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Two Addo Elephant National Park buffalo bulls with near record horn spans are expected to attract breeders and reserve owners from throughout Southern Africa to the annual Absa Kirkwood Wildsfees auction.

The biggest has been nick-named “Bismarck,” and has a horn span of 46 inches, while Hercules has one of 45 inches. Both have been captured, and are in a boma at the Addo Elephant National Park, according to auction organiser Johan Swart.

He says new blood and a new date bring a new era to the annual Absa Kirkwood Wildsfees game auction, which is one of the top three wildlife auctions in the country.

For the first 10 years of the Absa Kirkwood Wildsfees, brought to you in association with DSTV in 2012, the auction has been hosted on the Saturday of the festival weekend. This has been moved to the Friday to accommodate out of town bidders – many of whom also want to bring their families to enjoy the many attractions at the Absa Kirkwood Wildsfees, according to auction organiser Johan Swart.

“We have listened to what the industry has told us, and moved the auction a day forward.

“The trend in the industry is to hold auctions on week days.

“This also helps with the movement of the game after it has been bought,” he says.

The auction is one of the few in the country where buyers are able to see the majority of the prize animals, which are kept in bomas for the sale.

This year, around 40 disease-free Add Elephant National Park buffalo will go under the hammer of Brandon Leer of Brandon Leer Auction Services. Leer is widely regarded as one of the best livestock auctioneers in the country, and a specialist in game sales. He will be taking over the hammer from Roy Hayes who handled the auctions for the first 10 years.

“Roy helped put the Kirkwood wildlife auction on the map, and the fact that we could attract an auctioneer with the experience of Brandon is a tribute to the solid foundation Roy built,” says Swart.

Leer was schooled in the Eastern Cape and grew up in the Port Elizabeth area.

Other well-known auctions in which he has been involved include Madikwe, Thaba Tholo, Piet du Toit, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, SANParks auctions in Kimberley and Pretoria, the North West Buffalo Auction at Molemane Eye, the Polokwane Municipality auction, and auctions at the Shamwari and Kwandwe game reserves in the Eastern Cape.

The 2012 Absa Kirkwood Wildsfees runs from June 29 to July 1, and offers a wild weekend for the whole family. Entry fees for the festival on Friday and Sunday are R70 for adults and R35 for children; and R100 for adults and R50 for children on Saturday.

The people of the Sundays River Valley are ensuring that visitors to the annual Absa Kirkwood Wildsfees brought to you in association with DStv will be getting even more value for money this year.

The organisers have kept all fees at 2011 levels, while increasing the range of experiences and entertainment for the whole family for 2012.

It will run from Friday, June 29 to Sunday, July 1, 2012.

“In solidarity with our visitors and stallholders during tough times, we have not increased the gate entrance fee or that of the exhibitors and food outlets,” says festival director Jenni Honsbein.

“We have been able to achieve this because many of our suppliers have also frozen their costs, and also due to the additional sponsorship attracted by the Wildsfees, which is now in its 11th year,” she says.

The Absa Kirkwood Wildsfees is a community project run through a non-profit company.

“The Absa Kirkwood Wildsfees has grown in leaps and bounds over the past ten years and a festival of this nature is not possible without strategic partners. Absa believes that its investment in this event is benefitting the people of the Sunday’s River Valley with tangible outcomes, as it puts back all profits made into community based projects. Its partnership is supporting the focus areas of the festival being tourism, environment and environmental education. The success of these important factors will ensure the sustainability of this small but important community of Kirkwood and the greater Sunday’s River Valley, which is very relevant to Absa’s business.” says Kgalaletso Tlhoaele, Regional Executive Eastern and Southern Cape

This year’s Wildsfees includes a full programme of entertainment, as well as the experience of shopping at over 300 specialist stalls, wild rides, wild animals, wild shows, and the annual wildlife auction.

Visitors will also experience a festival of firsts. For the first time the festival is hosting a “mohair journey”. Designs from The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) and Mode University in Japan’s collaboration projects will be on show, along with other mohair products and live goats in a Mohair South Africa exhibition.

Another first is the staging of a dramatic production, “My Naam is Ellen Pakkies,” a riveting story of a mother from the Cape Flats who killed her Tik-addicted son. Ellen is portrayed by Vinette Ebrahim – known as Charmaine Meintjes in 7de Laan.

On the lighter side, Quattro – “an Italian Flavoured Review” will be seen on stage in the Eastern Cape for the first time. Many of the artists appearing on stage will be in the Eastern Cape for the first time this year.

Headline acts include Karen Zoid, Snotkop, Arno Carstens, Elvis Blue Valiant Swart, Romanz, Emo Adams, and Chris Chameleon and his band will ensure that the festival ends on a high note.

On the wild side, baby crocodiles make their appearance for the first time in the “Walk on the Wildside” experience, where visitors can also touch snakes, owls and other raptors. “The Addo Elephant National Park display is always a highlight of this attraction,” says Honsbein.

Penguins will also be seen inland in Kirkwood for the first time, with the South African Marine Rehabilitation and Education Centre (SAMREC) giving demonstrations and talks on rehabilitation and the plight of the highly endangered African penguin.

There will also be talks on the control of predators. “And, of course, we will be focusing on the fight against rhino poaching – which is unfortunately another first at the festival,” she says.

This year’s Absa Kirkwood Festival includes an expanding agricultural show, which will be used by suppliers to introduce a number of new products, while the car show – the biggest in the Eastern Cape – will include a number of new models.

Wine lovers will find new vintages and varietals in the Kyknet Leefstyl Plein – the place where food lovers will also be able to savour new tastes and flavours.

“Kids can also go wild in the Yum-Chum Kidz Zone, so everyone is welcome to join us the Absa Kirkwood Wildsfees brought to you in association with DStv,” says Honsbein.

The 2012 Absa Kirkwood Wildsfees runs from June 29 to July 1, and offers a wild weekend for the whole family. Entry fees for the festival on Friday and Sunday are R70 for adults and R35 for children; and R100 for adults and R50 for children on Saturday. Visit www.wildsfees.co.za for more information.

Book accommodation for the wildsfees on MyAddo or at the Zuurberg-Inn.

Entertain the whole family and Go wild in the Eastern Cape this winter at the annual Absa Kirkwood Wildsfees over the weekend of June 29 to July 1.

Now in its eleventh year, the Wildsfees attracted 42 000 visitors in 2011, making it one of the country’s top events – and the only festival to include an auction of premier game. Visitors browse at over 300 speciality stalls, and savour the unusual game and gourmet foods on offer. There is also a choice of the best vintages from select wine cellars.

The Kidz Zone is the place for the younger members, while the rest are entertained by shows, live jazz and many of the country’s top artists on the Eastern Cape’s biggest stage. Headline acts include Karen Zoid, Elvis Blue, Arno Carstens, Emo Adams, and Chris Chameleon and band.