Community & Conservation
Across Southern Africa, organisations work on conservation, community development, and environmental protection. When you travel, these efforts often go unseen. We connect you with them so your trip supports the people and projects in the places you visit.
- 41
- Causes
- 14
- Towns
- 7
- National Partners
Where the work happens
41 organisations on the ground, from small-town initiatives to cross-border projects.
EducationConservationEnvironmentWildlifeCommunityEmergency ServicesAnimal Welfare
National Conservation Partners
These organisations work across South Africa to protect our natural heritage
South Africa
Endangered Wildlife Trust
Founded in 1973, the EWT is dedicated to conserving threatened species and ecosystems across strategic landscapes in Africa, working through three pillars: saving species, conserving habitats, and benefitting people.
ConservationNPO: 015-502PBO: 930 001 777
South Africa
Elephant-Human Relations Aid
EHRA has facilitated peaceful relationships between free-roaming desert elephants and Namibian communities since 2003. The organization addresses human-wildlife conflict through practical interventions, education, and continuous elephant monitoring across shared landscapes.
Conservation
South Africa
National Sea Rescue Institute
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) is a registered non-profit organisation dedicated to preventing drowning and providing water-related emergency response across South Africa's coastal and inland waterways. As the only non-profit in South Africa with a sole national mandate for drowning prevention, the NSRI delivers an integrated model that combines education, prevention, and rescue services—ensuring that lifesaving support reaches communities with the highest vulnerability. South Africa's persistently high rates of fatal and non-fatal drowning, most acute in under-resourced and rural communities, drive the NSRI's organisational needs. To fulfil its mission to save lives, change lives, and create futures, the NSRI must sustain full operational readiness, expand access to water-safety and survival-swimming education, and strengthen community-level capacity for prevention and response.
Emergency-servicesNPO: 196701361808
South Africa
Wildlife ACT
Wildlife ACT is a registered non-profit conservation organisation based in South Africa, dedicated to the long-term survival of Africa's Endangered and Priority species. Founded in 2008, the organisation was established in response to a simple but critical question: how can we protect what we do not understand? Wildlife ACT delivers professional, science-led wildlife monitoring and conservation support across under-resourced protected areas in South Africa and the Seychelles.
Conservation
South Africa
SANCCOB
The Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) is a leading seabird conservation organisation dedicated to saving threatened seabirds along the southern African coastline. Founded in 1968, SANCCOB has more than five decades of experience responding to seabird crises, from oil spills to chronic threats facing marine ecosystems, with a particular focus on the critically endangered African Penguin. As African Penguin populations continue to decline due to food scarcity, habitat disturbance and climate-related pressures, SANCCOB delivers direct, hands-on conservation interventions that have proven impact. This includes the rescue, rehabilitation and release of injured, oiled and abandoned seabirds, giving thousands of birds a second chance at life each year. A cornerstone of SANCCOB's work is its pioneering Chick Rearing Unit, where abandoned and at-risk African Penguin chicks are removed from failing colonies, hand-reared under expert care, and released back into the wild once they are strong enough to survive. This intervention significantly increases chick survival rates and is a critical tool in preventing the species' extinction. Complementing this work, SANCCOB's ranger programme provides vital on-the-ground protection at key breeding colonies. Rangers monitor nests, protect eggs and chicks, reduce human disturbance, and respond rapidly to emerging threats, helping to stabilise breeding success in some of the most vulnerable colonies. Through a combination of emergency response, long-term conservation programmes, scientific research, advocacy and education, SANCCOB is working tirelessly to ensure a future for Africa's iconic seabirds and the marine ecosystems they depend on.
ConservationNPO: 2001/026273/08
South Africa
Wilderness Foundation Africa
Wilderness Foundation Africa works across Species, Spaces and People to enable thriving natural ecosystems and wilderness areas, while striving to uplift the lives of disadvantaged youth in South Africa. Established in 1972 by Dr Ian Player and Magqubu Ntombela, WFA is a project-based non-profit and public benefit conservation and leadership organisation. The Conservation Programme focuses on the protection of iconic endangered species, and on establishing, developing and managing conservation areas, with an emphasis on ecological corridors which link protected areas. To date, we have added more than 1 million hectares to the formal conservation landscape in South Africa. The Youth Development Programme uses the healing power of nature to empower disadvantaged youth with skills training, personal development and environmental education. To date, more than 500 youth have received accredited vocational training and have been placed onto future pathways to sustainable livelihoods. Moreover, using advocacy to influence key environmental and conservation decisions and policy has been central to WFA's work. WFA played a leading role in the creation of three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Greater St Lucia Wetland Park (now Isimangaliso); Baviaanskloof Mega Reserve; and the Okavango Delta.
ConservationNPO: 009-437NPO
South Africa
Photo: Jessica Wilmot
BirdLife South Africa
BirdLife South Africa works to protect our country's precious birds and the habitats they call home. Across South Africa's grasslands, wetlands, bushveld, deserts, forests, and oceans is a stunning variety of life. Through a science-based conservation approach, with birds as our compass, we safeguard these critical habitats. We believe that conservation is for everyone and provide platforms that enable people to enjoy and value nature. With your help, we can ensure that South Africa's natural heritage endures for many years to come.
ConservationNPO: 001-298 NPOPBO: 930 004 518
Prince Albert
Prince Albert Community Trust (PACT)
Prince Albert Community Trust was born out of need. In 2011, the founder, Ingrid Wolfaardt wrote a letter to the current mayor of the time, Goliath Lottering, asking the question: "Mr Lottering, the children of this town are dying of lack of vision, what are you, as the new custodian of this town going to do about it?" His reply, "Mrs Wolfaardt what are you planning to do about it?" was the beginning of PACT. Mr Lottering approached Ingrid in 2012 to establish a community trust for the town and surrounding area that would act as a bona fide vehicle for funding and support for community development projects. Today, PACT creates a space where diverse individuals unite for the greater good, balancing varied backgrounds and interests to benefit the community.
Prince Albert Skills School (PASS)
Established in 2017 by Dr. Hélène Smit, the Prince Albert Skills School (PASS) is dedicated to supporting youth in Prince Albert, South Africa, who have disengaged from traditional schooling. PASS offers a safe environment where students aged 14 to 20 can acquire practical skills such as woodwork, welding, sewing, cooking, and gardening, alongside academic education. The school emphasizes holistic development by providing psychological and emotional support, aiming to cultivate independent, sociable, and responsible young adults. PASS operates on principles of respect, empathy, punctuality, and reliability, encouraging students to take initiative and solve problems. The school's vision is to empower local youth to overcome their circumstances and work towards a brighter future. As of 2025, PASS continues to emphasize responsibility, perseverance, and compassion, ensuring that every voice matters in the journey toward personal and communal growth.
Wolwekraal Nature Reserve
Wolwekraal Nature Reserve protects Karoo flora, fauna, and heritage using cameras and rangers to ensure future generations can enjoy this biodiversity-rich property. Managed by Wolwekraal Conservation and Research Organisation, a Public Benefit Organisation, the reserve carries out veld restoration trials, trains young people through internships, and offers educational guided walks. The Wolwekraal Research Centre is developing an ambitious project to restore Kalahari lions to the Karoo and Nama Karoo ranges - a groundbreaking conservation initiative. Your contributions help maintain camera installations, support rangers and interns, and expand research that will help restore damaged Karoo veld.