READ THIS POLICY CAREFULLY BEFORE BROWSING THIS WEBSITE OR USING ANY OF OUR SERVICES. YOUR CONTINUED USE OF THIS WEBSITE AND OUR SERVICES INDICATES THAT YOU HAVE BOTH READ AND AGREE TO THE TERMS OF THIS PRIVACY POLICY. YOU CANNOT USE THIS WEBSITE OR OUR SERVICES IF YOU DO NOT ACCEPT THIS POLICY.

Article 1. Privacy Policy

1.1. “Personal Information” is defined according to the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (“POPIA”) and the GDPR (EU) 2016/679.

1.2. Whispering Oaks is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring your information is used responsibly. We take appropriate security measures to protect your personal data.

1.3. When visiting our website or booking accommodation, you may be asked to provide:

• Full name

• Email address

• Contact number

• Number of guests

• Booking dates

• Any special requests

1.4. By using our website or submitting your information, you consent to our use of your data as described herein, and we will obtain further consent if legally required.

1.5. We do not collect sensitive personal data unless required and with your explicit consent.

1.6. Your data may be used for:

• Processing your bookings

• Responding to your inquiries

• Improving our services

• Sending important updates or offers

• Marketing communication (with opt-out option)

1.7. We implement technical and organizational safeguards to protect your personal data.

1.8. While no system is entirely secure, we continuously strive to improve our security practices.

1.9. Your data may be stored in a central database, and if hosted outside South Africa, we ensure appropriate protections are in place.

1.10. Personal information is retained only as long as needed or required by law.

1.11. Access to your information is restricted to authorized personnel and bound by confidentiality agreements.

1.12. We reserve the right to review and monitor content submitted via our site but are not obligated to do so.

1.13. Users under 18 may not use our services or submit data without appropriate legal consent.

1.14. We will never sell or misuse your personal information. Communications will only relate to services or promotions you’ve opted into.

Article 2. Your Rights

As a user, you have the right to:

• Access your personal data

• Request corrections

• Request deletion (“right to be forgotten”)

• Restrict or object to data processing

• Withdraw consent at any time

• Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator (South Africa)

Article 3. Disclosure of Personal Information

We may share your data with:

• Staff members

• Booking system providers

• Service partners only as required for fulfilling your request

Article 4. Log Files

We may collect technical data like your IP address, browser type, pages visited, and visit duration for analytics and improvement. This data is anonymous unless combined with personal information you voluntarily provide.

Article 5. Cookies

We use:

• Session Cookies (expire when the browser is closed)

• Permanent Cookies (used to remember user preferences)

You may disable cookies in your browser settings.

Article 6. Links from the Website

We may include links to third-party platforms (e.g., booking engines, social media). We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these third-party sites.

Article 7. Legal Details

This website is owned and operated by Whispering Oaks Guest House.

• Physical Address: 18 Caledon Street, George

• Contact Number: 044 873 0451

• Website: www.whisperingoaks.co.za

• Email: info@whisperingoaks.co.za

Article 8. Complaints

If you believe we’ve mishandled your data, please contact us directly. You may also contact the Information Regulator of South Africa for further assistance.