Privacy Policy for Wagyu Mountain Lodges
Last Updated: 25 March 2026
Wagyu Mountain Lodges, operated by The Wagyu Experience (Pty) Ltd ("we," "us," or "our"), respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information when you visit our website (www.thewagyu.co.za), use our booking services, or stay at our lodges.
This policy is designed to comply with the Protection of Personal Information Act No. 4 of 2013 (POPIA) and other applicable data protection laws in the Republic of South Africa.
1. Information We Collect
We collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us when you make a booking, inquire about our services, or check in at our lodges. The types of personal information we may collect include:
• Identity Information: Full name, surname, identity number, or passport number.
• Contact Information: Email address, physical address, and telephone number.
• Financial Information: Payment card details and billing address (processed securely through our payment gateways).
• Booking Information: Dates of stay, room preferences, special requests, and names of accompanying guests.
• Technical Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, and usage data collected automatically when you visit our website via cookies and similar technologies.
2. Purpose of Collection
In accordance with Section 18 of POPIA, we collect and process your personal information for the following lawful purposes:
• To process and manage your accommodation bookings and payments.
• To communicate with you regarding your reservation, including sending confirmations and updates.
• To comply with legal obligations, such as the guest registration requirements under the Immigration Act of 2002.
• To provide customer support and respond to your inquiries.
• To improve our website, services, and overall guest experience.
• To send you marketing communications, provided you have opted in to receive them (you may opt out at any time).
The provision of your identity, contact, and payment information is mandatory to secure a booking. Failure to provide this information will result in our inability to process your reservation.
3. Lawful Processing
We process your personal information based on the following legal grounds:
• Contractual Necessity: Processing is necessary for the performance of the accommodation contract between you and The Wagyu Experience (Pty) Ltd.
• Legal Obligation: Processing is necessary to comply with South African laws, such as tax and immigration regulations.
• Legitimate Interests: Processing is necessary for our legitimate business interests, provided they do not override your fundamental rights and freedoms.
• Consent: Where required, we will obtain your explicit consent before processing your information (e.g., for direct marketing).
4. Disclosure of Personal Information
We do not sell or rent your personal information to third parties. We may share your information with selected third parties only under the following circumstances:
• Service Providers: We may share information with trusted third-party vendors who assist us in operating our website, processing payments, or providing services to you. These providers are bound by strict confidentiality agreements and are required to comply with POPIA.
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose your information to law enforcement agencies, government officials, or other third parties if required to do so by law, court order, or legal process.
• Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of all or a portion of our assets, your personal information may be transferred to the acquiring entity.
5. Cross-Border Data Transfers
Our website and booking systems may be hosted on servers located outside of South Africa. If we transfer your personal information to a third country, we will ensure that the recipient country has adequate data protection laws substantially similar to POPIA, or we will implement appropriate safeguards, such as binding corporate rules or standard data protection clauses, to protect your information.
6. Security Safeguards
We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against accidental or unlawful destruction, loss, alteration, unauthorized disclosure, or access. This includes the use of encryption, secure servers, and restricted access controls. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is entirely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
7. Data Retention
We will retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including satisfying any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements. Once the retention period expires, your information will be securely deleted or anonymized.
8. Your Rights as a Data Subject
Under POPIA, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:
• Right of Access: You have the right to request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
• Right to Rectification: You have the right to request the correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal information.
• Right to Erasure: You have the right to request the deletion of your personal information, subject to certain legal exceptions.
• Right to Object: You have the right to object to the processing of your personal information on reasonable grounds.
• Right to Withdraw Consent: Where processing is based on consent, you may withdraw your consent at any time.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact our Information Officer using the details provided below.
9. Complaints to the Information Regulator
If you believe that we have processed your personal information in violation of POPIA, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa.
Contact Details of the Information Regulator:
• Email: POPIAComplaints@inforegulator.org.za
• Website: https://inforegulator.org.za/
10. Changes to this Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. The updated policy will be posted on our website with a revised "Last Updated" date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.
11. Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data processing practices, please contact us at:
• Company: The Wagyu Experience (Pty) Ltd
• Email: accommodation@thewagyu.co.za
• Phone: +27823800758
• Address: Lustigan Road, Ronwe Farm, Paarl