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I had mentioned to Michelle that I planned to ride an Ostrich in South Africa, but she didn't believe me. We went in search of these flightless birds in the ostrich capital of the world - Oudtshoorn. I have read that 90% of the world's ostriches are in the area, with show farms, and also farms supplying meat, feathers, eggs, egg shells, and leathers.
Getting to Oudtshoorn, took us along almost the entire Garden Route, and then North through the mountain pass above George. Up on the plateau behind, we started seeing the fields of ostrich in the various fields around town.
Our first stop in the area however, was not to see the ostriches, but the Cango Caves. Noted as one of the seven wonders of Southern Africa, and one of the largest caves in the world, we signed up for the adventure tour, because you really need to get deeper into the caves to 'really' explore them (I figure). Michelle was a little nervous of what was to come, considering some of the names of the features. We were surprised to find that we had a private tour, because nobody else showed up. Our guide Theo took us first into the huge rooms at the entrance to the cave. Massive halls with large stalagmite and stalactite formations, some looking like organ pipes and waterfalls. As you go deeper into the cave, things tend to get a tighter. Up a ladder and through a section of 85m but only 1.2m high. Into the very skinny Tunnel of Love, where a lady actually got stuck for about 11 hours, also trapping a group of tourists who were past the tunnel. The cave was also getting damper, seeing some interesting layers before climbing up through the coffin. Then, the most difficult spot, the chimney, which was about 4m high, but a very tight vertical pipe that you have to shimmy up. This is where Michelle turned back, and rightly so. It was tricky spot, especially with a camera and camera bag. She circled back around and met us on the other side of the postbox. About 27cm in height, you slide down this feature on your stomach, like mailing a letter through the slot. I loved the exploring and Michelle did well to join me on the Adventure Tour.
Out of the dark, we tried to figure out if we now had enough light to tackle the scenic mountain passes. We drove up the engineering masterpiece that is the Swartberg Pass. Built by hand, without man-made materials, this steep, windy road crosses over towards Die Hell (the Hell) - a remote valley where an old clan of Dutch lived for years untouched by time. Our time was running out though, so we returned to Oudtshoorn via the same pass, after a quick look at the canyons on the far side.
Back at Backpacker Paradise Hostel, we were in the tent again. A stark change from our digs at Plettenberg Bay. At this place, breakfast materials were included, and they were not the norm. The ladies would open up an ostrich egg, and provide the egg for our cooking use. One egg remarkably contains the equivalent of 24 regular eggs. So, we cooked up some delicious scrambled '1/8th egg' to set us on our way.
To Cango Ostrich Show Farm, and I was excited in anticipation of a feathered adventure. A tour through the farm taught us about the incubation of the eggs, and the amount of eggs laid by and ostrich - one every other day for about 30 days. 15 eggs or so, that unbelievably hatch all at the same time. Also, the kick from the two-toed foot of an ostrich can penetrate and tear you apart. That's when they led us willing participants into the ostrich pens. First off, to feed the actual dwarf ostrich, stunted by the disease, and kept away from the other ostriches for fear of attack. Next, an ostrich 'hug' for Michelle as the worker went behind her with food, and the ostriches neck stretched around Michelle's shoulder to get the food. Pretty close contact. Then, I was lined up with a few others for an ostrich 'kiss'. You guessed it, I had to put some food between my lips, and wait for the ostrich to peck me on the lips. Well, watching this huge beak coming at you is scary, especially since she doesn't have any concept of gentle when it comes to food. She actually cut both of my lips from her little 'kiss'. Lucky it wasn't a French kiss!!A shoulder massage awaited next, as I stood with my back to a flock, and with a bucket of food in my hands. They went crazy reaching their necks over my shoulders to get at the food. Weird seeing about 8 ostrich necks around you. We also had the opportunity to test the strength of the ostrich egg shells, by standing on them with all our weight - must be a super thick shell!!
My moment finally came, as I lined up to climb on the ostrich for a ride. A little difficult to climb up onto, especially getting the wings out of the way. You tuck your legs under each wing, and grip around the high knee of the bird. Holding on to the feathers and wings, you hang on for dear life as they remove the mask, and the bird takes off at full speed. Pretty funny, and I could have ridden it for a while, but the trainers advised me to jump off. It was a bit of a rush, and I'm guessing not too many of you can say you have ridden an ostrich.
My day's goal complete, I left satisfied, but Michelle had yet to accomplish hers. She was in search of an ostrich egg to bring home, but she wanted it complete with the contents. At our hostel, they showed us how to crack the egg open to get the contents out, and she was surprised when they gave her the full egg to take, for the same price as just the egg shell. It would be a cholesterol bomb for breakfast the next day - Yum!!! *Stub
I had mentioned to Michelle that I planned to ride an Ostrich in South Africa, but she didn't believe me. We went in search of these flightless birds in the ostrich capital of the world - Oudtshoorn. I have read that 90% of the world's ostriches are in the area, with show farms, and also farms supplying meat, feathers, eggs, egg shells, and leathers.
Getting to Oudtshoorn, took us along almost the entire Garden Route, and then North through the mountain pass above George. Up on the plateau behind, we started seeing the fields of ostrich in the various fields around town.
 |
| Curious ostrich |
Out of the dark, we tried to figure out if we now had enough light to tackle the scenic mountain passes. We drove up the engineering masterpiece that is the Swartberg Pass. Built by hand, without man-made materials, this steep, windy road crosses over towards Die Hell (the Hell) - a remote valley where an old clan of Dutch lived for years untouched by time. Our time was running out though, so we returned to Oudtshoorn via the same pass, after a quick look at the canyons on the far side.
Back at Backpacker Paradise Hostel, we were in the tent again. A stark change from our digs at Plettenberg Bay. At this place, breakfast materials were included, and they were not the norm. The ladies would open up an ostrich egg, and provide the egg for our cooking use. One egg remarkably contains the equivalent of 24 regular eggs. So, we cooked up some delicious scrambled '1/8th egg' to set us on our way.
 |
| Shoulder massage |
My moment finally came, as I lined up to climb on the ostrich for a ride. A little difficult to climb up onto, especially getting the wings out of the way. You tuck your legs under each wing, and grip around the high knee of the bird. Holding on to the feathers and wings, you hang on for dear life as they remove the mask, and the bird takes off at full speed. Pretty funny, and I could have ridden it for a while, but the trainers advised me to jump off. It was a bit of a rush, and I'm guessing not too many of you can say you have ridden an ostrich.
My day's goal complete, I left satisfied, but Michelle had yet to accomplish hers. She was in search of an ostrich egg to bring home, but she wanted it complete with the contents. At our hostel, they showed us how to crack the egg open to get the contents out, and she was surprised when they gave her the full egg to take, for the same price as just the egg shell. It would be a cholesterol bomb for breakfast the next day - Yum!!! *Stub
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