Botswana’s CT7 and CT4 Elephant quotas fetch P9million at Gaborone auction ahead of 2027 hunting season

Millions were on the table in Gaborone recently (15^th October 2026) as a handful of wealthy bidders competed for the right to hunt 15 elephants in Botswana’s Central District. At Auction IT’s offices in Fairgrounds, bids climbed to a combined P9.03 million for the CT4 and CT7 elephant hunting quotas ahead of the 2027 season. Yet, beyond the money changing hands and the commercial interests in the room, the auction carries a significance that stretches far beyond the city, to rural communities sharing their land with elephants, for whom the revenue generated could mean new opportunities, improved livelihoods and a better quality of life, if the money is managed well and reaches those who need it most.

At face value, the auction may have appeared to be a contest between well-resourced bidders competing for lucrative hunting opportunities. But beyond the money changing hands in Gaborone are rural communities in the areas where these elephants roam. Communities whose daily realities include living alongside wildlife, sometimes at considerable cost. For these communities, the significance of the auction extends beyond the final price. If the revenue generated is managed transparently and used effectively, it has the potential to support local development, strengthen livelihoods and change lives.

CT7, comprising 10 elephants, attracted the highest bid, selling for P6.43 million against a reserve price of P3 million. CT4, comprising five elephants, fetched P2.6 million against a reserve price of P1.5 million. The combined proceeds of P9.03 million represent P4.53 million above the two concessions’ combined reserve price of P4.5 million, reflecting strong demand for the hunting areas. Auction IT Managing Director Adrian Rass said the results exceeded his expectations, particularly the price achieved for CT7. “We just concluded the auction today and I think it was very successful. It exceeded my expectations, especially Lot 1, which was CT7. I didn’t expect it to go that high, but it just shows the demand. The market appetite for these areas is very high. Hopefully it happens again next year,” said Rass.

He added that selling the 2027 quota in advance would give successful bidders and operators sufficient time to prepare their business operations and resell hunting opportunities. “I think it was also a benefit that the 2027 quota got sold this year, so it gives the bidders or operators enough time to repackage and resell,” he said. “I did not expect the price to go above 6million for CT7, but the fact that it did has its positives. It shows that the market is very much alive and wildlife has a huge meaning. Botswana is a sought-after safari destination and operators as well as clients have a lot of faith and confidence in the country so the money generated if channeled to the correct beneficiaries is a lifeline to many communities that have never had any access to their resources and money to develop their communities,” said one of the bidders who preferred anonymity. He went on further to add that the negative side of things his fear that Botswana will outprice itself as a premium safari destination as it is currently far more expensive than many neighboring countries. “The funds generated get squandered from, and the entry startup operators or smaller operators into the industry become virtually impossible,” he said.

While the auction demonstrated the commercial value of Botswana’s elephant hunting concessions, an important question remains of how much of this money will ultimately benefit the communities living alongside the wildlife that makes such opportunities possible? Under Botswana’s special elephant quota arrangements, proceeds have historically been channeled to the Conservation Trust Fund (CTF) to support community projects and programmes. These can contribute to local development and livelihoods, although the final allocation of proceeds from this auction has yet to be confirmed.

For rural communities in wildlife areas, the stakes are particularly high. Living alongside elephants can mean crop destruction, damaged property and threats to personal safety. The costs of sharing the landscape with wildlife are often borne by residents whose livelihoods depend on farming and other land-based activities. Revenue generated from wildlife therefore carries the potential to do more than demonstrate the commercial value of elephants. If properly allocated and accounted for, it could help finance community infrastructure, support local enterprises, create opportunities for young people and strengthen livelihoods in areas where economic opportunities may be limited.

However, such benefits cannot be assumed simply because an auction has generated millions. Transparency over where the money goes, how decisions are made and who benefits is essential to ensuring that communities receive tangible returns from wildlife resources. CT4 and CT7 are designated elephant hunting areas in Botswana’s Central District and have featured in the country’s special elephant hunting quota arrangements. Their allocation for hunting forms part of Botswana’s broader approach to wildlife management, which includes regulated trophy hunting as a means of generating economic returns from natural resources. The concessions are expected to be hunted during the 2027 hunting season.

As Botswana continues to debate elephant management, trophy hunting and the costs and benefits of living alongside wildlife, Thursday’s auction offers a reminder that the value of an elephant extends beyond the price paid for the opportunity to hunt it. For the bidders, the sale represents a commercial opportunity. For communities sharing their land with elephants, the hope is that the millions generated will translate into meaningful improvements in their lives.