Conservio, a South African travel booking platform, has raised $1 million in funding to expand its business in the nature-based travel sector.
Conservio, which was established in 2020 by Lara Dendy Young and Justin Rijnberg, allocates profits to properties that honor the environment, save habitats, and foster a closer bond with the earth.
With more than 500 lodging options in South Africa, Mozambique, and Namibia, the platform tackles the problems of complexity, ineffectiveness, and mistrust in current booking systems.
In its second funding round, which was led by E4E Africa and included Volve Capital, Living Hope Ventures, and strategic angels like seasoned African tech entrepreneur Jonathan Smit (Payfast), who took part in the startup’s US $500,000 pre-seed raise in March 2023, Conservio has raised US $1 million.
The company intends to use the money to expand its clientele, reach over 2,000 properties in Southern Africa, and solidify its position as the leading provider of nature-based travel.
“By curating stylishly sustainable accommodations – from intimate cabins and farm stays to luxury lodges in nature reserves – Conservio offers travellers access to escapes beyond city limits, where every booking directly supports nature conservation,” said CEO and co-founder Lara Dendy Young.
E4E managing partner Bas Hochstenbach stated that his company made investments in projects that promote long-term development in Africa.
“We believe in Conservio’s vision to make booking nature-based travel more efficient and pleasant for the traveller, and to support contributions to quality job creation in rural communities and increased conservation income for Africa’s iconic nature,” he said.
