Investment Opportunity in a World-Class Conservation & Ecotourism Destination

12 Minute Read

Written by Dr Wilhelm Schack

A Proven Legacy, A Vision for the Future, Creating a Centre for Conservation Excellence.

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Waterberg Biosphere Reserve

We invite investors to become part of a transformational conservation, ecotourism and community outreach project in the heart of South Africa’s Waterberg Biosphere Reserve, directly adjacent to Marakele National Park. At the core is a wildlife property privately owned by ‘African Buffalo Breeding Company (Pty) Ltd’ (ABBC) offering a rare opportunity in the conservation investment market. The envisioned venture builds upon an already successful foundation – leveraging four decades of experience in wildlife conservation, environmental rehabilitation, ecotourism and community skills training programmes.

The original owner of the farm, Dr Wilhelm Schack, wildlife veterinarian and ecologist, is still a shareholder of the company. His extensive knowledge and experience in all aspects related to wildlife management, including ecotourism as well as climate smart environmental management and agriculture, is the foundation on which further developments in the project will be built.

Our land is not just a blank slate; it is a thriving hub for conservation, education, and eco-tourism, operating amongst other things a buffalo quarantine station and wildlife rehabilitation centre. We are now ready for strategic investment to expand into an internationally acclaimed facility.

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Why Invest?

The company is in a process of expanding its activities and reach into the community, especially disadvantaged communities in the region further afield, a process Wilhelm Schack has been driving for more than 30 years already. More information on this topic can be gleaned from our website https://ecogroup.africa. The vision is to create a centre of conservation excellence in the highly conducive environment of the Waterberg Biosphere where guests, established, as well as upcoming scientists and lay people alike can meet, deliberate and take action. Shares are being offered to passionate and dedicated investors wishing to actively participate in this exciting and meaningful mission.

While the potential for high-end eco-lodges, conservation tourism, and research facilities is clear, critical habitat assessments, rezoning, and infrastructure upgrades are required, not only on our own property, but also on those ‘eco park’ destinations elsewhere earmarked for development, to unlock full commercial and/or conservation value. By investing at this early stage, you secure a stake in a project with exponential growth potential.

Existing Assets & Track Record

Unlike many start-up conservation projects, our venture is built on a solid foundation of proven success:

  • Wildlife management, rehabilitation & quarantine station – Actively contributing to rare and common species conservation and rewilding programs, in operation since 1993.
  • Wildlife management technical workshops – Specializing in the manufacture of animal capture and rewilding structures, used for species including antelope, buffalo, rhino, and predators. In operation since 2001.
  • Indigenous Tree and Medicinal Plant Nursery – Growing trees and other plants for environmental rehabilitation purposes and traditional health care across the region. In operation since 2010.
  • Education & Research Hub – Hosting local and international ecology and veterinary students as well as local reserve and game ranch managers since 2001, amongst others four students from the University for Sustainable Development Eberswalde, Germany.
  • Waterberg Hideaway – A thriving, popular guest retreat known for its immersive nature experience. In operation since 2013. (https://www.booking.com, https://www.lekkeslaap.co.za/WaterbergHideaway)

The Offer - Long Term Objectives

  1. To establish the ‘Waterberg Wildlife and African Ecology Research Centre’ on the company–owned farm adjacent to the Marakele National Park to build a lasting legacy by involving passionate shareholders in a long term succession plan on behalf of the current ownership.
  2. To establish the ‘Waterberg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital’ through collaborating with leading academic institutions in order to put in place an excellent facility to support, maintain and grow the game industry and conservation in all its facets.
  3. To establish a rhino rehabilitation and research centre in cooperation with the University of Pretoria (Faculty of Veterinary Science and Centre for Wildlife Management).
  4. To support leopard and cheetah research in collaboration with De Wildt Cheetah Centre and the Endangered Wildlife Trust. This will ensure a sustainable long-term professional relationship in order to find solutions to various problems regarding these animals, inter alia human wildlife conflict issues in the Waterberg and elsewhere in the country.
  1. To establish a vulture and raptor safe haven and rehab centre in cooperation with VULPRO and the University of Pretoria.
  2. To build viable blueprints for conservation, environmental management and sustainable living to be implemented across Southern Africa.
  3. To cooperate with SANBI in biodiversity studies in order to develop key parameters for all our research projects.
  1. To provide profitable opportunities for investors in this programme.
  1. To restore and rewild landscapes in state and private ownership starting in the Waterberg. This will not only be important for the introduction of proper environmental and climate change management regimes, but it will also be directional for future rural socio-economic development projects and job creation.

What our centre’s research topics tells you about us

  1. Ancient wisdom. Objective: document conservation related evidence in rock art and archaeology. (continent wide research reach)
  2. Cultural heritage. Objective: document traditional African knowledge regarding wildlife management. (continent wide research reach)
  3. Waterberg Wildlife heritage. Objective: document evidence of ancient resident and ancient migratory wildlife behavioural patterns between the dry Kalahari in Botswana in the West to the water rich Waterberg Mountains in the East.
  4. Wildlife policies. Objective: establish scientific guidelines for the future rewilding operations and policies in the Waterberg Biosphere Reserve and elsewhere.
  5. Endangered species. Objective: to research and compile adaptive species management plans in order to mitigate poaching, environmental and disease risks to enable sustained and optimal population growth.
  6. Critical water resource area. Objective: collaborate with the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) and other institutions in order to advise private entities and government on developing official policies and actions regarding restoration and rewilding projects, and to study impacts water resource management in the Waterberg has on the four downstream countries in the Limpopo River basin. (RSA, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique)
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Waterberg Hideaway Mountain

Benefits to Investors

Financial Benefits:

  • Equity Ownership – Investors receive stake holding in the property and ecotourism enterprise, with revenue from commercial tourism and facilities rentals like for example rental income from external companies like Eko Wild which use the game pens and quarantine facilities. Grant funding will go towards charitable projects like raptor and wildlife rehabilitation and skills training through our NPO Sustainable Earth Africa Foundation. The rehab centre will be an important attraction for students and tourists, which will then boost bed nights in the tented camp.
  • Revenue Streams – ecotourism, carbon credits, biodiversity credits, facility rentals on property (workshops, guest accommodation, wildlife quarantine and rehabilitation pens, farm produce, craft shop)
  • Asset Appreciation – As conservation land values rise, investors see long-term growth in asset valuation.

Legacy & Impact Benefits:

  • Exclusive Access – Investors enjoy privileged (but not permanent) stays at our luxury safari tent camp, including guided immersion into ancient African environmental as well as modern day conservation practices.
  • Naming Rights – Significant investors receive naming rights on key projects, such as restored wetlands, wildlife corridors, or research programs.
  • Conservation Recognition – Investors will be acknowledged in scientific publications, media coverage, and international sustainability forums.

Exit Strategy & Future Growth:

  • Flexible Exit Plans – Options for structured buyouts, resale to new investors, or long-term profit-sharing models.
  • Expansion Opportunities – Future investment phases include scaling into additional properties and leveraging investor interest into a broader African conservation portfolio as well as other business opportunities.

Future Vision

  • Our goal is to elevate this project by way of strategic investments into an internationally recognized Centre of Excellence in conservation, ecotourism and regenerative agriculture. Substantial investments are required to establish the Waterberg Hub for wildlife management systems on the farm Groothoek near Thabazimbi, eventually expanding operations to conservation hotspots and regenerative agriculture target areas elsewhere.

    Key activities of the ‘Centre of Excellence’

    • Establishment of the Waterberg Wildlife & African Ecology Research Centre, setting aside land and facilities for long-term local and international scientific collaboration.
    • Establishment of the Waterberg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital.
    • Establishment of the VULPRO vulture rehabilitation centre.
    • Establishment and development of the concept of ‘Edutourism’ by way of making use of the safari tent camp and expertise available to the company.
    • Upgrade and expand existing facilities.
    • Develop satellite destinations and programmes to deal with protection of critically endangered wildlife and plant species.
    • Develop exclusive lodge sites and safari tent sites, providing investment opportunities for tourism accommodation with revenue-generating potential.
    • Acquire, develop or cooperate with unique satellite tourism destinations not only for investor benefit, but also in support of conservation programmes on remote Southern African communal land excellently suited for rewilding purposes as will be facilitated through the Eco Group Africa initiatives. The goals are threefold: firstly to expand protected areas in order to establish safe havens for endangered species, secondly to grow the numbers of game ranchers, conservationists and communities and to let them participate in sustainable wildlife economy, and thirdly to provide growth opportunities for investors and reasonable returns on investment.

 

 

The Investment Structure

We are offering investors an opportunity to participate in this growth through:

  • Equity investment – Secure a stake in the long-term success of the venture.
  • Tourism Development Rights – Invest in lodge or safari tent sites, conference centres, generating rental income and capital appreciation.
  • Strategic Partnerships – For conservation, research, and ecotourism expansion.

The Time to Act Is Now

  • The global demand for eco-luxury travel is soaring.
  • The Waterberg Biosphere offers a pristine, Big Five wilderness experience with massive untapped potential.
  • Early investors gain a first-mover advantage before the value is fully unlocked.
  • Environmental challenges in Southern Africa need immediate and sustained attention.
 
 

Additional Investment Opportunities

  1. Eko Wild (Pty) Ltd (Consortium member)
    1. Wildlife breeding, capture and relocation programmes.
    2. Rhino Conservation programme.
  1. Eco Group Africa (Pty) Ltd initiatives (Consortium coordinator)
    1. Rural socio-economic development programmes, highlighting JV’s (joint ventures) and PPP’s (Public Private Partnerships) on farm land, ecotourism ventures and food security programmes.
    2. Education and skills development programmes in especially remote rural communities. (Current MOLOTO ECO DEVELOPMENTS project in Thabazimbi, South Africa. (https://ecogroup.africa/projects/moloto ).
  • Film production company (IZINDLOVU PRODUCTIONS (PTY) LTD, consortium member): e-learning materials for environmental management, conservation, climate smart agriculture. Company has film and TV rights from Van Schaiks Publishers based on conservation related academic text books. (‘Game Ranch Management’, ‘Intensive Wildlife Production’, ‘Wildplaasbestuur’).
  1. Media company: ‘Sustainable Earth Africa Channel (Pty) Ltd’), e-learning platform for scholars in the African context. Currently under construction. Modular learning content extracted from documentaries produced by Izindlovu Productions.

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  1. Development of land adjacent to Waterberg Hideaway (Groothoek 11)
    1. GROOTHOEK 27: Waterberg Mountain Adventure Huts (30 hectares)
    2. GROOTHOEK 15: Luxury Mountain Lodges and conference centre (173 hectares)
  1. Future investment opportunities
    1. Independent Power Production (Biomass Power Production: coupled to bush encroachment control in the bushveld savanna biome, landscape rehabilitation and carbon sequestration. Will power eco- and agri-villages in impoverished rural communities.

See future updates on https://ecogroup.africa

  1. Conservation and climate smart agriculture ventures in Southern African countries.

See future updates on https://ecogroup.africa

  1. Grant funding for post graduate students from Africa conducting their research through our facility. (This can happen immediately through our NPC ‘Sustainable Earth Africa Foundation’. (Details of NPC can be found on https://ecogroup.africa ) Research positions will be advertised as soon as funds have been committed to the programme.

NEXT STEPS?

  • We are engaging with investors who share our passion for conservation, sustainable tourism, regenerative agriculture and environmental rehabilitation. If you are seeking an opportunity to be part of a high-impact, high-value development, let’s explore how we can work together.

    📩 Get in touch today to discuss these unique investment opportunities.

    Dr Wilhelm Schack

    Wildlife Veterinarian/Ecologist

    Mobile: 0027 83 301 8119

    e-mail: wilhelm@ecogroup.africa

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