The following statistics about the South African hunting industry were released by Dr Herman Els:
- 10 years ago, there were less than
- 5 000 game farms in South Africa. In 2012 there were 12 000 game farms in South Africa
- 10 000 of these farms have hunting exemption.
- 20 million hectares of land is in private ownership representing about 70% of land use for wildlife conservation; the other 30% is government owned national and provincial game reserves.
- The hunting industry has generated R7.7 Billion in 2011 – .25% of SA’s national GDP.
- R3.1 Billion per year was generated from around 250 000 biltong hunters in South Africa. R2.1 Billion per year was generated from around 15 000 trophy hunters from abroad. The balance was generated from add-on services, food and accommodations.
- Trophy hunting has a lesser impact on wildlife than biltong hunting.
- Hunting is by far the largest revenue generator for game farmers. The sale of animals represents only around 5% of the revenue generated by game farmers.
- Sixty per cent of all wildlife in South Africa is owned privately outside of national and provincial parks.
- Game and hunting farmers are the largest contributors towards the conservation of wildlife.
- Game farms create three times more employment than on a normal livestock farm. In recent years more than 70 000 jobs were created on newly established game farms.
