African Conservation Trust

What African Conservation Trust does

African Conservation Trust (ACT) is a South African non-profit Trust, founded in 2000 by Carl Grossmann and currently led by CEO Francois du Toit. Registered as a Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) and Public Benefit Organisation with B-BBEE Level 1 status, ACT operates from Durban and delivers a portfolio of interconnected programmes across four provinces — KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga. Its core offerings span food security (homestead and community gardens using agro-ecological and permaculture methods), biodiversity conservation (Applied Ecology Unit, ZAP-Wing aerial anti-poaching operations covering 25 game reserves, Project Rhino KZN coordinating 37+ organisations), heritage conservation (GIS-based mapping of Iron Age settlement sites, 3D scanning of Drakensberg rock art and corbelled houses for the CyArk archive), natural resource management (erosion control, invasive vegetation removal, water conservation), and the Social Employment Fund — a Presidential Employment Stimulus programme employing 3,000 participants in 180+ teams. ACT also runs the CWC Africa initiative targeting 6 million hectares of community land for Communal Wild Conservancies and the Made Wild FMCG brand, and operates the nSimbi capacity-building partnership that has helped other NPOs raise over R20 million.

ACT's technology stack is modest and domain-specialised rather than AI-native, consisting of GIS modelling for heritage site identification, digital preservation equipment for archaeological documentation, agro-ecological training methods, and aerial surveillance aircraft (BushCat) for wildlife crime response. Underlying technical components include geo-referencing of historical sketch maps, ecological modelling for habitat conservation planning (20-year community sustainability plans combined with 5-year habitat plans), and integrated datasets shared with SANParks and partner universities.

ACT's revenue model is a hybrid non-profit structure combining three streams: (1) donations and charitable contributions from individuals and corporates via direct bank deposit, GivenGain, PayPal, and PayGate — with Section 18A tax deduction receipts enabling South African donor incentives; (2) government and foundation grants from the Department of Environmental Affairs, dtic, IDC (Social Employment Fund), National Lotteries Commission, Global Environment Facility, Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, Bel Foundation, and German Embassy; and (3) corporate B-BBEE partnerships where ACT's Level 1 accreditation delivers tax deductions and CSI recognition to South African companies. The go-to-market is community-led and direct-to-funder, with no pricing model given the non-profit status. Customer segments are dual-sided: beneficiary communities (rural populations, unemployed individuals, game reserves, heritage agencies) and funders (individuals, corporates, government departments, international foundations).

Name

African Conservation Trust

Legal name

African Conservation Trust

Website

https://projectafrica.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

African Conservation Trust is a South African non-profit Trust, founded in 2000, delivering food security, biodiversity conservation, heritage preservation, and anti-poaching programmes across four provinces, serving rural communities, game reserves, and government partners via a 3,000-participant Social Employment Fund.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC), Conservation & Human–Wildlife Conflict Mitigation (BPAGAIAI), Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release (BPAGAIAC)

Keywords

• Environmental conservation
• Wildlife protection
• Heritage preservation
• Community development
• Natural resource management

Headquarters

HQ city

Durban

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: ACT accepts donations from individuals and organizations via direct bank deposit, GivenGain platform, PayPal, and PayGate. As a registered NPO and Public Benefit Organisation, ACT can issue Section 18A certificates for tax deductions to South African donors.
2. Government and Foundation Grants: Funding from government departments, provincial heritage authorities, international foundations, and environmental funds. Funders include Department of Environmental Affairs, Global Environment Facility, National Lotteries Commission, Bel Foundation, and various international donors.
3. Corporate B-BBEE Partnerships: Corporate donations and CSI projects leveraged through B-BBEE Level 1 accreditation, offering companies tax deductions and recognition under Amended Codes.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

African Conservation Trust (ACT) is a South African non-profit Trust that delivers an integrated portfolio of conservation, food security, heritage preservation, and natural resource management programmes through community-based engagement. It funds and runs anti-poaching initiatives (Project Rhino, ZAP-Wing aerial surveillance), employs 3,000 participants through the Presidential Social Employment Fund across four provinces, digitally documents heritage sites using GIS and 3D scanning, and builds capacity for other NPOs through the nSimbi partnership programme.

Product overview

African Conservation Trust (ACT) is a broad-based environmental, conservation, and heritage organisation operating as a non-profit trust founded in 2000. Rather than a single product, ACT offers a portfolio of interconnected programmes: Food Security (homestead and community gardens using agro-ecological methods), Biodiversity Conservation (through the Applied Ecology Unit), Heritage Conservation (digital mapping and preservation using GIS technology), Natural Resource Management (water and land protection), Project Rhino (anti-poaching collaborative), Social Employment Fund (presidential job stimulus programme), nSimbi Partnership (NPO capacity building), and CWC Africa (Communal Wild Conservancies). The organisation also operates the ZAP-Wing aerial anti-poaching unit, Water Explorer education programme, and Zululand Community Solar Project, all working toward the vision of 'People on a profitable planet' through collaborative community engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 77.3 HA of productive agricultural landscapes established
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Project Rhino KZNcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011ACT is a founding member and served as secretariat from 2011-2021, managing the ACT Rhino Fund and providing administrative support. Project Rhino is a collaboration of 37+ organizations combatting wildlife crime in KwaZulu-Natal Province.
• CyArkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in digital heritage preservation, awarding CyArk 500 Awards to ACT for Drakensberg rock art and corbelled houses documentation.
• EThekwini MunicipalitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCombined initiative (EMSLI) with ACT supplying seedlings, training and mentorship to community micro gardeners in Inanda Valley.
• African Raptor TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACT partnered with African Raptor Trust to build an education centre for bearded vulture breeding programme, with funding from National Lotteries Commission.
• WILDlandsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgricultural mentorship team supporting Project Rhino and ACT's food garden development at ECDs in KwaJobe region.
• University of KwaZulu-NatalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACT partnered with UKZN since 2003 to digitally map Rock Art in the Ukhahlamba Drakensberg. UKZN Foundation is also listed as a partner.
• iSimangaliso Wetland AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for conservation work in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park area.
• Ezemvelo KZN WildlifecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvincial conservation authority partner for wildlife and biodiversity conservation in KwaZulu-Natal.
• SANParkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Kruger National Park heritage documentation and conservation work, with ACT's GIS team working alongside SANParks datasets.
• Future Farmer FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting agricultural training and farming practices in communities.
• Imfolozi Community Wilderness AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACT was instrumental in the formation of this alliance for wilderness conservation in Imfolozi area.
• Frack-Free SAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerACT was instrumental in the formation of Frack-Free SA environmental advocacy organization.
• Upper UThukela Catchment ForumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerACT initiated the collaboration of this catchment management forum.
• KwaZulu-Natal MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in heritage conservation and documentation projects.
• Social Employment Fund (Presidential Employment Stimulus)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACT is a Strategic Implementing Partner overseeing 3,000 participants in environmental work across four provinces. Project is led by Department of Trade, Industry and Competition and managed by Industrial Development Corporation (IDC).
• CWC Africa (Communal Wild Conservancies)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACT leads the CWC Africa initiative seeking to convert 6 million hectares of community land surrounding protected areas into Communal Wild Conservancies, creating conservation-based revenue streams for local communities.
• nSimbi Partnership NPOscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACT assists fledgling NPOs to build capacity and access funding through nSimbi programme, having raised over R20 million for these entities. Partners include 1000 Hills Chef School, African Raptor Centre, Butterfly Routes, Growing Parks, Headway Group, IDT, PMMB Trust, Umkhusu, Wilderness Action Group, and others.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Regional players

• Conservation South Luangwa: Zambian counterpart running integrated community-based wildlife conservation with anti-poaching, community livelihoods, and partner-organisation coordination. Comparable operating model, but focused on Zambia rather than South Africa.

Direct peers

• Save the Rhino International: UK-headquartered nonprofit focused exclusively on rhino conservation funding and coordination globally. Directly comparable to ACT's Project Rhino and ACT Rhino Fund activities on the rhino-specific donor and protection side.
• Peace Parks Foundation: South African-headquartered nonprofit that establishes and manages transfrontier conservation areas across southern Africa. Most directly comparable to ACT on the conservation-economy model and large-scale protected-area landscape work underpinning CWC Africa.
• iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority: Public body managing a UNESCO World Heritage Site in KZN with whom ACT is already a partner. Comparable on protected-area management, community conservancy development, and biodiversity outcomes in the same geographies ACT serves.
• WWF South Africa: South African affiliate of a global conservation NGO working on biodiversity, wildlife crime (including rhino), and sustainable livelihoods. Comparable mission, donor base, and B-BBEE-style partnership models to ACT.
• Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife: Provincial conservation authority that is already a core ACT partner for wildlife and biodiversity in KZN. Comparable on protected-area operations and biodiversity outcomes in the same geography, though ACT operates as the NGO complement.
• Wilderness Foundation: South African conservation nonprofit focused on anti-poaching, rhino protection, and community-based conservation in KZN-adjacent landscapes. Highly comparable peer on community-engagement and anti-poaching delivery models.
• WILDlands Conservation Trust: South African conservation NGO already partnering with ACT on agricultural mentorship and food gardens in KwaJobe. Directly comparable programmatic peer on integrated community + conservation + food security programmes.

Broad incumbents

• Fauna & Flora International: Global conservation NGO with presence in southern Africa focused on species and habitat protection with community partnerships. Comparable programmatic mix but broader global scope and larger institutional donor base.
• African Wildlife Foundation: Pan-African conservation NGO with broader geographic mandate covering wildlife, habitat, and community programmes across the continent. Comparable mission and stakeholder engagement model to ACT but at much greater scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ACTsafrica
• Facebookfacebook.com/ACTsafrica
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/african-conservation-trust

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Conservation Trust