1. Who We Are
Okavango ("we", "us", or "our") is the developer of the Okavango app — an offline travel companion for the Okavango Delta in Botswana. We are committed to protecting the privacy of our users and handling any personal data we collect responsibly and transparently.
For any privacy-related enquiries, please contact us at support@okavango.app.
2. What Data We Collect
We designed Okavango to be as privacy-respecting as possible. Here is a complete overview of what the app accesses:
Location Data
When you use the map, the app requests access to your device's GPS location. This data is used solely to:
- Show your current position as a blue dot on the map
- Calculate approximate directions to saved locations
Your location is never transmitted to our servers, never stored in any database, and never shared with third parties. It is used in real time only and is discarded when the app is closed.
Favorites
When you save a location to your favorites, the saved IDs are stored using your device's local storage (AsyncStorage). This data:
- Never leaves your device
- Is not synced to any server or cloud service
- Can be cleared at any time by uninstalling the app
Map Tiles
When you are online, the app fetches map tiles from OpenFreeMap (tiles.openfreemap.org), a free and open-source mapping service. These requests may expose your IP address to OpenFreeMap's servers, as with any web request. Please refer to OpenFreeMap's own privacy policy for details. Once tiles are cached, no further network requests are made for map display.
No Account, No Analytics
The Okavango app does not require you to create an account. We do not integrate any analytics SDKs (such as Firebase Analytics, Mixpanel, or similar), crash-reporting tools, or advertising networks. We do not track your behaviour within the app.
3. How We Use Your Data
To summarise, the only data we process is:
- GPS location — used locally on-device to show your position on the map and to assist with directions. Not stored, not transmitted.
- Favorites list — stored locally on-device to remember your saved spots between sessions.
We do not use your data for any commercial purpose, including advertising, profiling, or selling to third parties.
4. Third-Party Services
The app makes use of the following third-party technology:
- OpenFreeMap / MapLibre — Provides free, open-source map tiles. When online, tile requests are made to
tiles.openfreemap.org. These requests may log your IP address according to their standard server logs. - Expo / React Native — The underlying framework used to build the app. Expo itself does not collect user data from production apps built with the bare workflow.
We do not use Google Maps, Apple Maps APIs, Facebook SDKs, or any advertising technology.
5. Data Retention
Since we do not collect or store personal data on our servers, there is nothing for us to retain or delete. All data (favorites, cached map tiles) resides entirely on your device and is removed when you uninstall the app.
6. Children's Privacy
The Okavango app does not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. As the app collects no personal data whatsoever, it is safe for all ages. If you believe your child's information has been inadvertently collected, please contact us immediately at support@okavango.app.
7. Your Rights
Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have rights including the right to access, correct, or delete your personal data. Because Okavango stores no personal data on any server, most of these rights are automatically fulfilled by the app's design.
If you have questions about your rights or wish to make a data-related request, contact us at support@okavango.app and we will assist you within 30 days.
8. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be reflected by updating the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Continued use of the app following any changes constitutes your acceptance of those changes.
For any questions regarding changes to this policy, write to support@okavango.app.
9. Contact
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or the handling of your data, please contact us:
- Email: support@okavango.app
- We aim to respond to all enquiries within 2 business days.