Thousands of people passed through the turnstiles at the 2018 Kirkwood Spar Wildsfees hailed by organisors as a “successful weekend”.
Festival director, Jenni Honsbein said that they are extremely happy with the turnout over the weekend given these tough economic times.
The number of people attending the festival has remained at around 45 000, “which we are extremely happy with in these tough economic times,” Honsbein said in a statement.
“Once again, thanks to the support we receive from the South African Police Service in the Sundays River Valley and our own security on the festival grounds the three days of family fun were free of any major incidents,” Honsbein said in a statement.
Meanwhile, sales at the annual Kirkwood Wildsfees Game Auction exceeded expectations in a very depressed market, according to auction convener Johan Swart.
Sales totalled R4.6-million, with all the game from the Addo Elephant, Mountain Zebra and Camdeboo national parks being sold, down from the R7.5m in turnover in 2017.
“The top price was R130 000 for a buffalo bull from Camdeboo, with an Addo cow selling for R60 000 to a local breeder. A kudu bull with horns estimated at 54” went under the hammer for R60 000,” Swart said.
He said all 70 of the genetically tested Cape Mountain Zebra from the Mountain Zebra National Park were sold.
Swart said the biggest problem facing game farmers in the Eastern Cape is the ongoing drought, and most are keeping stock levels to a minimum in order to reduce feeding costs as the veld is largely depleted.
“Given the uncertainty in the market due to the drought and other factors we are very happy with the result,” Swart said.
