With the endless challenges facing African governments, such as poverty, inadequate infrastructure, unemployment, and institutional fragility, wildlife conservation is invariably at the bottom of the "to-do list". One of Africa's central paradoxes is that the continent has unparalleled natural wealth, from iconic megafauna to diverse ecosystems, but most nations can't afford to care for it. The brutal math of governance forces difficult choices. Build schools or protect elephants? As governments grapple with crises, economic downturns, climate change impacts, and social upheaval, the question evolves from "Can we afford conservation?" to "Can we afford not to explore alternative management models?" Delegating protected area management to private entities is not just a shift in administrative control; it signals a pragmatic recognition that conservation, like development, requires diverse approaches and resources.