Oudtshoorn

Oudtshoorn is "the ostrich capital of the world", in South Africa's Western Cape Karoo, and world-known for its ostrich farms and the nearby Cango Caves.

Understand
The town was founded in 1847, but scarce local water supplies limited the town's growth. However, despite the lack of water, ostrich farming proved to be a prosperous local industry, leading to significant growth during two "feather booms". During the first boom, which lasted from 1865-1870, the value of ostrich feathers (per pound) nearly matched the value of diamonds. Overproduction led to falling prices, although a smaller boom occurred from 1900-1914.

Today the town's economy is primarily reliant on tourism and ostrich farming, with the largest ostrich population of any place in the world — about 200,000 in 2012. The human population is about 67,000 (2017), making it the largest town in the Little Karoo region.

By plane
There is no airport in Oudtshoorn. The nearest airports are in George (domestic flights only) and Port Elizabeth (domestic flights only) and Cape Town (domestic and international flights).

By bus
The main bus companies serve Oudtshoorn on regular schedules.

There are Minivan Taxis going to and from George R50.

By car
It's a scenic drive on the R62 from Montagu and the trip from George over the Outeniqua pass offers some spectacular views. Worth the drive!

See

 * Gottland House, 72 Baron van Rheede Street
 * Gottland House, 72 Baron van Rheede Street

Ostrich farms
The "feather barons" made Oudtshoorn the "ostrich capital of the world", and today tourists can visit some ostrich farms in town. In most cases these are show farms, set up specifically for visitors, and most offer the same experience - an hour-long tour that explains everything about ostrich farming, from incubation through ostrich products, a visit to see the animals including a chance to feed ostriches and ride an ostrich (subject to weight limits), and finally a trip to the gift shop to purchase ostrich souvenirs. Don't expect the same experience as you would get seeing wild ostriches roaming the savannah - ostrich farms are most definitely farms, and the animals are domestic animals raised for human consumption, so they are not treated with the same respect as their wild brethren. Nonetheless, if you can get past any moral qualms the farms are interesting places that are worth a visit. Many farms offer discounts to guests of hotels that they have partnerships with, so be sure to ask at your hotel before visiting a farm.



Other activities




Eat
As this is the ostrich capital, this is the place to taste everything one can get out of this species. Most of the ostrich (show) farms offer a restaurant or braai facilities.

Go next
Go to the Garden Route and visit the Tsitsikamma National Park. Cape Town is also not far away (go there via the scenic R62).