THE ORIGINS FOUNDATION X John X Safaris
Location: Eastern Cape
43 years as an active outfitter.
The Eastern 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:
CONSERVATION PROGRAMMES
Predator management focuses on protecting small mammals, alongside a Klipspringer conservation initiative in the Karoo. Future monitoring includes annual aerial wildlife counts by independent contractors, with results used internally to guide quota setting and management decisions.
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
500k
Land footprint comprising 128,000 acres (60,000 ha) owned and 500,000 ha (1,235,527 acres) leased across operational areas.
13
Years of ownership across properties, 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).
28
people employed
X6.5
182 indirect livelihoods impacted
2
students supported, one at Graham (high school) and one at Port Elizabeth Technicon
2
Schools supported — Carlisle Bridge Farm School and Helenes 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 transport (4 taxis), educational tools (12 iPads), and ongoing supply donations.
35
Students supported at Helenes School, including daily protein provision (20 kg meat/day, 5 days/week) and additional government subsidy support.
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
While operating as a business, John X Safaris does not aim to profit from hunting, but rather to reinvest in acquiring land and wildlife for long-term, sustainable management, working in partnership with communities who are essential to securing and stewarding these investments.” – Carl
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
