In 2024, the Chantecaille Conservation Foundation stepped in to provide critical support to jumpstart infrastructure upgrades at Loskop Dam. This initial investment of £1 million is being directed towards Phase I of the project, which will protect an additional 25,000 hectares of diverse landscapes, including highveld, lowveld, water bodies, and savannah grasslands. This partnership lays the foundation for the larger vision of protecting over 100,000 hectares in the coming years.

2024 Impact Overview:

• Protecting wildlife and habitats with upgraded, state-of-the-art fencing and security 
• Grading and building new roads and infrastructure for management, operational, and security accessibility. 
• Procuring and purchasing essential equipment and tools such as a tractor, vehicles, and other critical machinery for infrastructure development. 
• 25,000 hectares of highveld, lowveld, water bodies, and savannah protected — paving the way for a 100,000-hectare conservation vision.
• Upgraded water infrastructure and borehole drilling.
• Comprehensive management plan development and expansion strategy planning.
• Upgrades to offices and ranger accommodation to support operational efficiency.

The Loskop Dam Nature Reserve is one of Southern Africa’s largest rewilding and landscape conservation efforts, spanning a diverse range of ecosystems, including highveld, lowveld, savannah grasslands, and critical water systems. Home to 30 globally threatened IUCN Red List species and the last wild population of the critically endangered Middelburg Cycad, Loskop’s biodiversity is unparalleled. However, the reserve faces mounting threats from industrialization, mining, and habitat fragmentation, making large-scale intervention crucial to its survival.

In collaboration with local communities, tribal authorities, and private landowners, WeWild Africa, supported by the Chantecaille Conservation Foundation, has initiated a transformative expansion project to increase Loskop Dam’s protected area from its current 23,000 hectares to a remarkable 100,000 hectare wildlife corridor and megalandscape by securing long-term land leases and fostering community and tribal authority partnerships. This historic initiative will ensure the reintroduction of key species such as elephants, black rhinos, lions, and cheetahs. 

The first phase of the Loskop Expansion Project is robust infrastructure development to protect and manage the reserve effectively. Phase I, supported by the Chantecaille Conservation Foundation’s £1 million investment, focuses on essential upgrades, including new fencing, road construction, and equipment procurement such as tractors and vehicles. 

About the Chantecaille Conservation Foundation (CCF)

Founded in 2022 by Sylvie and Olivier Chantecaille, the Chantecaille Conservation Foundation (CCF) is dedicated to protecting wild spaces and keystone species on the brink of loss. We focus on empowering local communities who live within these treasured environments, fostering sustainable opportunities that preserve both livelihoods and ecosystems.

CCF operates as a private foundation, partnering with experienced local NGOs to implement conservation projects. Rather than providing grants, we directly manage programs through on-site project managers and contractors, ensuring accountability and close collaboration with communities at every step. To learn more visit, https://www.chantecaillecf.org/ and https://www.instagram.com/chantecaillecf/.