Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Ukarimu Guesthouse ("we", "us", "our") is committed to protecting the privacy and personal information of our guests, website visitors and anyone who contacts us. This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect, why we collect it, how we use it and how we protect it.

By making a booking, using our website at www.ukarimu.co.za, or contacting us by any means, you agree to the terms set out in this Privacy Policy.

We are located at 32 Marmer Street, Wilkoppies, Klerksdorp, 2571, North West Province, South Africa. Ukarimu Guesthouse is not VAT registered.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information you provide directly

We may collect the following personal information when you make a booking, send an enquiry or contact us:

• Full name
• Contact telephone number and/or WhatsApp number
• Email address
• Check-in and check-out dates
• Number of guests and any special requirements
• Payment information (processed securely through NightsBridge — we do not store card details)
• Any other information you voluntarily share with us

2.2 Information collected automatically

When you visit our website, we may collect certain technical information automatically, including:

• Your IP address
• Browser type and version
• Pages visited and time spent on our site
• Referring website or search engine

This information is collected through standard web server logs and may include cookies. Please refer to Section 7 below.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the personal information we collect for the following purposes:

• To process and confirm your booking
• To communicate with you regarding your reservation, including confirmation, changes and follow-up
• To respond to enquiries and requests
• To send you information about availability, special offers or promotions (only where you have consented)
• To comply with any legal or regulatory obligations
• To improve our services and website

We will not use your personal information for any purpose other than those described above without your prior consent.

4. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell, rent or trade your personal information to third parties. We may share your information only in the following limited circumstances:

• With NightsBridge, our online booking platform, solely for the purpose of processing your reservation
• With service providers who assist us in operating our business, subject to confidentiality obligations
• Where required by law, regulation or court order
• To protect the rights, property or safety of Ukarimu Guesthouse, our guests or others

Any third parties with whom we share your information are required to handle it in accordance with applicable privacy laws.

5. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as is necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by law. Booking records are generally retained for a period of five (5) years for accounting and legal compliance purposes. After this period, your information will be securely deleted or anonymised.

6. Protection of Your Information

We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information from unauthorised access, loss, misuse, disclosure or alteration. These measures include:

• Secure communication via WhatsApp and email
• Use of the NightsBridge secure booking platform for payment processing
• Restricted access to personal information within our establishment

While we take all reasonable precautions, no method of electronic transmission or storage is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security but commit to notifying you promptly if a breach affecting your information occurs.

7. Cookies

Our website may use cookies — small text files stored on your device — to improve your browsing experience and to collect analytical information about how our site is used. You may disable cookies through your browser settings; however, this may affect the functionality of certain parts of our website.

We do not use cookies to collect personally identifiable information without your knowledge.

8. Your Rights

In terms of the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and applicable South African privacy law, you have the right to:

• Request access to the personal information we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal information
• Request deletion of your personal information, subject to any legal retention obligations
• Object to the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances
• Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details provided in Section 10 below. We will respond to all requests within a reasonable time and in accordance with applicable law.

9. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, including our Facebook page, NightsBridge and Google. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites and encourage you to review their respective privacy policies before providing any personal information.

10. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or the handling of your personal information, please contact us:

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or applicable law. The updated policy will be published on our website with a revised effective date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Continued use of our services after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.