South West Africa is a country traditionally rich in game. The numbers and distribution of the various game species. the influence of man and the development of legislation around the protection and utilisation of game is discussed. The various forms of utilisation are evaluated on economic grounds and possible detrimental influences on the game populations themselves. Keywords: Carrying capacity, Climate, Coastal desert, Economics, Escarpment, Evisceration, Game culling, Game populations, Game ranching, Hunting, Isohyets, Legislation, Physical geography, Plateau, Savannas, Thunderstorms, Vegetation, Woodland.