At Primate Holidays, we are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your data when you visit our website at https://www.primateholidays.com, interact with our services, or make bookings for gorilla trekking, chimpanzee safaris, wildlife tours, and other travel experiences in East Africa (including Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, DR Congo, and Zanzibar). We operate as a tour operator providing curated packages, bookings, and related services.
This policy applies to all visitors, users, and customers. By using our website or services, you consent to the practices described here. We comply with applicable data protection laws, including those in Uganda and international standards where relevant. If you have questions, contact us at info@primateholidays.com or +256 779 070 015.
Last updated: December 22, 2025.
Information We Collect
We collect personal information to provide and improve our services, process bookings, and communicate with you. The types of data we collect include:
- Contact and Identification Information: Name, email address, phone number, and other details you provide when requesting quotes, booking trips, or using our contact/callback forms.
- Booking and Travel Details: Preferred destinations, activities, group size, dietary needs, accessibility requirements, passport details (if needed for permits), and travel preferences to customize and fulfill your safari itineraries.
- Payment Information: Credit/debit card details, billing address, and other financial data processed securely during deposits or payments (e.g., 25% deposit and balance due 60 days prior).
- Technical Data: IP address, browser type, device information, and website usage data collected automatically to enhance your experience and detect spam.
- Marketing Preferences: Information from opt-ins for newsletters or promotions about deals, new itineraries, or conservation efforts.
We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are under 18, please obtain parental/guardian consent before providing data.
How We Collect Information
- Directly from You: Through forms on our booking page (e.g., quote requests, custom itineraries), callback requests, email inquiries, WhatsApp chats, or phone calls.
- Automatically: Via cookies and similar technologies (see Cookies section below) when you browse our site or interact with content.
- From Third Parties: Such as payment processors (e.g., Pesapal) or service providers if you book through affiliates.
How We Use Your Information
We use your data for the following purposes:
- To process and confirm bookings, including securing gorilla/chimpanzee permits, arranging lodges, transfers, and activities.
- To communicate with you about your trip, updates, changes, or reminders.
- To handle payments, including the $50 conservation contribution per booking donated to local projects.
- To provide customer support, respond to inquiries, and improve our services based on feedback.
- For marketing (with your consent), such as sending emails about similar safaris, special offers, or blog updates.
- To ensure security, prevent fraud, and comply with legal obligations (e.g., regulatory requirements for travel permits).
- For internal analysis, such as website performance and trend monitoring (anonymized where possible).
Our legal basis for processing includes contract performance (for bookings), consent (for marketing), and legitimate interests (for security and improvements).
Cookies
We use cookies to enhance your experience. If you leave a comment on our site, you may opt-in to saving your name, email address, and website in cookies for convenience. These last for one year.
If you visit our login page (if applicable), we set a temporary cookie to check browser compatibility—no personal data is stored, and it’s discarded when you close your browser.
When logging in, we set cookies for login information (lasting two days) and screen options (one year). Selecting “Remember Me” extends login to two weeks. Logout removes these cookies.
Editing or publishing articles saves a cookie with the post ID (no personal data, expires in one day).
We also use marketing cookies to enable content and personalize offers. You must accept them to view certain features. Manage cookies via your browser settings.
Comments
When you leave comments, we collect data from the form, your IP address, and browser user agent for spam detection.
An anonymized hash from your email may be sent to Gravatar to check for profile pictures. Their privacy policy is at https://automattic.com/privacy/. Approved comments make your profile picture public.
Media
Avoid uploading images with embedded location data (EXIF GPS), as visitors can extract it from website images.
Embedded Content from Other Websites
Articles may include embedded content (e.g., videos, images). This behaves as if you visited the other site, which may collect data, use cookies, track interactions, or monitor if you’re logged in.
Who We Share Your Data With
We share data only as necessary:
- Service Providers: Hotels, lodges, transport companies, guides, and permit authorities (e.g., Uganda Wildlife Authority) to fulfill bookings.
- Payment Processors: Pesapal for secure, PCI-compliant transactions. We do not store full card details.
- Communication Tools: WhatsApp for chats initiated via our site.
- Affiliates and Partners: Such as tourism boards or conservation organizations for joint promotions (with consent).
- Legal Requirements: If required by law, for fraud prevention, or in response to authorities.
We do not sell your data. Third parties are contractually obligated to protect it and use it only for specified purposes. For password resets, your IP is included in the email.
How Long We Retain Your Data
Comments and metadata are retained indefinitely for automatic approval of follow-ups.
Registered users’ profile data is stored indefinitely; you can edit/delete it (except username). Admins can view/edit it.
Booking and payment data is kept for 7 years to comply with accounting/tax laws, or longer if needed for disputes.
Marketing data is retained until you opt out.
We delete unnecessary data securely.
What Rights You Have Over Your Data
If you have an account or left comments, request an exported file of your data or erasure (excluding data kept for admin/legal/security reasons).
Rights include:
- Access, correction, or deletion of your data.
- Objection to processing or restriction.
- Data portability.
- Withdrawal of consent (e.g., unsubscribe from marketing).
Contact us to exercise rights; we respond within 30 days.
Where Your Data Is Sent
Data may be processed in Uganda or other East African countries. International transfers use safeguards like contractual clauses.
Visitor comments/checks go through automated spam detection.
Payments via Pesapal may involve transfers to their servers (see their policy).
Security Measures
We use encrypted connections, firewalls, and PCI-compliant gateways to protect data. Access is limited to authorized staff. While we strive for security, no system is infallible – notify us of breaches.
International Data Transfers
As an East African-based company serving global clients, data may transfer outside your country. We ensure adequate protections per applicable laws.
Children’s Privacy
We do not target children under 13. If we discover such data, we delete it.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy; changes are posted here with the updated date. Significant changes will be notified via email or site notice.
Contact Us
For questions or requests, email info@primateholidays.com, call +256 779 070 015, or use our contact form.