THE ORIGINS FOUNDATION X John X Safaris
Location: Eastern Cape, South Africa
43 years as an active outfitter.
The East Cape Experience is like no other. It may be the people. The land. The camaraderie around a crackling campfire. The PH and tracker who started out as strangers, but leave you as friends. Or it may be the abundance of game and the sheer variety on offer. It’s the feeling you’re left with to return again.
To learn more about John X Safaris, visit below:
John X Safaris
John X Safaris
John X Safaris does more than just hunt.
To find out their impact, click the various bullet points below:
4 + current research programs
Current programmes include active management of 5000+ head of game across 40 000 acres, predator management, soil and habitat management for the success of our wildlife, and long-term water security via 100+ dams and reservoirs.
MANAGEMENT ETHOS
Scientific input is welcomed to support decision-making, while maintaining caution regarding how externally collected data may be used by government authorities.
5,000
Combined wildlife population across Woodlands (3,800) and Bankfontein (1,200), with multiple species sustainably managed across both areas.
9
month hunting season from March to October
1MIL+
Land footprint compromising of 40 000 acres owned and over 1 000 000+ acres leased across operational areas.
43
Years of ownership across properties (over the years), with 10 years at Woodlands and 3 years at Bankfontein.
2,500
Population rebalancing measures including removal of 2,500 animals at Woodlands (stabilizing at ~4,000) and reduction from 2,100 to 1,200 animals at Bankfontein to meet carrying capacity.
0
Years delay before hunting, with operations commencing immediately upon acquisition.
R100 MIL
Initial investment of R100 million (Woodlands) and R34 million (Bankfontein) into infrastructure and wildlife management.
3
Governing legislative bodies including DFFE, NEMBA (Biodiversity Act 2024), and TOPS regulations, with no legal conflicts reported.
3
Key collaborations including one predator-control partner (Mankazana Hounds) and three international stakeholders (DSC, SCI, Houston).
65
people employed
X6.5
423 indirect livelihoods impacted
350
students supported at Carlisle Bridge, Elinus, and Baroda schools
3
Carlisle Bridge Farm School, Elinus School and Baroda School
3
Classrooms constructed at Carlisle Bridge Farm School, alongside major infrastructure including solar power, water supply, sports field, kitchen upgrades, and teacher accommodation.
5,000
School lunches provided annually (targeting 10,000 in 2026), supported by 2 newly constructed kitchens, transportation, educational tools, and ongoing supply donations.
1
Central coordinating body — The John X Foundation — driving community support and development initiatives.
Ethos
Investing in the community safeguards the future, and nothing is more rewarding than seeing lives changed through opportunity. – Carl
If we were to succeed in educating and influencing our local communities in the value of sustainable hunting, we will need to start by giving. Only then will the true value of hunting be realized.” ~ Carl van Zyl
Hunters by nature have a proud legacy of giving. The very act of hunting is arguably the finest form of conservation in the world today. In saying this we recognize the necessity of not only giving back by creating a sustainable value for wildlife, but by taking responsibility for the survival of this fine tradition we call hunting via education and community based involvement initiatives.- Carl
