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Privacy Policy

Last updated: 2 October 2026

Ruitersrus Guest Farm (“Ruitersrus”, “we”, “us”) respects your privacy. This policy explains what personal information we collect through this website, how we use it, and your rights under the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA).

1. Who we are

Responsible party: Ruitersrus Guest Farm
Address: R328 Ruiterbos, Mossel Bay, 6500, South Africa
Email: bookings@ruitersrus.co.za
Phone: +27 84 812 2024
Information Officer: Willie

2. What information we collect

Information you give us. When you contact us through the website, by email, by phone or on social media, we may collect your name, email address, phone number, the dates and group size of your planned stay, and any message or special requests you send.

Information collected automatically. We collect anonymous usage statistics through our analytics service, Umami (see section 6). This includes pages viewed, referring website, country, browser and device type. It does not identify you personally. Our hosting provider may also keep standard server logs, which can include IP addresses, for security purposes.

Bookings made on other platforms. You can book through Booking.com, Airbnb and LekkeSlaap. Those bookings are made on the platform’s own website, and the platform collects and processes your payment and booking details under its own privacy policy. We receive the booking information we need to host your stay, such as your name, contact details, dates and guest numbers. We do not take payments or collect card details on this website.

3. How we use your information

We use your information to:

  • respond to enquiries and booking requests
  • manage and confirm your stay, and communicate with you before, during and after it
  • meet our legal and accounting obligations
  • keep the website secure and working properly
  • understand how the website is used so we can improve it

We only process personal information where we have a lawful basis under POPIA, such as your consent, the need to perform or enter into a contract with you, a legal obligation, or our legitimate interests in running our business. We do not use your information for purposes unrelated to those above without telling you first.

4. Marketing

We will only send you marketing communications, such as newsletters or special offers, if you have opted in. You can unsubscribe at any time by using the link in the message or by emailing us. We do not sell your personal information.

5. Who we share it with

We share personal information only where necessary, with:

  • Booking platforms (Booking.com, Airbnb, LekkeSlaap) in connection with your reservation
  • Service providers that help us run the website and our business, such as website hosting, email and analytics providers.
  • Authorities or advisers where required by law, or to protect our legal rights

Some of these providers may store or process information outside South Africa. Where this happens, we take reasonable steps to make sure your information remains protected as required by POPIA.

6. Cookies and analytics

This website does not use cookies to track you. To understand how the site is used, we use Umami, a privacy-focused analytics service. Umami does not use cookies, does not track you across other websites, and does not collect personal information such as your name or email address. It records anonymous, aggregated information such as pages viewed, referring website, country, browser and device type.

The website may contain links to external sites, including booking platforms, Facebook and attraction websites. We are not responsible for the content or privacy practices of those sites.

The contact page includes an embedded Google Map. When the page loads, your browser connects to Google, which may receive your IP address and may set cookies. See Google’s privacy policy at policies.google.com/privacy.

7. How long we keep your information

We keep personal information only as long as needed for the purposes above, or as long as the law requires. Enquiry and booking records are kept for up to 5 years for administrative and tax purposes, and then deleted or anonymised.

8. How we protect your information

We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information against loss, misuse and unauthorised access. No online system is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security. If a security breach affects your information, we will notify you and the Information Regulator as required by law.

9. Your rights

Under POPIA, you have the right to:

  • ask whether we hold personal information about you, and request access to it
  • ask us to correct or delete information that is inaccurate, outdated or no longer needed
  • object to the processing of your information, including for direct marketing
  • withdraw consent you have given, at any time
  • lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator

To exercise any of these rights, email bookings@ruitersrus.co.za and we will respond within a reasonable time. We may need to verify your identity first.

10. Children

This website is not directed at children. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18 without the consent of a parent or guardian. Details about children in your group, such as their ages, are used only to arrange your stay.

11. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The latest version will always be on this page, with the “last updated” date at the top.

12. Contact us

If you have questions about this policy or how we handle your information, contact us at bookings@ruitersrus.co.za or +27 84 812 2024.