Some 150 buyers from around Southern Africa crowded into the Kirkwood High School hall on Friday, June 29, to spend over R11-million on prime game in one of the country’s top wildlife auctions.
The biggest interest was in 38 buffalo from the Addo Elephant National Park.
Top prices for the buffalo were R380 000 for a bull with a 42,5 inch horn span, and R300 000 for a cow.
Other good prices were R260 000 for a white impala ewe, and R900 000 for a family of sable antelope consisting of a bull, two cows and two heifers, according to auction convener Johan Swart.
The turnover at, R11,2-million, was up on 2011’s R9,9-million as game farmers in the Eastern Cape recover from a devastating drought, and despite the global recession having an ongoing impact on tourism, said Swart.