How to Ride an Ostrich in South Africa

For those of you who didn’t know, Oudtshoorn (pronounced Oats-horn) South Africa is the ostrich capital of THE WORLD. If you are visiting the country, consider making the journey (57 miles/92 kilometers from Knysna, 40 miles/84 kilometers from Mossel Bay) to their version of the wild west. If you’re driving the Garden Route from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town (or vice versa), it is only about an hour detour (driving) to the north, and well worth the deviation. You can ride a gosh darn ostrich, for one!

Getting comfortable on big bird

This video I shot of my sister, Chandler, riding an ostrich around the pen is one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen. Seriously, I can’t stop laughing at it. And the lady kept calling her Katharine.

Secondly, the ostrich products (think: boots, purses, bags) here are the best quality, at the best prices.

Check out my beautiful ostrich clutch! Purchased at a bargain price in an ostrich outlet in Oudtshoorn.

Lastly, the ostrich farm tours (“shows”) are very interesting and informative. We chose Safari Ostrich Farm Show, but there are others, like Cango Ostrich Farm Show and Highgate Ostrich Farm Show. These creatures are just so entertaining!

Ostrich eggs are strong. I mean, they are fiercely strong- supporting up to 120 kilos. Check out the video of Chan testing their Herculean strength.

These eggs don’t crack!

The average ostrich egg is equivalent to about two dozen chicken eggs, therefore potentially feeding 12 people. That’s a big omelette!

Ostrich race

Not sold on Big Bird? If you’re hesitant about driving an hour off the beaten Garden Route path just to hang out with some big, awkward birds, rest assured; there are so many things to do and see in Oudtshoorn! My next few posts will cover the mysteriously mesmerizing Cango Caves and the excitingly wild Cango Wildlife Ranch where we played with cheetahs, baby lions, lemurs…. And I’ll let you know where you should seriously consider lying your head at night!