Species
Sable
Sable fetched R85,8 million at South Africa’s top-end wildlife auctions in 2026, 14,9% of all wildlife value, across 623 animals in 439 lots.
- Top-end value
- R85,8 m
- 14,9% of wildlife value
- Average an animal
- R137 749
- Median R75 000
- Cows
- R106 105
- 328 animals, median R58 000
- Bulls
- R182 649
- 276 animals, median R85 000
The price spread
Every sable lot sold at the top-end auctions, by price per animal. The brown tick is the median animal. Hover over a dot for the lot.
Cows 328 animals
Bulls 276 animals
Mixed or not stated 19 animals
Show the numbers
| Group | Animals | Median | Average | Lowest | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cows | 328 | R58 000 | R106 105 | R18 000 | R650 000 |
| Bulls | 276 | R85 000 | R182 649 | R19 833 | R2 900 000 |
| Mixed or not stated | 19 | R28 000 | R31 789 | R24 000 | R50 000 |
Top lots
No. 1R2,9 millionShowtime, a 56-inch sable bullSummit Wildlife 11th Auction, lot 24, 26 Sep. Seller: Valley Venture.Picture: Summit Wildlife
No. 2R1,9 millionKalala, a 57-inch sable bullBloodline Africa, lot 045, 5 Jun. Seller: Dries Visser Safaris.Picture: Bloodline Africa- SableNo. 3R1,8 millionSable: 54 3/8" Bull, sired by 52 1/8" BZN (Pat brother of 62 2/8”+ Armstrong)Thaba Tholo, lot 022, 19 Sep. Seller: Thaba Tholo.
- SableNo. 4R1,7 millionSable: 54 2/8" WildFire @ 5y 11m, Sable bull sired by 53 4/8" WarrenValley Venture Stud & Friends, lot 012A, 23 May. Seller: Valley Venture Stud.
- SableNo. 5R1,4 millionSable: 52 2/8"+ Alcaraz, Zambian Sable bull sired by 51 3/8" DeuceStud Game Breeders 21st Annual Game Auction, lot 015, 5 Sep. Seller: Tembani Wildlife.
- SableNo. 6R1,3 millionSable: 53 6/8" Pinto, Zambian Sable bull sired by 50 36/8" VarianiBona Bona Wildlife 9th Platinum Auction, lot 094, 21 Mar. Seller: Tembani Wildlife.
- SableNo. 7R1,2 millionSable: Choose between 56 1/8" R49 and 56 2/8" BC, Zambian Sable bullsBona Bona Wildlife 9th Platinum Auction, lot 042, 21 Mar. Seller: SABLE VIEW SAFARIS.
- SableNo. 8R1,2 millionSable: 53 4/8" Hosi, Sable bull son of 52" Mopanie and 35"+ArtemisBenchmark Game Breeders, lot 021, 15 Aug. Seller: BJ Vorster Game Breeders.
Types and colour variants
Top-end value by type.
Show the numbers
| Type | Value | Animals | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common | R63 822 000 | 531 | R120 192 |
| Zambian | R21 995 500 | 92 | R239 082 |
Live against timed
Average an animal at the top-end auctions.
2025 against 2026
Average an animal on all Wildswinkel wildlife auctions, same method both years.
In the wider market
At the other and smaller auctions: R21,8 million across 549 animals, an average of R39 765 an animal (median R36 000).
Figures cover every top-end auction, Bona Bona Wildlife’s live lots included. Hammer prices, excluding VAT. Source: Wildlife Season Report 2026 data as published here.
Cite this page Wildlife Season Report 2026, season data portal: Sable. thetenth.auction/season/2026/species/sable (data analysed in October 2026).