Bona Bona Wildlife’s 9th Platinum Auction delivered a record combined turnover of R59.4 million across live and timed auctions, reaffirming the strength of South Africa’s wildlife economy and signalling a confident start to the 2026 auction season.
A weekend to remember
On the weekend of 19 to 23 March 2026, the Bona Bona Wildlife Centre near Klerksdorp came alive with the energy that has become the hallmark of the annual Platinum Auction. Families, seasoned breeders, first-time buyers and old friends gathered under one roof not only to trade elite wildlife genetics, but to celebrate a shared commitment to conservation, community and the future of South Africa’s remarkable wildlife heritage.
The atmosphere was unmistakable from the moment guests arrived. Laughter in the lodge. Handshakes in the hall. Children running across the lawn. The sound of an auctioneer warming up. This was not merely a commercial event. It was a family reunion in the truest sense of the word.
For the Ernst family, who have hosted and nurtured the Platinum Auction since its first edition in 2017, the ninth instalment carried a special significance. As Pieter Ernst Jnr told the packed auction hall: “When I think about nine years, I don’t think about catalogues or lots or sale numbers. I think about the faces around this room. The friendships, the handshakes that became partnerships, the families that keep coming back.”
An opening that set the tone
The morning began with a bilingual prayer from Pieter Ernst Jnr’s daughter that drew together the Setswana and Afrikaans communities at the heart of Bona Bona’s operations, a quiet reminder that the Circle of Conservation begins with people.
Pieter Ernst Jnr took the podium and spoke with visible emotion, paying tribute to the individuals who have shaped the Bona Bona journey. His father, Pieter Ernst Snr, who in 2015 handed over the reins of the wildlife operation and never once looked back. His mother, Anele, the quiet strength behind the family. His wife, Rika, whom he described as “the most consistent, most genuine person I know”. His siblings, MJ and Trudie. Farm manager Walla and his wife Carla. Bob Hoffman, a friend since 2011. Gavin, the hands-on wildlife handler. And the entire Bona Bona team.
“You are the reason why the circle is turning,” he said, addressing the room.
It was an address that reminded everyone present of a truth often overlooked in the buzz of bidding: that behind every successful auction lies a network of relationships, trust and years of quiet, purposeful work. Pieter also formally introduced the identity that had been taking shape over recent months: Bona Bona Wildlife. “It is not just a name change,” he explained. “It’s a declaration. It says that everything we do here, the breeding, the ethical hunting, the lodges, the community work, belongs together. It is one circle and it’s our Circle of Conservation.”
A vision for the next generation
Guest speaker Wynand van Heerden delivered one of the most compelling addresses the Platinum Auction has seen. Having first met Pieter in 2013 and walked alongside him through the growth of the operation, Van Heerden offered both a deeply personal tribute and an ambitious challenge to the entire South African wildlife industry.
He spoke of Pieter’s attention to detail, his generosity and his vision to create a platform for young breeders. “Jy is ’n leier wat mense aanmoedig. En jy is ’n leier wat ander se suksesse vier voor jou eie,” Van Heerden said. (You are a leader who encourages people. And you are a leader who celebrates others’ successes before your own.)
Turning to the broader industry, Van Heerden challenged South African game farmers to recognise the incomparable value of their product. He pointed to the unmatched diversity of species, landscapes and experiences that South Africa offers within a single country and asked why the industry continues to underprice itself against international competitors.
“We are sitting with a situation where we have the scope to make decisions that, if made correctly, will benefit your grandchildren’s children.” — Wynand van Heerden
He outlined three priorities for the decades ahead: ensuring every international client receives an authentic, world-class African experience; moving the industry from price-taking to price-setting; and seizing the opportunity presented by the global shift towards health-conscious, unprocessed protein. “The world’s health-conscious protein market is up for the taking and we are sitting with the asset,” he said. His bold projection: that with discipline and collaboration, South Africa’s R44 billion wildlife industry could grow to R250 billion within 25 years.
The numbers: a story of sustained growth
While the focus of the weekend extended well beyond figures, the auction results tell a story that deserves to be told with gratitude and perspective. The 9th Platinum Auction delivered a combined turnover of R59,384,500 across both live and timed auctions, representing an increase of 54.6% on the previous year’s combined total of R38,409,000.
Live auction highlights
The live auction on 21 March achieved a turnover of R54,007,000 across 132 lots, with 415 registered bidders, 32 telephone bidders and 1,414 online bids. The average price per sold lot reached R421,930, up from R356,771 in 2025. Only four lots went unsold (3%), a testament to the quality of the genetics on offer and the depth of demand from buyers.
Timed auction highlights
The timed auction, running from 19 to 23 March, contributed R5,377,500 across 59 lots. Active bidders totalled 136 from 206 registrations, with 1,208 bids placed. The timed auction has grown substantially since its introduction in 2024, with its average price per sold lot more than doubling from R55,547 in its inaugural year to R103,413 in 2026.
Standout lots
The top-performing lots reflected the strength and diversity of Bona Bona’s breeding programmes:
| Lot | Description | Final Price | Bids |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lot S008 | Buffalo cow | R5,100,000 | 49 |
| Lot 11 | Black impala ram | R1,500,000 | 58 |
| Lot 22 | Buffalo cow | R1,400,000 | 49 |
| Lot 64 | Buffalo cow | R760,000 | 45 |
| Lot 203 | Sable bull (timed) | R560,000 | 86 |
| Lot 57 | White kudu bull | R520,000 | 43 |
Five years of growth: 2022 to 2026
The 2026 results are best understood in the context of a remarkable five-year trajectory. When the Platinum Auction moved to its current format in 2022, total turnover stood at R11.8 million. Four years later, combined turnover has grown to almost R60 million, an increase of more than 400%.
| Year | Combined turnover | Live turnover | Timed turnover | Live lots | Registrations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | R11,839,000 | R11,839,000 | – | 75 | 253 |
| 2023 | R17,933,250 | R17,933,250 | – | 91 | 334 |
| 2024 | R27,282,000 | R25,504,500 | R1,777,500 | 98 | 325 |
| 2025 | R38,409,000 | R34,250,000 | R4,159,000 | 101 | 348 |
| 2026 | R59,384,500 | R54,007,000 | R5,377,500 | 132 | 415 |
This growth has not come from inflated lot counts. The average price per sold lot in the live auction has risen from R157,853 in 2022 to R421,930 in 2026, a near-threefold increase that reflects growing buyer confidence in Bona Bona’s genetics, pedigree verification and the integrity of the operation. Registrations have grown from 253 to 415, with the buyer base widening steadily each year.
The introduction of the timed auction format in 2024 has added a complementary sales channel that makes elite genetics accessible to a broader range of buyers. From an initial turnover of R1.78 million in 2024, the timed auction has grown to R5.38 million, demonstrating strong appetite for this format.
Year on year: 2025 vs 2026
Comparing directly with 2025, the live auction grew by 57.7% in turnover (from R34.25 million to R54.01 million), while the number of lots offered increased from 101 to 132. Registrations climbed from 348 to 415, and the percentage of unsold lots improved from 5% to just 3%.
The timed auction grew by 29.3% in turnover (from R4.16 million to R5.38 million), with the average lot price increasing by 44.2%. These improvements across both auction formats suggest that the Bona Bona Platinum Auction is attracting both deeper pockets and wider participation.
The Circle of Conservation in action
Behind the auction results lies something more enduring than any single year’s figures. The Bona Bona Circle of Conservation, the philosophy that unites wildlife breeding, ethical hunting, ecotourism and community upliftment into one regenerative system, is the reason the operation exists. It is the reason why buyers return, why communities benefit and why the land thrives.
Every lot in the 9th Platinum Auction catalogue represented years of careful selection, scientific rigour and DNA-verified pedigrees. As Pieter Ernst Jnr wrote in his letter to guests: “When you bid today, you are not only acquiring extraordinary genetics. You are investing in conservation that sustains itself, in communities that grow stronger and in an industry that proves, year after year, that excellence and stewardship go hand in hand.”
Charity lots continued to fund school projects in surrounding communities. Meat from wildlife operations continued to feed local families. Jobs were created. Small businesses were supported. The circle turned, as it does every year, because of the people who choose to be part of it.
A positive signal for the 2026 wildlife auction season
The results of the 9th Platinum Auction carry significance beyond the Bona Bona operation. As one of the first major wildlife auctions of the 2026 season, the strength of turnover, registration numbers and buyer participation sends a reassuring signal to the broader industry.
South Africa’s wildlife economy, estimated at approximately R45 billion annually according to Wildlife Research, depends on the confidence and commitment of breeders, farmers, outfitters and investors. The energy in the Bona Bona auction hall on 21 March 2026 left little doubt that this confidence is well placed.
As Wynand van Heerden reminded the audience: “The industry is alive. It creates jobs, it feeds families, it conserves species, it builds communities. That is something to be proud of.”
Gratitude: to the people who make the circle turn
No auction succeeds without the contribution of many hands, hearts and minds. The Ernst family extends its sincere gratitude to:
The buyers and bidders, loyal returning participants and first-time guests alike, whose trust and investment make the Platinum Auction possible.
The Wildswinkel auction team, led by JP, whose professionalism, energy and precision ensure that every lot receives the attention it deserves.
The guest sellers who entrusted their finest genetics to the Bona Bona platform.
The Bona Bona team, every farm worker, lodge staff member, wildlife handler and support person who contributed to a flawless weekend of hospitality and operations.
Wynand van Heerden for a keynote address that challenged, inspired and moved the room in equal measure.
The families who made the journey to be part of the weekend. Your presence is what makes this gathering special.
The surrounding communities whose daily involvement in the Bona Bona operation is the human foundation of everything we do.
The circle continues
As Pieter Ernst Jnr closed his address on the morning of 21 March: “Die sirkel draai. Conservation grows. Communities thrive. Laat ons die dag maak om te onthou.” (The circle turns. Conservation grows. Communities thrive. Let us make this a day to remember.)
The 9th Platinum Auction will indeed be remembered. Not only for its record results, but for the warmth of the welcome, the depth of the friendships, the sincerity of the gratitude and the conviction that South Africa’s wildlife heritage is in good hands.
The circle turns. Conservation grows. Community thrives.
Contact
Wildlife breeding: Pieter Ernst Jnr | 082 925 3662 | ernstpf@gmail.com
Wildlife and auction admin: Tarryn van der Berg | 082 769 4101 | developments@bonabona.co.za
