Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Location Data (GPS)

The App may access your device location to show your position on the Sightings Map, attach coordinates when you log a sighting, and support related orientation features.

• Live map location is processed on your device.
• We do not build or sell a continuous movement history of your travels.
• If you enable Auto-Share, donate data, or submit an optional report, the GPS coordinates tied to that action may leave your device as part of that anonymised submission.

1.2 Local app data (on your device)

The following are stored locally on your device (for example via on-device storage), not in a user account on our servers:

• Spotted-animal checklist, notes and related sighting fields
• Selected safari park and display preferences (language, theme, insects toggle, etc.)
• Optional Offline Mode and Auto-Share preference flags
• Local backups you create via Backup / Restore in Settings

1.3 Optional Auto-Share (live anonymised sightings)

If you turn on Auto-Share Location Data (Welcome or Settings), new sightings you log may be queued and uploaded in anonymised form (species/name, date/time, location text and GPS). Rhino-related IDs are skipped for protection. You can turn Auto-Share off at any time. The App works fully with Auto-Share off.

1.4 Optional Donate Data

Donate Data lets you manually upload anonymised past sighting coordinates, species IDs and timestamps for conservation research. It is voluntary. You can stop future donations; withdrawal does not recall data already donated.

1.5 Optional invasive-species / one-off reports

For certain invasive or special species, the App may offer a one-off anonymised report (species + location/GPS). No user account is required. Reports are processed without attaching a personal identity for partner review.

1.6 Crash reporting

Firebase Crashlytics may collect device model, OS version, stack traces and app version to diagnose crashes. This is used for stability, not advertising.

1.7 Photos & camera (optional)

The App may request camera or photo-library access only when you choose a photo-related action. Photos are not used for advertising profiles.

• Infrastructure / facility reports — optional photo + GPS you submit for park maintenance (anonymised; avoid faces and private licence plates)
• Special species reports (e.g. Southern Ground Hornbill) — optional photo with the report where offered
• Personal animal photos — optional images you attach to your on-device sighting checklist; these stay on your device unless you separately share them yourself

1.8 What we do not collect in this version

• No user registration, email login or cloud profile
• No community / lodge chat messages
• No advertising IDs, IDFA tracking or in-app Google Analytics
• No continuous background location tracking for marketing

2. How We Use Information

We do not sell your data. We do not use your information for advertising profiling.

• Local GPS — Sightings Map and attaching coordinates to sightings you create
• Local checklist — your personal park animal list on this device
• Auto-Share / Donate / optional reports — anonymised conservation, research or maintenance use with named partners
• Optional photos — only for the report or local checklist action you start
• Crashlytics — improve App stability

3. Third-Party Services

3.1 Conservation partners

Anonymised Auto-Share, Donate Data or report payloads may be shared with Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and other named conservation partners under appropriate arrangements. Personal identifiers are not attached to those conservation payloads.

3.2 OpenStreetMap / Leaflet

The online Sightings Map uses OpenStreetMap tiles and Leaflet. Tile requests may expose your IP address to map tile servers. That is a normal technical requirement of loading maps. See openstreetmap.org/privacy.

3.3 Google / Firebase

Crashlytics runs on Google Firebase. Anonymised report or donation pipelines may use Google Cloud or related HTTPS endpoints. Google acts as a processor. Data may be processed in Google Cloud regions.

• Firebase Privacy: firebase.google.com/support/privacy
• Google Cloud Data Processing Terms: cloud.google.com/terms/data-processing-terms

3.4 Expo

The App may be built and updated using Expo tooling. Where over-the-air updates are enabled, Expo may deliver JavaScript bundle updates. Expo Privacy: expo.dev/privacy

4. Website

Our website (keniacompanion.tusker-trails.co.za), if available, may have its own notices for cookies or web analytics. This document covers the mobile App. Online Privacy Policy: https://keniacompanion.tusker-trails.co.za/privacy

5. Data Retention

6. Kenya Data Protection Act & GDPR

We aim to comply with the Kenya Data Protection Act, 2019, and to align with GDPR principles for EU users. We collect only what is needed to operate the App.

• Contact for access / correction / deletion requests: tuskertrailsafrica@gmail.com
• You can clear local sightings via in-app tools and turn off Auto-Share anytime
• Lawful bases: consent (Auto-Share, Donate, optional reports) and legitimate interests (App stability, essential operation)

7. App Store disclosure summary

Tracking: No advertising tracking frameworks in the mobile App.

8. Children’s Privacy

The App is intended for general audiences. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. Contact us if you believe a child provided data so we can delete any server-side anonymised records we control.

9. Changes

We may update this Privacy Policy. Material changes will be communicated in-app. The version date above is the latest version.

10. Contact

Tusker Trails (Pty) Ltd

Email: tuskertrailsafrica@gmail.com

Information Officer: Alexander Hoppenrath

Postal Address: 15 Skool Street, George South, George, Western Cape, 6529, South Africa

Website: https://keniacompanion.tusker-trails.co.za

Privacy Policy (web): https://keniacompanion.tusker-trails.co.za/privacy