The land and its history.

Fort Richmond is situated in a malaria-free area just North of the Orange River (approximately 100km south of Kimberley) in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa. Summers are usually hot and rainy while winters are cool and dry.

The Wayland family has owned and managed the Fort Richmond property since 1869. The conservation of this unique ecosystem – which includes thornveld, sandveld, karoo, pans and panveld - has always been a priority to them.

From 1899 to 1902, English soldiers fighting in the Anglo-Boer War occupied the house. The family were sent to Grahamstown for the war’s duration, but Walther Wayland stayed behind to keep a watchful eye over their precious piece of Africa.

In 1975 John Wayland adopted a holistic approach to managing the land, and range conditions improved to such an extent that the stocking levels of game were increased and indigenous species were re-introduced.

Today, visitors to Fort Richmond will be astounded by the diversity of terrain, plants, animals and birds that they encounter in the farm’s 11 unspoiled habitat types. Neil Wayland is as passionate about nature, and all that it has to offer, as any of his predecessors – and is committed to maintaining the delicate balance between man and environment that now exists at Fort Richmond.