African Wildlife Services Game Auctions

General Information

African Wildlife Services has arranged game auctions in Namibia annually since 2001. At these auctions game is sold from selected sources on behalf of the respective sellers.

To regulate such a sale a MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT, drafted by Lorentz and Bone Attorneys/Notaries/Conveyancers, has been made and entered into by and between African Wildlife Services and each supplier of game to regulate their various obligations with regard to the selling of game at an auction. This agreement binds the sellers legally to deliver the animals to the buyers as offered and stipulated in the catalogue in satisfactory condition and without patent sign of debilitating injury or disease, and to meet all the stipulated "Conditions of Sale".

THE AFRICAN WILDLIFE SERVICES TRUST was founded to hold and administer all monies on behalf of wildlife buyers and sellers. Purchase prices paid on the day of the auction will be deposited into the African Wildlife Services Trust account held at Nedbank Namibia. Only upon satisfactory delivery of the game purchased, will monies in the Trust account be transferred to the sellers. The seller is committed to pay a penalty in the case of late or no delivery of animals. Interest on the purchase price calculated at the prime rate of Nedbank Namibia from time to time will be paid directly to the buyer from the Trust account and will be deducted from the payment due to the seller. Any refund due to the buyer for animals not delivered by the seller will also be paid from the Trust account (see "Conditions of Sale", Clauses 31-34). Annual financial statements and auditors’ reports produced by PriceWaterhouseCoopers are open to the public. For more information regarding the African Wildlife Services Trust, the allocation of interest or the auditor’s reports, please contact the trustees: Dr. H.-O. Reuter, Tel: +264-(0)61-239925; Mr. J. Matthaei, Tel: +264-(0)61-373300; Dr. A. Hartmann, Tel: +264-(0)67-303242; Dr. C. Brown, +264-(0)61-248345; or the auditor: Mr. C. van der Merwe, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Tel: +264-(0)61-2841000.

All buyers must pay VALUE ADDED TAX (VAT) at 15% together with the purchase price on the day of an auction. The Original Tax Invoice will be issued directly by the seller at delivery or within 14 days of delivery of the animals and will be dated the day of delivery. Therefore, the VAT amount paid can be claimed as VAT input credit for the month in which the animals are delivered. Should animals be exported from Namibia, the Value Added Tax will be refunded. The claim for a VAT-refund should include the Original Tax Invoice as well as the NA 500 and Revenue VAT 16 forms, all stamped by the Customs & Excise officials at export. Please contact the VAT Refund Administrator, Receiver of Revenue, Private Bag 13185, Windhoek or Tel: + 264 (0)61-230773 for more details.

REGISTRATION for any auction will take place prior to commencement of the auction at the auction venue. Buyers are responsible for complying with all "Conditions of Sale" and permit conditions and must familiarise themselves with these prior to registration. Buyers must submit their complete names and physical and postal addresses at registration. If buyers purchase on behalf of any other person, partnership or company they must also submit the complete names and physical and postal addresses of such principals and submit sufficient proof of their authorisation/power of attorney at registration.

All PERMIT REQUIREMENTS of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and the Directorate of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry are met for animals offered for sale as specified in the auction catalogue. Certain animals will not be offered for sale for export from Namibia. The buyers must meet all permit requirements for introducing the animals to the new locations before deliveries. In the case of blue- and black wildebeest double fencing requirements stipulated by the Director of Veterinary Services apply. Buyers intending to purchase common- or black-faced impala, and hippopotami must obtain written approval from the Ministry of Environment and Tourism to introduce these species. For Permit Inquiries, please contact Ms. R. Jansen, Permit Office, Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Tel: +264-(0)61-284 2111/562/538, Fax: +264-(0)61-24 5160. For Veterinary Permit Inquiries, please contact your Regional State Veterinarian, or the State Veterinarian, Windhoek, Tel: +264-(0)61-276583, Fax: +264-(0)61-276582.

Buyers will be responsible for the TRANSPORT COSTS as specified in the catalogue. Buyers are advised to purchase several lots of animals from the same seller/source to reduce the cost of transport per animal. However, no guarantee can be given that different lots or lots of different species can and will be transported together.

Buyers must ensure that OFF-LOADING FACILITIES of acceptable standards are available. These must be easily accessible by regular trucks and trailers, allow for rear and side door off-loading, and should always be placed away from the perimeter fence or any other obstruction to the animals being released. Buyers are advised to introduce animals to farms/camps that are suitably game-proof-fenced to avoid losing animals, even the so-called non-jumping species, over or through the fence.

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Release bomas can be very useful to let animals settle down after capture and transport and to facilitate slow and passive release. Such bomas must be designed and constructed with sufficient size and height using suitable materials, otherwise animals can break out or easily injure themselves by jumping against or attempting to jump over the boma wall. African Wildlife Services strongly recommends that nyala and lechwe be kept in suitable release bomas (for nyala the boma should include a dense bush thicket) from which these can be released passively under optimal conditions. Supplementary feeding should be supplied in the dry season. Animals prone to fighting such as roan antelope, oryx antelope and male-only groups should not be confined in bomas unless their horns are piped. Hippopotami should be introduced into suitable electrified game camps and obviously will need permanent deep water and sufficient grazing. Supplementary feeding (e.g. lucerne) should also be supplied in the dry season.

The introduction camp should be regularly patrolled to monitor the released animals without disturbing them unnecessarily. Permanent or temporary dams/water troughs should be placed near the perimeter fence and farmers should ascertain whether the released animals have located drinking water post-release.

INSURANCE packages for wildlife sold on auctions are offered by several insurance companies including:

AIR TRAVEL AND CAR RENTAL: Both Air Namibia and South African Airways offer regular return flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town to Windhoek. For more information and reservations, please contact Air Namibia Reservations, Tel: +264-(0)61-2996140/1/2/3/4; South African Airways Reservations, Tel: +264-(0)61-273341; or your local travel agent.

Car Rental Services are available at Hosea Kutako International Airport and Eros Airport. At Hosea Kutako International Airport contact Avis Rent a Car, Tel: +264-(0)62-540271; or Budget Rent-a-Car, Tel: +264-(0)62-540225.

GAME AUCTIONS 2011: During 2011 we plan a CATALOGUE GAME AUCTION at Mount Etjo Safari Lodge, Otjiwarongo District, on 2 April at 14:00, as well as a LIVE GAME AUCTION at Okosongoro Safari Ranch, Omaruru District, on 25 June at 13:00.