South African travel-booking platform Conservio has successfully secured US$1 million in funding to expand its operations within the nature-based travel sector. Founded in 2020 by Lara Dendy Young and Justin Rijnberg, Conservio is committed to channeling revenue towards properties that celebrate natural surroundings, protect habitats, and inspire a deeper connection to the planet.
The platform currently features over 500 accommodation venues across South Africa, Mozambique, and Namibia, addressing common challenges such as difficulty, inefficiency, and distrust associated with existing booking platforms.
The recent funding round, which raised US$1 million, was led by E4E Africa and included participation from Volve Capital, Living Hope Ventures, and strategic angel investors. Among these investors is seasoned African tech entrepreneur Jonathan Smit, founder of Payfast, who had previously participated in Conservio’s US$500,000 pre-seed funding round in March 2023.
With this new influx of capital, Conservio aims to expand its portfolio to include over 2,000 properties across Southern Africa. The startup also plans to scale up its customer base and solidify its position as the leading brand for nature-based travel experiences.
CEO and co-founder Lara Dendy Young, commented;
By curating stylishly sustainable accommodations – from intimate cabins and farm stays to luxury lodges in nature reserves – Conservio offers travelers access to escapes beyond city limits, where every booking directly supports nature conservation.
Bas Hochstenbach, managing partner at E4E Africa, expressed his firm’s commitment to investing in ventures that promote sustainable growth on the African continent;
We believe in Conservio’s vision to make booking nature-based travel more efficient and pleasant for the traveler, and to support contributions to quality job creation in rural communities and increased conservation income for Africa’s iconic nature.
