest mentions
• Mobile applications
• Marketplace functionality
• Recommendation systems
• Artificial intelligence tools

Additional privacy notices or updates may be published as new services are introduced.

21. Changes to this Privacy Policy

Simakade may update this Privacy Policy from time to time.

Changes become effective when published on the Platform.

Users are encouraged to review this Privacy Policy periodically.

Continued use of the Platform following publication of changes may constitute acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

22. Contact Information

Simakade Safari Group
Registration Number: 2024/538810/07
Brackenfell, Cape Town, 7560
South Africa

Email: info@simakade.com

Information Officer Contact: info@simakade.com

Website: simakade.com