At a Glance
- Dutoit Agri and Westfalia lead in fruit exports across apples, pears, and avocados.
- Tswalu Reserve and Boschendal blend agriculture, conservation, and heritage tourism.
- Large farms drive rural jobs and export growth through diversified, high-yield production systems.
South Africa’s agricultural sector is a powerhouse of the economy, with vast farms stretching across diverse regions and climates.
From South Africa’s largest private reserve, the Tswalu Kalahari Reserve—which spans former farmland and advances conservation and eco-tourism—to leading fruit producers like Dutoit Agri and Westfalia Fruit Estates, these agricultural giants are essential to food security and drive significant export earnings.
The country holds a prominent position in global agriculture, ranking among the top producers of oranges, apples, and pears.
Farms like Dutoit Agri, spanning 4,500 hectares, deliver high-quality apples and stone fruits, while Westfalia Fruit Estates’ 1,800 hectares make it a major player in avocado production.
Equally significant are specialized farms such as Irene Dairy Farm, which produces about 3,000 liters of fresh milk daily across 3,605 hectares, and Hooggekraal Farms, a leading livestock exporter.
These vast enterprises also drive economic growth by creating thousands of jobs, stimulating rural economies, and supporting agro-processing industries.
From heritage estates like Boschendal and Fairview Wine and Cheese to conservation-focused Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, South Africa’s largest farms highlight the sector’s diversity and resilience. Together, they showcase a dynamic agricultural landscape essential to the country’s prosperity.
Shore Africa has documented these vast farmlands across South Africa—here’s a closer look at the country’s agricultural powerhouses.
1. Tswalu Kalahari Reserve
Location: Northern Cape
Size: Over 114,000 hectares
Overview: While primarily a game reserve, Tswalu is South Africa’s largest private reserve, encompassing former farmland and contributing to conservation and eco-tourism.
2. Cairo Farms
Location: Free State, North West, and other provinces
Size: Over 15,000 hectares
Overview: Cairo Farms operates over 15,000 hectares of prime agricultural land, producing substantial volumes of maize, sunflower, soybeans, and sorghum. The farm is a pioneer in precision agriculture, using advanced technology to optimize yields and resource management.
3. Sandstone Estates
Location: Ficksburg, Free State
Size: 7,000 hectares
Overview: Sandstone Estates combines large-scale farming with heritage tourism. It produces grains and livestock on 7,000 hectares and is renowned for its extensive collection of restored steam locomotives, which attract international visitors alongside agricultural operations.
4. Dutoit Agri
Location: Ceres, Western Cape
Size: Approximately 5,000 hectares
Overview: Headquartered in Ceres, Western Cape, Dutoit Agri is one of South Africa’s largest fruit growers and exporters. The company cultivates 4,500 hectares of irrigated farmland across the Warm and Koue Bokkeveld, Berg River, Sandveld, and Langkloof regions. Specializing in apples, pears, and stone fruits, it produces over 250,000 tons of fresh produce annually, supplying both domestic and global markets through expansive orchards and packhouses.
5. Irene Dairy Farm
Location: Centurion, Gauteng
Size: 3,605 hectares
Overview: Irene Dairy Farm is one of the country’s largest and oldest dairy operations. It maintains around 1,400 Holstein cows, producing approximately 3,000 liters of fresh milk daily. The farm also engages in agritourism, with a farm shop and heritage site open to the public.
6. Westfalia Fruit Estates
Location: Limpopo Province
Size: Approximately 2,500 hectares
Overview: Westfalia Fruit Estates is South Africa’s leading avocado producer and a major exporter. The farm operates roughly 1,800 hectares of orchards and includes research and development programs like the “Orchard of the Future,” which focuses on sustainable avocado production for local and international distribution.
7. Boschendal Estate
Location: Franschhoek, Western Cape
Size: 2,240 hectares
Overview: Established in 1685, Boschendal Estate is one of South Africa’s oldest and most prestigious wine farms. The estate cultivates vineyards and fruit orchards alongside hospitality facilities, combining premium wine production with heritage tourism and farm-to-table experiences.
8. Crookes Brothers Ltd
Location: Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
Size: 841 hectares across Southern Africa
Overview: A major agro-industrial player, Crookes Brothers cultivates sugarcane, bananas, and deciduous fruits across South Africa, Mozambique, Eswatini, and Zambia, supplying both domestic and export markets. It manages a 486-hectare banana farm in Mpumalanga, leased from the Mawewe CPA by Mawecro Farming, developing a 280-hectare banana project in southern Mozambique and also a 75-hectare banana operation in eSwatini, marketing its bananas under the Big Bend Bananas brand.
9. Fairview Wine and Cheese
Location: Paarl, Western Cape
Size: 320 hectares
Overview: Fairview is a renowned wine and cheese estate spanning 320 hectares. It produces award-winning wines across 120 hectares of vineyards and operates one of South Africa’s most popular artisanal cheese dairies, drawing thousands of visitors each year to its tasting rooms and cellar tours.
10. Hooggekraal Farms
Location: Mossel Bay, Western Cape
Size: 18.2882 hectares
Overview: Founded in 1955, Hooggekraal Farms is a third-generation operation specializing in livestock production and exports. It manages large herds of cattle, sheep, and goats across expansive pasturelands, supplying premium-quality meat to domestic and international markets.
