Businesses come in all shapes and sizes. Many look the same, yet others take a unique shape. However, most businesses seem to have one thing in common: being born out of a blend of passion and frustration. In this case, NATS Pets Courier Service is no different.
Co-founded by Mahlatse Naum Modiba and Tshepo Ngwenya, NATS Pets Courier was established in 2024. This business is a trusted pet and agricultural animal courier service that offers door-to-door delivery across Gauteng, Limpopo, North West and Mpumalanga, with pick-up points and airport transfers nationwide.
The two founders had two different viewpoints on a common problem.
On the one hand, there is Tshepo Ngwenya (nickname Nats), a poultry farmer who is still working as a security officer while building this business. He noticed that moving poultry and livestock is either informal and inconsistent or built entirely for large-scale operations. With no in-between, moving animals reliably, especially in and out of rural areas, is extremely difficult.
On the other hand, Mahlatse Naum Modiba noticed that accessing animal courier services from the client’s side is unclear, pricing is inconsistent, and transparency is almost non-existent unless you are willing to pay a premium. She decided to put her BCom degree from the University of the Witwatersrand to good use and solve this problem with Ngwenya.
With the shared realisation that moving animals in South Africa is messy, uncertain, and fragmented for everyone involved. “Nats started an animal transport service to help small-scale farmers who needed to transport one or two animals at a time. As we grew, we realised the same gap existed in the pet industry, which is how NATS Pets Courier came about,” Modiba explains.
The Journey Up Until Now
“Before we had access to our own transport, we used long-distance taxis and buses to courier our own birds,” she elaborates. “Our clients would collect their chickens from the nearest taxi rank. It wasn’t the most convenient process, but it allowed us to build a market, establish relationships with taxi and bus drivers across the country, and prove there was demand for the service.”
The pair did this for about a year while growing their network. “In October 2025, a year after formalising the business, Mahlatse’s dad allowed us to use his private vehicle for the business,” Ngwenya adds, “That changed everything. It meant we could transport the animals ourselves and expand from transporting poultry to transporting dogs and cats.”
He shares that in their first year of operating with that vehicle, they generated over R100 000 in revenue, which gave them confidence in knowing that they were solving a real problem and building something people needed.
“Since then, we were selected to be part of Cohort 3 of the Fetola FNB Youth Start-up Accelerator, which is helping us refine our business and prepare for the next stage of growth.
Our goal over the next six months is to grow the business further and invest in dedicated transport vehicles to serve even more pet owners across South Africa.”
The Hurdles Along the Way
Operating an animal courier business has its own challenges because it needs to both adhere to animal welfare laws and logistics compliance requirements.
“Our biggest challenge has been regulation. We operate in an industry that is unfortunately riddled with scams, and there is a real need for more visible organisations that regulate domestic animal transportation and help enforce standards,” Ngwenya notes.
“The second challenge has been our roads. South African roads are not always in the best condition, especially for long-distance travel. Because of that, we sometimes have to limit our service to pick-up points, even when clients would prefer door-to-door delivery.”
Another point that has become important is client education. ”South Africa’s growing pet owner market is made up of many first-time pet owners, and we often find that vaccination compliance is one of the biggest reasons pets can’t travel. Many owners simply don’t know what documentation or vaccinations are required until they’re ready to book,” Modiba says. “Every month is a learning curve. We’re constantly learning about animal welfare while also helping educate pet owners and learning what it takes to run a logistics company.”
She explains that they follow many of the same compliance requirements used by airlines. “Puppies travel with their vaccination cards, and all vaccination records need to be up to date before travel.
“Most of our trips are long-distance, so dogs are given regular walks during the journey, along with water and food breaks where needed. After every trip, all of our crates are cleaned and sanitised before transporting the next animal,” she shares. “For us, every trip is about making sure the animals arrive comfortably and with as little stress as possible.”
The Technology and Skill That Make NATS Pet Couriers Possible
One of the features that makes NATS Pet Couriers a service that meets the needs of their growing customer base is the user-friendly app that customers can use to book a trip – it’s like Uber for your pet!
“Customers can make a booking, receive confirmation, communicate with the driver, make secure payments and receive updates throughout the journey,” Modiba explains. “The difference is that we’re transporting someone’s family member. Every booking is planned around the animal’s welfare, travel requirements and comfort. We also coordinate with breeders, veterinarians, boarding facilities and airlines where needed.
“It’s the convenience people know from ride-hailing apps, built specifically for animal transport.”
In spite of the rise in mobile pet grooming businesses, it isn’t suitable for every situation. “Many grooming salons still offer specialised services that can’t always be done through a mobile unit.
We found that many pet owners struggle to fit grooming appointments into their working day. By offering transport to and from groomers, owners don’t have to choose between work and making sure their pets get the care they need.
“It’s really about making pet ownership a little more convenient while also supporting grooming businesses.”
She continues to share about their nationwide coverage. “We’ve built a growing network of trusted transport partners and carefully planned routes that allow us to operate across South Africa. Rather than trying to do everything ourselves, we’re building partnerships that help us expand while maintaining the same level of service. Technology also helps us coordinate bookings, routes and communication across multiple provinces.
“Our vision is to build a connected nationwide pet transport network that makes safe animal transportation accessible wherever it’s needed.”
A Look At The Livestock Side
“The way we transport different animals varies quite a bit,” Ngwenya points out. “Livestock and birds are generally lower maintenance during transport. The biggest requirement is making sure they have enough ventilation and are transported safely.”
He adds that dogs and cats require a lot more attention. “We have to manage the temperature inside the vehicle, keep the numbers lower because many pets are naturally anxious, and make regular stops during longer trips. We also talk to the animals throughout the journey. It might sound funny, but it really helps calm nervous pets, and over time you learn to pick up on their different personalities.”
Another added difficulty with livestock transportation is biosecurity. Most notably, the current FMD crisis has prevented the movement of cattle. “Foot-and-Mouth Disease has given us many sleepless nights since the outbreak because it still hasn’t been completely cleared nationally. At one point, movement restrictions brought livestock transport to a standstill, and we had to be extremely careful to make sure we complied with all regulations and avoided putting the business at risk,” Ngwenya emphasises. “I’ve personally seen the impact FMD has had on farming communities, including the loss of cattle in some villages. It reminded us how important responsible animal transportation and compliance really are.
“Although FMD affected our business in a big way, it also created an opportunity to be part of awareness and training initiatives alongside other institutions. Those partnerships are currently underway, and we’re excited about what they can bring to the industry.”
The founders conclude that they are ready for whatever challenges come their way as they continue working towards their vision.
