The experimental method of measuring risk attitudes, using four hypothetical gambling situations, was used to elicit information from peasant farmers in the Border region of South Africa. The main intention was to examine peasant farmers’ attitudes towards risk and the social and economic factors that influence these. Based on the results, peasant farmers in the study area are risk averse. Factors such as level of formal education and annual household income were found to have significant influences on peasant farmer's responses towards making decisions on risky alternatives.