Saturday 13 March 2027
Two premium wildlife brands. One vision.
For the first time, Bona Bona Wildlife and Piet du Toit Wildbedryf come together as partners to host The Tenth Bona Bona Platinum Auction, on Saturday 13 March 2027. It honours Oom Pieter Ernst in his 80th year and brings the market the very best genetics South African wildlife has to offer on one special auction.
Before this auction, the nine previous Bona Bona Platinum Auctions have helped to position The Tenth as the kind of auction wildlife breeding enthusiasts from all over South Africa will want to experience. They are expected to come for the hosts’ well-known, friendly family atmosphere, the incredible genetics on offer, the camaraderie and to enjoy the sheer celebration of what it means to be part of the wonderful world of wildlife. The Tenth will be different in all the ways that matter. Two of the most respected breeders in the country are hosting it together, something neither has done with the other before. And they are doing it for a reason that runs much deeper than only buying and selling genetics.
That reason is Oom Pieter. Pieter Ernst Snr turns 80 in 2027 and The Tenth is dedicated to him. He is the visionary who started it all, who built the Bona Bona Group into the magnificent operation it is today. He is the one who set the Circle of Conservation in motion many years ago. He planted the seed and lovingly nurtured it for future generations. For Pieter Ernst Jnr, dedicating this auction to his father, with the whole industry alongside him at the auction, is the only fitting way to mark 80 years and ten auctions in one go.
“This is the one we have wanted to do for a long time,” says Pieter. “To host it with our dear friend Piet du Toit and all the breeders of Piet du Toit Wildbedryf, along with our esteemed guest sellers, in the year my father turns 80, means everything to us. Every animal available at the auction will earn its place. Every visitor is welcome. Every sale will be a thank you to someone we all love and respect.”
For Piet du Toit, the partnership rests on something simple. These two breeders aspire to the same high standard and the market knows both well. “Bona Bona Wildlife and Piet du Toit Wildbedryf have always shared a similar vision,” says Piet. “Extraordinary quality genetic traits, proven bloodlines and meticulous records to ensure validity and trust. The Tenth is the first time we bring it all together to one auction, as partners. For the buyer, this is a rare opportunity.”
This partnership is at the heart of The Tenth. The catalogue will maximise the coming together of three distinct high quality breeding groups: Bona Bona Wildlife, Piet du Toit Wildbedryf and a select collection of invited guest sellers, with every lot held to one super standard. An offering of this calibre, brought together for a single special day, is not something the market sees often. The standout animals will be revealed in the time leading up to the auction. Expect the best.
Supporting all of it is the visionary Bona Bona Circle of Conservation, the unique purpose that holds wildlife breeding, ethical hunting, eco-tourism and community upliftment together as one living system. It is the thinking both partners are known for. It is also why The Tenth will be an unmissable event on the wildlife calendar. It is bigger than a single sale. Bigger than the sum of its parts. It is an occasion when a sustainable future comes into focus.
And the stage really is bigger next year. The Bona Bona Wildlife Centre is being enlarged right now to accommodate all our friends in maximum comfort. Our luxury tented camp will feature a new permanent ablution facility on the terrain, a proper benefit for everyone who stays over and a sign of how the weekend has grown into an event in its own right. Families are welcome throughout, with the game lodge offering numerous delights and with the warm hospitality the auction is so loved for. On the strength of history in the making, The Tenth is already shaping up to be one of the biggest auctions the sector has seen.
JP Smith of Wildswinkel also expects a big one. “When two breeders such as these decide to host a premium auction together, the whole market takes notice,” he says. “With both of them behind The Tenth and along with the carefully invited guest sellers, this auction will set the tone for the whole industry in 2027.” The notable success of the 9th Platinum Auction this year supports his positive view. It sold 132 lots to 415 registered bidders, at an average lot price of R421 930 and R59,4 million in combined turnover.
The Tenth Bona Bona Platinum Auction takes place on Saturday 13 March 2027, live at the Bona Bona Wildlife Centre on the N12 between Klerksdorp and Wolmaransstad. The start time will be confirmed closer to the day.
Every lot will be a top lot because every lot will earn its place. Every seller will be carefully selected. Every buyer will get exceptional genetics with the trusted Bona Bona service that matters after the sale. Everyone must be there. The Tenth is the one auction to put in your diary now.
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