Privacy & POPIA Notice
Personal information should be collected because it is needed — not simply because it can be collected
Ekala uses personal information to answer enquiries, prepare quotations, plan and supply services, administer bookings and payments, conduct commissioned research where applicable, and meet normal legal and business requirements. Ekala aims to collect relevant information rather than unnecessary personal detail.
At a glance
Information is collected for a reason
The purpose depends on the service requested
A normal enquiry may require only a name, email, dates, guest number, available time and interests. A safari, Guest House stay, research commission or adapted tour may require additional information that is directly relevant to planning or supplying that service.
Ekala does not need a medical diagnosis simply because a guest has a mobility or accessibility requirement. The useful information is what the person can and cannot safely or comfortably do.
Information to Quote
See the practical information Ekala asks clients to supply when planning and quoting a service.
Contact Ekala
Use the main enquiry route and keep substantive booking information in one written email thread where possible.
Some information must be shared to supply the booking
Only the relevant part should be passed on
A lodge, sanctuary, ranger, resident guide, attraction or other provider may need information in order to supply the component Ekala has arranged. Ekala should share what is reasonably necessary for that purpose rather than an unrelated history of the client.
Third-party operators remain responsible for their own systems, policies and legal obligations.
How We Design Your Journey
Understand why some fixed third-party components need to be planned around the client’s real requirements in advance.
Terms & Conditions
The contractual rules for Ekala services remain separate from this privacy notice.
Research material can contain particularly personal information
Commissioned research is treated as client material, not marketing content
Family documents, photographs, certificates, correspondence and research questions may reveal information about the client and other people. Ekala uses that material for the commissioned work and related administration rather than treating it as material that can automatically be published on the website.
Copyright in Ekala-created research and privacy in client-supplied information are separate issues; neither creates an unrestricted right to publish the other party’s material.
Research & Ancestral History
See the separate research services, scope, budget and intellectual-property principles.
Responsible Tourism
Responsible planning includes being clear about what information is actually needed and why.
Records are not all kept for the same length of time
Retention follows the purpose and legal requirements
Booking correspondence, invoices, payment records, research files and other business records can have different legitimate retention needs. Ekala does not promise to delete every record immediately after a tour or stay where a lawful business, contractual, accounting or legal reason requires it to be retained.
Personal information should nevertheless not be kept indefinitely without a continuing reason.
Website and communication systems should reflect actual practice
Ekala should disclose what the site really uses
Website forms, email, hosting, spam protection, analytics or other technical services may process information as part of normal website operation. The privacy notice should remain aligned with the tools actually used rather than listing generic advertising systems that are not present.
Substantive booking information is best kept in one email thread because parallel instructions through different channels can create conflicting records.
Travel Practical Planning
See the practical planning principles that explain why relevant information must be supplied early.
Questions about your information?
Contact Ekala if you need to ask what information is held, correct information supplied to us, or raise another privacy question. Requests are handled subject to applicable legal and legitimate record-retention requirements.