South Africa and its wildlife have come a long way since the days of free hunting safari's and annimal killing for vast profit. Today South Africa enjoys significant investment into a fast and growing number of privately owned game and nature reserves. Many are very substantial in size and often own a good variety of game. Some game farms offer hunting safaris. There is still a pro and con lobby for hunting safaris, althoug it is widely understood that the investment brought by wealthy hunters has significantly improved the standard of wildlife across all regions, including new and expensive fencing and employment. Most of the private game reserves in South Africa lie west of the Kruger National Park.
All the private game and safari parks offer luxury accommodation in the many lodges that have been built over the years and are still being built as demand for quality accommodation in the parks is still rising. Staying at a game lodge means that you often do not have to wait very long before you get a visit from a wild and now preserved animal.
Conservation has been the name of game and the country has been fortunate that over the years and due to its tremendous beauty, it has drawn in a number of businessmen who took the wild life problems at heart. It has meant some considerable improvement in conserving valleys, woodlands and grasslands. Just follow the fortunate who came to see the black and white rhino, the elephant, giraffe, hippo, lion, cheetah, buffalo, black wildebeest, various species of antelope and a very rich birdlife.
The private game reserves and hunting farms date back only some 30 years and fortunately the interest in conservation and preservation has substantially increased over the past 15 years and is bigger today than it has ever been.