African Parks

What African Parks does

African Parks is a Johannesburg-headquartered non-profit conservation organization founded in 2000 that manages 24 protected areas across 13 African countries covering more than 20 million hectares, under long-term public-private partnership mandates with national governments. Its operating model rests on three pillars—biodiversity conservation (law enforcement, species restoration, ecological monitoring), community development (education, healthcare, sustainable livelihoods), and park revenue generation (tourism and conservation-compatible enterprises)—underpinned by management and infrastructure investment. Documented outcomes include 83% of key species with stabilized or increased populations, a 17% reduction in average poaching rate, and over 630 southern white rhinos translocated through the Rhino Rewild initiative as of 2025.

The organization generates revenue through a blended model: tourism (US$17.8M in 2025, 8% growth), nature-based solutions including VCS carbon credits (US$7.3M, 35% growth), community enterprise income, and multi-year grants from a diversified base of private foundations, institutional donors, and bilateral/multilateral government partners including the Wyss Foundation, EU, Dutch Postcode Lottery, Howard G. Buffett Foundation, and Legacy Landscapes Fund. Field operations rely on a monitoring technology stack spanning eDNA sampling, BIOSCAN, Molecular Ecological Network Analysis, satellite tagging, camera trap networks, and predictive modeling—research-backed by partners including Duke University and Allen Family Philanthropies. With 5,000+ staff and operations spanning savannah, wetland, rainforest, and marine ecosystems, African Parks holds the largest protected-area portfolio under management by any single NGO in Africa, targeting 30 parks by 2030.

Governance is via a Board chaired by Vasant Narasimhan with CEO Peter Fearnhead leading day-to-day operations; the organization maintains legal entities in South Africa, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, the USA, the UK, and Denmark. Recent strategic moves include the 2024 entry into Ethiopia via Gambella National Park, the 2025 addition of Kundelungu in the DRC, the Garamba mandate renewal, and the launch of Project Bomoko institutionalizing a human rights-based operational framework following a 2025 Chad mandate revocation that was subsequently reinstated.

Name

African Parks

Legal name

African Parks Network NPC

Website

https://africanparks.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

African Parks is a Johannesburg-based non-profit founded in 2000 that manages 24 protected areas across 13 African countries covering over 20 million hectares through long-term public-private partnership mandates with sovereign governments, delivering biodiversity conservation, community development, and park revenue generation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation Administration (BPAIAMAG), Conservation Parks & Private Nature Reserves (Visitor Operations) (THAAAFAB), National Parks & Protected Area Visitor Services (Concessions, Guided Access) (THAAAAAH)

Keywords

• Protected area management
• Biodiversity conservation services
• Wildlife conservation
• Community development programs
• Ecotourism operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Johannesburg

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tourism and Park Revenue: Revenue generated through sustainable tourism options and conservation-compatible enterprises within parks. Tourism revenue grew by 8% to US$17.8 million in 2025. Akagera achieved full financial sustainability, generating over US$5 million in park revenue.
2. Private Philanthropy and Institutional Funding: Funding from strategic funding partners including foundations, governments, and private donors. The organization received significant multi-year flexible funding from partners and closed a US$25.4 million funding gap in 2025 through cost reductions and partner support.
3. Ecosystem Services Monetization: Proceeds from monetization of ecosystem services including carbon credits. In 2025, US$7.3 million was generated from nature-based solutions, a 35% increase from 2024. First carbon fund disbursements were made to community projects.
4. VCS Carbon Credits: Funds generated from VCS carbon funding projects, with 10% flowing directly to communities. First carbon credits were issued in 2023 for Chinko Conservation Area.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

African Parks is a non-profit conservation organization that takes on direct responsibility for the rehabilitation and long-term management of protected areas in partnership with governments and local communities. It manages 24 protected areas across 13 African countries covering over 20 million hectares, delivering biodiversity conservation, community development, and park revenue generation through public-private partnership (PPP) management mandates.

Product overview

African Parks is a non-profit conservation organization that operates as a platform managing 24 protected areas across 13 African countries through public-private partnership agreements with governments. The organization's core offering comprises protected area management services structured around three interconnected pillars: Biodiversity Conservation, Community Development, and Park Revenue Generation. These are underpinned by management and infrastructure foundations. Key programs include the Rhino Rewild Initiative (aiming to translocate 2,000 southern white rhino), the African Conservation Academy for training, the Incubation Programme for scaling partnerships, and The Great Nile Migration Campaign. The organization manages diverse ecosystems including wetlands, savannahs, marine areas, and rainforests totaling over 20 million hectares.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rhino Rewild: Conservation initiative aimed at restoring 2,000 southern white rhino to well-protected areas across Africa
• African Conservation Academy
• The Great Nile Migration
• From the Ground Up

Products and services

• Protected Area Management Services Long-term rehabilitation and management of protected areas through public-private partnership agreements with African governments and local communities, encompassing all management functions including law enforcement, biodiversity monitoring, infrastructure, and sustainable ecosystem management across 24 protected areas.
• Biodiversity Conservation Conservation law enforcement, species restoration, wildlife monitoring and research, and reintroduction programs to protect and restore biodiversity across managed protected areas, including species reintroduction like the Rhino Rewild Initiative and use of eDNA, BIOSCAN, satellite tagging and camera trap technologies.
• Community Development Socio-economic development initiatives for communities living in and around protected areas, including education, healthcare, sustainable livelihoods, and conservation-compatible enterprises. Over 33,000 people participated in livelihood projects; US$2.3 million was channelled to communities in 2025.
• Park Revenue Generation Tourism development and conservation-compatible enterprises that generate revenue flowing back into park management and surrounding communities. Tourism revenue grew 8% to US$17.8 million in 2025, with 188,000 paying visitors across parks; Akagera achieved over US$5 million in park revenue.
• Rhino Rewild Initiative A flagship conservation initiative aimed at rescuing and rewilding over 2,000 southern white rhinoceroses to safe, well-managed protected areas across Africa, leveraging predictive technologies to monitor rhinos and their impact on carbon storage, biodiversity and ecosystem restoration.
• Incubation Programme Scaling initiative that supports emerging conservation organizations and protected area management through partnerships and knowledge sharing, enabling the African Parks model to be replicated by other conservation entities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 83% of key species have increased or stabilised populations since partnership inception
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Government of South Sudan (Ministry of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 August 2022Signed a 10-year renewable management agreement for Boma and Badingilo National Parks, including wildlife corridors and proposed extension zones - an area extending over three million hectares.
• Government of Angola (MINAMB/INBC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2019Long-term management agreement for Iona National Park signed with the Angolan Ministry of Environment and National Institute of Biodiversity and Conservation.
• Government of Mozambique (ANAC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2017Signed a 25-year co-management agreement for Bazaruto Archipelago National Park to restore, develop and manage the marine protected area.
• Government of ChadcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2010Partnership for management of Greater Zakouma Ecosystem including Zakouma National Park and Siniaka Minia Wildlife Reserve, as well as Ennedi Natural and Cultural Reserve.
• Government of Malawi (Department of National Parks and Wildlife)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2003Longest-running partnership since 2003 for Majete Wildlife Reserve, expanding to Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve, Liwonde National Park in 2015, and Mangochi Forest Reserve in 2018.
• Government of Rwanda (Rwanda Development Board)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for management of Akagera National Park since 2010 and Nyungwe National Park since 2020. The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) is the government agency responsible for managing Rwanda's national parks.
• Duke University Nicholas School of the EnvironmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership backed by $2 million anonymous donation equally split between both organizations. Will study ecological ripple effects of rewilding through Rhino Rewild Project using predictive technologies.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Peace Parks Foundation: South Africa-based non-profit that facilitates the establishment of transfrontier conservation areas and long-term management agreements with African governments — the closest functional analogue to African Parks' PPP mandate model across multiple African countries.
• African Wildlife Foundation: Africa-focused conservation NGO that partners with governments and communities to manage landscapes and protected areas for wildlife conservation — comparable in mission, geography, and stakeholder base.
• Wildlife Conservation Society: US-based NGO that operates a global network of wildlife parks (Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, and field conservation programs in 60+ countries including Africa) — comparable in managing protected areas, species recovery, and field ranger operations.
• Frankfurt Zoological Society: German-based conservation NGO that co-manages protected areas in Africa (including Serengeti, Mahale, and multiple African reserves) through long-term agreements with governments — directly comparable to African Parks' co-management mandate approach.
• Fauna & Flora International: UK-headquartered conservation NGO active across 40+ countries, including direct management of protected areas and species recovery programs in Africa — comparable in scope, model mix, and donor base.

Broad incumbents

• The Nature Conservancy: One of the world's largest environmental NGOs, operating across more than 70 countries with a focus on land and water conservation — a much broader portfolio than African Parks but overlapping in protected-area management, carbon, and conservation finance.
• World Wildlife Fund (WWF): Largest global conservation NGO with active programmatic and funding relationships with African Parks since 2007 — a broader, more diversified counterpart with overlapping goals in African wildlife and habitat conservation.
• Conservation International: Global conservation NGO that channels GEF funding to African Parks sites and operates protected-area, climate, and biodiversity-credit programs worldwide — overlapping in scope and financing mechanisms.

Emerging players

• Save the Elephants: Kenya-based NGO focused on elephant research and protection that co-runs the Elephant Crisis Fund (a funder of African Parks) — comparable in species-focus mission and African field operations, but narrower in mandate.

Others

• IUCN: International union for conservation of nature that sets global protected-area standards and the Red List — a peer in standards-setting and ecosystem governance rather than direct park operations, but materially relevant as a framework shaper.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AfricanParks
• Facebookfacebook.com/AfricanParks

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about African Parks