Game ranching and the South African hunting industry

Source: Game Ranch Profitability in Southern Africa 2002 Edition
ABSA Group Economic Research

Currently, there are approximately 5,000 game ranches and more than 4,000 mixed game and livestock ranches in South Africa. These cover over 13% of the country's total land area, compared to 5.8% of all officially declared conservation areas.

The total value of Tourism (including business travel) in South Africa was about ZAR 45 billion in 1998, or 6% of nominal GDP (gross domestic product), which compares to a World average of 11% of GDP. The local Tourism industry employs approximately 600,000 people, while its multiplier effect in related industries create another 500,000 jobs.

Ecotourism accounts for at least R 1 billion in value added services whilst its indirect multiplier effect (airlines, taxidermy, 4X4, outdoor equipment and hotels), equals it in size, totalling this market segment at around R 2 billion. The game ranching industry in South Africa has been expanding at a rate of around 25% per annum during the past decade.

Percentage income derived from Auctions, hunting and ecotourism differs widely between the various regions and depends on distance between cities and the availability of the Big Five. In the Bushveld, for example, 60-65 % of total income from game ranches is derived from hunting (trophy or venison) whereas 5-10% of the total income is derived from game viewing. The balance is derived from game auctions.

The average stay of foreign Trophy hunters is between 7-10 days and approximately R 50,000-00 is spent on various fees. 6,000 Trophy hunters visit South Africa (on average) annually. 85% of Trophy exports in Africa comes from South Africa - "one tourist creates 8 jobs", implying that the average of 6,000 trophy hunters would theoretically create 48,000 jobs in South Africa.

In 2000, more than 17,000 head of game were sold at 48 Auctions at a value of R 62,000-00.

The maximum biomass of game that an area can sustain is called the ecological carrying capacity. At this level, poor quality forage, drought and disease can affect numbers quite dramatically, with consequent severe decline in population numbers. Adaptable game such as Impala, will initially increase as the veld conditions deteriorates, but ultimately their numbers will also decrease. In contrast to cattle farming, where the full ecological carrying capacity of the land is used measured in LSU (live stock units) per hectare, in game ranching between 50-70% LSU is used. At half the carrying capacity, the growth rate of game is at its highest. Should the economic carrying capacity be exceeded, the surplus game should be harvested by hunting or game capture and auctioning of the game. (The latter is however very stressful to game).

Africatravelmart.com only utilize the services of ethical hunters that comply to the Professional Hunters' Association of South Africa's (PHASA) code of conduct and ethical hunting laws.

AFRICATRAVELMART.COM