Oudtshoorn Ostrich Farms
Stand on an ostrich egg — a single egg can hold the weight of an adult human — and you start to understand why this bird once made fortunes. The Oudtshoorn district, a semi-arid pocket of the Klein Karoo, became the unlikely centre of a global luxury trade, and the farms that grew out of that era are still working operations today, not theme-park recreations.
Three farms take visitors: Safari Ostrich Farm five kilometres outside town, Highgate, and Cango Ostrich Show Farm fourteen kilometres out on the road toward Schoemanshoek. Each runs guided tours, feeds you through the production chain from egg to leather, and puts you close enough to an ostrich to appreciate exactly how large its eye is.
💛 What travellers fall for
People who've done more than one farm tend to say Cango is the most manageable — 45 minutes, R120 for adults, and it sits on the same road as the Cango Caves, so you can pair both in a half-day. Safari is the one to choose if you want the sandstone Feather Palace and a tractor ride through the Zimbabwe Blue breeding camp.
The story behind Oudtshoorn Ostrich Farms
Ostrich farming took hold in the Oudtshoorn district in the mid-19th century, not long after the town itself was founded in 1848. Two feather booms — the first running roughly 1865 to 1870, the second from 1900 to 1914 — turned a dry Karoo valley into one of the wealthiest rural districts in southern Africa. The sandstone mansions that farmers built during those years, including the Welgeluk Feather Palace at Safari Ostrich Farm, are still standing.
When fashion moved on and the feather market collapsed, the farms pivoted slowly toward leather and tourism. Safari Ostrich Farm opened to visitors in 1956, founded by Derek Fisch and Harry Lipschitz, both fourth-generation ostrich farmers. In 1964, the world's first dedicated ostrich research facility was established here; Dr Anel Engelbrecht is among the researchers still working on improving leather quality.
Good to know
All three farms are car-dependent. Safari and Cango both run tours on the hour from 08h00 to 16h00; confirm Highgate's hours before you go. May and September keep temperatures around 15°C — comfortable for walking tours. December through February is warmer and brighter but noticeably hotter out on the open camps.
Winters are cold and dry — June and July mornings can drop to around 7°C, so a layer matters for early tours. Summers are warm and clear, with December highs nudging 28°C; the light is long and good for photography, though the midday heat on open ground is real.
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What travellers say about Oudtshoorn Ostrich Farms
We spent the morning at Safari Ostrich Farm and after doing my research they lived up to their reviews and website. Most amazing day. With the most professional and extremely knowledgeable tour guide his name was Bronwyn. Answered everyone's questions. The place is beautiful and well kept and clean. An absolute must when in this beautiful town of Oudthoorn which I've fallen in love with
Lovely place to see the ostrich. Lots of interesting info. Our guide was well spoken but would recommend a variety of tone and volume as a lot of the visitors lost a lot of the really good info. Interesting to see all the different types of ostrich and their differences. The curio shop is well stocked with some really great ostrich products available. We love the work that they are doing to promote the sustainable utilization of ostrich. Well worth the money spent there.
It's a very important place for animal life. It's possible to safely and respectfully feed several ostriches. There are also explanations about the economic importance of the ostrich. For me, it was a very emotional moment! Congratulations on the initiative! I recommend a visit to this place!
Safari Ostrich Farm Our visit to the Safari Ostrich Farm was definitely the highlight of our stay in Oudtshoorn. The farm offers hourly tours (Ticket R225), which made it easy to fit into our schedule. As we drove through the gates on the tractor, we had no idea what to expect. Suddenly, these magnificent ostriches came running straight toward us! My heart skipped a beat – there's something both exhilarating and slightly intimidating about being face-to-face with birds that stand taller than most people. That initial fright, though, quickly melted into pure curiosity. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate, sharing fascinating insights about ostrich behavior, their history in the region, and quirky facts that had us all laughing and learning. The way they engaged with us made the experience feel personal and authentic rather than just another tourist stop. Beyond the farm, Oudtshoorn itself charmed us with its warm hospitality and stunning Karoo landscape. But honestly, that moment on the tractor, surrounded by curious ostriches and guided by someone who truly loved their work, will stay with us forever. If you're planning a trip to this part of the Karoo, make sure Safari Ostrich Farm is on your list!
Great fun, up close and personal experience with the ostriches. They really go for the food, but nobody got pecked and they tell you how to shop them off if you're feeling a bit overwhelmed by them. Didn't eat at the cafe but the food looked really good. Educational talk on ostrich farming. Great for kids.
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