The ostrich, as found in the Little Karoo of the Western Cape and other parts of South Africa, has spawned an entire industry – and a slew of colourful rural legends to go with it.
The First Ostrich Industry in South Africa
The idea of farming ostriches for their feathers may have come from Algeria. The
world-famous Oudtshoorn Ostrich is a cross between the resident Little Karoo breed and birds from North Africa. Some of the local ostriches even had their origins in the Saharan wastes of Timbuktu.
By the 1880s the ostrich industry was firmly entrenched in South Africa. At first, these birds were fancied only for their feathers as no one seemed to know what to do with the ‘stringy’ meat. Good feathers sold for £250 per kilogram (a fortune in those days), and were worn during the Art Nouveau period in Europe and the United States.
The Feather Capital
Oudtshoorn was the capital of the ostrich industry. ‘Feather millionaires’ were building ‘feather palaces’ all over town: ornate mansions that still stand today as evidence of the very good business these big-eyed birds had become.
They were so valuable that before the invention of the egg-incubators, farmers would come across neglected nests containing a dozen or so eggs. Frantic that their profits would not hatch, some farmers would take the eggs to bed with them to keep them warm. At £10 pounds a chick, it made sense.
Then the whole industry went away as the clouds of World War I gathered on the European horizon. Now that women were working in factories and wearing overalls rather than feather boas, now that the fancy Art Nouveau parlours stood empty and silent, there was no more need for fancy frippery and the ostrich.
Modern Times in the Ostrich Industry
For nearly 30 years, the South African ostrich business stood dormant. Then, in the middle of World War II, ostrich farming began again. This time, it turned into a far more sustainable, dynamic industry that was not exclusively reliant on fine feathers for its survival.
The main appeal of the modern ostrich is its meat. In a world that prefers healthy, leaner cuts of protein, the ostrich has again become king. Its eggs are equivalent to two dozen hen-eggs and can also be used for décor purposes afterwards. Ostrich skin is used for jackets, handbags and shoes. Feathers are still a fashion item, albeit not as prominent as a century ago.
Ostrich Tourism
Just being in the company of ostriches can be a thrill, as thousands of tourists to the Little Karoo have discovered. There are a number of 
ostrich farms around Oudtshoorn, where tours are organised on a daily basis. Here, at a working ostrich farm, you can see how the birds are bred as well as the various ways in which ostrich products are fashioned and marketed.
One of the activities on offer is the riding of ostriches. Ostrich joints are frail in places and heavy riders will not be accepted. The farms often stage ostrich derbies, where lightweight ‘jockeys’ ride the birds around an enclosure. Far more preferable is the ‘walking on eggs’ option, during which visitors can see just how resilient an ostrich egg can be.
The Famous Feather Dance
The biggest misconception is that an ostrich hides its head in the sand whenever there’s danger. What it actually does is feign death when suddenly threatened by laying its head and neck on the ground so that all you see is its main frame, which from a distance resembles a round, greyish, rock-like object.
But these massive birds can be dangerous customers. So take care when you’re around them, especially the males during mating season. But, from a safe distance, you can admire him performing the Famous Feather Dance for his lady friends in the soft light of a late afternoon in the dry country.
Ostrich Country – The Little Karoo
Oudtshoorn – the ostrich town at the end of Route 62 – is worth at least a week of your time. Apart from the feather palaces and the ostrich farms, there are various wildlife ranches in the area. In fact, you can visit a crocodile farm and a bunny farm in a day – and throw in a camel ride for fun.
The two prime natural attractions of the area are the Cango Caves – a deep fantasia of limestone and crystal – and the daunting Swartberg Pass leading over the mountains to the scenic village of Prince Albert.
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