Benfontein

Originally bought by De Beers in 1891 for its diamond reserves, Benfontein is today dedicated to the conservation of fauna and flora. Just 10 km south-east of Kimberley in the Northern Cape Province, Benfontein covers 11 000 hectares of arid terrain favoured by more unusual species.

Strategically located in a transitional zone where dry Karoo, grassland and Kalahari thornveld savannah meet, species diversity at Benfontein is a big attraction. The property is famous for its nocturnal specials such as aardwolf, black footed cat, Cape fox, aardvark and various species of nocturnal birds and rodents. Benfontein, which encompasses a large open pan, also supports herds of springbok, ostrich and black wildebeest.
If it is larks and pipits you favour, Benfontein has plenty on offer. Twelve different larks and five species of pipit are amongst the 260 bird species recorded here. Also look out for over 40 sociable weaver colonies in camel thorn trees. African White-backed Vultures and numerous raptors also breed on the farm, along with Tawny Eagle, Secretarybird, Greater Kestrel and Verreaux's Eagle-Owl.

The dolerite hills on the southern and western ends of Benfontein host a unique suite of birds which include African Rock Pipit, Long-billed Pipit, Layard’s Tit-Babbler, Grey-backed Cisticola and Short-toed Rock-Thrush. Benfontein is particularly well loved for its nocturnal birds and wildlife.

Black Wildebeest

De Beers has played an important role in saving the Black Wildebeest from total extinction at the beginning of the twentieth century. In the early 1970’s it was further established that the De Beers owned farm Benfontein (Kimberley) carried the largest private herd of this rare and endangered species in the Cape Province. At present the largest threat to the Black Wildebeest is the problem of hybridisation with its cousin, the Blue Wildebeest, thus causing genetic contamination. Fortunately the Benfontein Black Wildebeest population has been kept isolated from other Wildebeest populations over the years, and no other Black Wildebeest were introduced to the existing herd.

The Benfontein population is considered to be one of the last genetically pure populations in South Africa and is currently being used as one of the few reference populations. DNA samples collected from animals in this unique population are currently being used as part of the baseline dataset for pure Black Wildebeest in South Africa. De Beers is currently a member of the ‘National Wildebeest Working Group’ and still continues to be a significant role-player in the conservation of this highly threatened animal.