Forestry machinery

Forestry machinery in South Africa: prices and what to check

Updated 4 November 2026

In South Africa, a new log splitter costs about R 25,000 to R 44,000, a heavy wood chipper up to about R 258,000, and forestry mulchers or processors start near R 190,000. These are approximate prices, according to sellers' websites in November 2026. For offers that fit your machine and job, post a request on BlaBlaPrice.

Rules to check before you buy

Under the Driven Machinery Regulations, the user is responsible for stating clearly what the machine will be used for when it is bought, so put the purpose in your request and check it is in the offer. The OHS Act also sets maintenance requirements, including what you must keep on file, and a computerised maintenance record is one way to meet them. The Department of Employment and Labour has published draft General Machinery Regulations for 2025, open for public comment until 22 November, so ask the seller which rules will apply to the machine you choose.

Season and timing

Summer runs from December to February, and a machine ordered in November will arrive just as that season begins. Ask for a delivery date in writing before you pay, and check how long the seller needs to prepare the machine after the order. Plan the delivery around the season your work depends on, whether that is the summer months or the winter from June to August.

Delivery and how it is bought

Heavy machines are described in metric units: engine hours, payload in tonnes, and working width or reach in metres. Some sellers offer a lease instead of a purchase, so say whether you want to buy or rent, and for how many months. Ask whether the price includes transport to Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town or Gqeberha, and who arranges the trailer.

What to write in your request

Name the machine type, the model if you know it, and the payload you need. Add the year you will accept, the maximum engine hours, the kind of work and the district where the machine will operate. If you want to lease, give the term. Finish with your budget in rand, so sellers can offer something that fits.

BlaBlaPrice is free for buyers. You describe what you need in your own words in the chat, and the AI reads it, asks for any missing details and looks through sellers' websites and price lists in South Africa. It then shows you the prices and businesses it found. Registered sellers reply in the chat with their own offer, price and delivery terms, and your contact details stay hidden until you decide to share them. For related machines, see heavy equipment and excavators.