Oudtshoorn got its wealth from the Ostrich feature industry. In the roaring twenties the town boomed and got istelf the name of "The Feather Capital of the World". Today, Oudtshoorns attraction include three show farms: Highgate, Safari and Cango Ostrich Farm. The great Palaces the nouveau riche of the feather boom built for themselves are a distinctive feature of the town. The CP Nel Museusm also goed into the history of the animal that made this a rich city.
Oudtshoorn would just be a small sleepy town behind the mountains, if it wasnt for the two big ostrich show farms, which attract entire busloads of tourists every day. In a profitable competition, the two venues, Highgate Ostrich Show Farm and Safari Farm, offer more or less the same program to the numerous visitors. In a two-hour turn, small groups are guided through the premises and, listening to short lectures, learn everything worth knowing about ostriches. At the end, the daring tourist may go for a ride on the obstinate birds and make a bet on who might win the ostrich race.
It is the visitors who ensure the survival of the farms, which have economically seen much better times. In the years before the First World War, more than 100,000 ostriches were bred on the farms of the Oudtshoorn area. Their feathers were then highly desired fashion accessories. The feather barons of those days could afford to build themselves fabulous "Feather Palaces", some of which can still be admired in Oudtshoorn today.
Cango Crocodile Ranch and Cheetahland are other interesting attraction. They are on the road to the Cango Caves, is open daily from 08:00. Over 300 crocodiles, ranging from 50cm to four metres in length, inhabit the ranch.
Oudtshoorn on the way back to Cape Town is ostrich capital of the world and a pretty place of wide streets and grand houses - grand B & Bs too, for that matter. Drives around the area are magnificent, such as over the Swartberg Pass, and near Oudtshoorn are attractions such as the Cango Caves and the Cango Wildlife Ranch, but the bizarre ostrich is the star of the show here and a short, informative tour of a farm, including walking on ostrich eggshells and riding the big bird - if youre not too big yourself - are memorable experiences.
a distinctive feature of the town. The CP Nel Museusm also goed into the history of the animal that made this a rich city.
Oudtshoorn today.