Game Ranching

Game Ranching in South Africa

The trend toward transforming livestock production systems into game ranching increased rapidly from the 1990s. The Amalgamated Banks of South Africa estimated that by 2000 there were approximately 5,000 fenced game ranches covering an area of about 100,000 km2 (square kilometers), representing a 10-fold increase since 1979. Thus, wildlife can now be found on game ranches that represent an area more than five times the size of the Kruger National Park. Despite the consumptive nature of the activities on most of these ranches, this is a considerable boost for conservation.

What triggered this growth in game ranches? Agricultural Control Boards in South Africa were deregulated, exposing the beef industry to competition from world markets. Consumer preference also shifted toward perceived healthier white meats and away from beef. Venison was also promoted as being low in cholesterol. The [Page 1180]1994 ending of apartheid opened up the potential for tourism, including foreign safari hunters. There was also an amendment in 1988 to the Share Block Control Act of 1980, which facilitated the acquisition of agricultural land for recreational conservation and game ranching.

The initial capital required to establish a game ranch is significant. In addition to the cost of land, capital is needed for infrastructure such as game fencing and tourist accommodation. Initial populations of game also have to be purchased. Not many people have access to sufficient funds for this purpose. The share block scheme, however, allows a coalition of individuals to pool their resources and acquire a game ranch.

Management and Profitability

It would appear that the rate of growth in the number of game ranches is driven mainly by the profit motive. There is some debate as to whether game ranching is more profitable than cattle ranching. Jacobus du P. Bothma and Wouter van Hoven reported a case in the Northern Cape Province where a game ranch yielded a net profit rate that was 7.3 times that of a cattle-only farm. They also reported a case in Zimbabwe where the net income from a 100-km2 game ranch was 3.5 times higher than that from an adjacent 200-km2 cattle farm. While some farmers are not convinced despite these examples, it seems that the profitability of game compared with cattle increases with aridity. The scientific management of game ranching in Africa is relatively new, and managing for profit is even more recent. Game Ranch Management, edited by Jacobus du P. Bothma, was the first significant volume devoted to this topic. The book covers a wide range of topics, such as veld (an elevated open grassland in Southern Africa) management, game capture and transportation, provision of water, buildings, airstrips, game species and their habitat requirements, and monitoring.

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