South Africa is the most popular hunting destination on the continent. The wealth of species on offer, the wide range of hunting experiences, overall affordability and fantastic infrastructure all contribute to a world-class African hunting destination.

The South African game industry is so vast and so integrated with countless facets of what exactly game. Over the ensuing 25 years, an industry, unique to South Africa (and Namibia), has sprung up occupying 20m ha (20%) of South Africa’s marginal agricultural land.

Every day, local hunting outfitters and organizations receive a number of hostile e-mails and phone calls decrying their contribution to the deterioration of endangered animal species, begging them to rather focus on animal conservation, or bombarding them with threats.

The hunting of wild animals is an emotive issue, drawing fire from anti-hunting organisations, environmentalists as well as many ordinary citizens.

The Covid-19 pandemic has devastated the global travel industry and although there now are signs of activity resuming in some markets, the sector is still a long way from recovery.

South Africa’s conservation establishment has a favourite phrase, ‘sustainable use’, presented as the pragmatic answer to balancing biodiversity protection with economic reality.