Privacy Policy
Last updated: 12 April 2026
The Dakar Experience respects your privacy and handles personal data with care. In this statement, we explain what data we collect, why, how long we retain it, and what rights you have. This statement applies to all services of The Dakar Experience and our website thedakarexperience.com.
Who are we?
The Dakar Experience is a trading name of Frank Samateh, based in Gambia, West Africa. We organise motorcycle expeditions in Gambia and Senegal.
| Website | www.thedakarexperience.com |
| thedakarexperience@outlook.com | |
| Country of establishment | Gambia |
Although we are based in Gambia, we also serve customers in the European Union and comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
What data do we collect?
We only collect data that you actively provide to us or that is automatically generated when you visit our website.
2a. Data you provide yourself
- Name
- Email address
- Phone number (optional)
- Content of your message or booking request
- Travel preferences and desired travel dates
2b. Automatically collected data
- IP address (anonymised via Google Analytics)
- Browser type and device information
- Pages visited and click behaviour
- Referring website (referrer)
This data is only collected if you give your consent via our cookie banner.
Why do we process your data?
| Purpose | Legal basis (GDPR art. 6) |
|---|---|
| Responding to your contact request or booking enquiry | Performance of a contract / legitimate interest |
| Processing your booking and travel preparation | Performance of a contract |
| Improving our website through website statistics | Consent |
| Displaying targeted advertisements via Meta (Facebook/Instagram) | Consent |
| Complying with legal obligations | Legal obligation |
How long do we retain your data?
| Category | Retention period |
|---|---|
| Contact form / email correspondence | 12 months after last contact |
| Booking data | 7 years (statutory retention obligation) |
| Analytical data (Google Analytics) | 14 months (default retention) |
| Marketing data (Meta Pixel) | See Meta's privacy policy |
After the retention period has expired, data is securely deleted or anonymised.
Cookies and tracking
Our website uses cookies. Below we explain what each category does.
5a. Functional cookies (always active)
These cookies are necessary for the functioning of the website. They store your cookie preference and ensure a stable session. No consent is required for these.
5b. Analytical cookies — Google Analytics 4
With your consent, we use Google Analytics 4 to gain insight into the use of our website — which pages are popular, how long visitors stay, and through which channel they arrive. We have:
- Enabled IP anonymisation
- Not shared data with Google for advertising purposes
- Set the retention period to 14 months
You can opt out via tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout or through our cookie banner.
5c. Marketing cookies — Meta Pixel
With your consent, we place the Meta Pixel (Facebook / Instagram). This measures the effectiveness of our advertisements and enables us to show relevant ads to people who have visited our website. Meta may link this data to your Facebook or Instagram profile. More information can be found in Meta's privacy policy. You can manage your advertising preferences at facebook.com/ads/preferences.
Changing your cookie preference
You can change your cookie preference at any time by clearing the cookies in your browser and reloading the page. The cookie banner will then appear again.
Third parties and processors
We engage the following parties in the processing of personal data:
| Party | Service | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Hostinger | Web hosting and server infrastructure | European Union |
| Google LLC | Analytics (Google Analytics 4) | USA — SCCs apply |
| Meta Platforms Inc. | Advertising tracking (Meta Pixel) | USA — SCCs apply |
| Email provider | Processing of contact forms | EU |
We have entered into a data processing agreement with all processors, or they are covered by the Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) of the European Commission for transfers outside the EU.
Transfers outside the EU
Google and Meta are based in the United States. When using Google Analytics and Meta Pixel, personal data may be transferred to the USA. This transfer is based on the Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) of the European Commission (GDPR art. 46).
Your rights (GDPR)
Under the GDPR, you have the following rights:
| Right | What does this mean? |
|---|---|
| Right of access | Request to know what data we process about you |
| Right to rectification | Have incorrect data corrected or completed |
| Right to erasure | Have your data deleted (right to be forgotten) |
| Right to restriction | Temporarily suspend processing |
| Right to object | Object to processing based on legitimate interest |
| Right to withdraw consent | Withdraw consent previously given at any time |
| Right to data portability | Receive your data in a readable format |
Send an email to thedakarexperience@outlook.com. We will respond within 30 days. We may ask for identification to prevent misuse.
Complaints
If you have a complaint about the way we process your data, please contact us first. If you are unable to resolve the matter, you can lodge a complaint with the supervisory authority:
| Authority | Website |
|---|---|
| Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) | ico.org.uk |
Security
We take appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorised access, loss, or misuse. Our website uses HTTPS encryption. Access to personal data is restricted to individuals who require it to carry out their duties.
Changes to this policy
We may update this privacy policy when required by law or changes in our practices. The most current version is always available on this page. In the event of material changes, we will notify you by email if we hold your contact details.