No Garden Route trip is complete without a stop in Oudtshoorn. The ostrich capital of the world may not immediately spring to mind when composing a list of must-see destinations, but a quick visit and it will certainly be imprinted in your memory forever. Combine this quirky claim to fame with the town’s year-round sunshine, mountain-flanked setting and an incredible local cave network, and it soon becomes apparent that there is a different kind of adventure to be had here.
The memory of Oudtshoorn’s Victorian glory days – when ostrich feathers were all the rage – is very much prevalent in the architecture that makes up the area today. The more money being made, the more the farmers would want to show off. Buildings soon became so extravagant that they were akin to palaces and so have been dubbed Oudtshoorn’s very own “ostrich feather palaces”. Yes, really.
Not just a local attraction, ostriches are a delicacy as far as Oudtshoorn residents are concerned. So don’t be surprised if your breakfast features scrambled ostrich eggs, or if your dinner menu is looking particularly ostrich meat heavy. In fact, these dishes are surprisingly palatable and definitely worth a try.