I’m not a big meat person. I’m not even an adventurous food person. But I decided to take advantage of my time at the Highgate Ostrich Show Farm in Oudtshoorn to try ostrich during my visit and was pleasantly surprised.
Fun fact: ostrich meat is really good for you! Despite coming from a bird, it’s actually a red meat, but one that is leaner than beef with fewer calories and fat than even chicken. It’s also rich in protein and iron, making it a pretty good choice, meat-wise. As for taste, you’ll have to check out the video!
Long necks, funny faces, pretty feathers, really, who doesn’t love a good ostrich?
In South Africa, you can get your fill of them in more ways than one. Native to the continent, ostrich farms in Oudtshoorn are a popular traveler site where you can pet ostriches, ride ostriches, eat ostriches and learn WAAAY more things about these fascinating creatures than you ever thought you needed to.
My friend Sara and I paid a visit to Highgate Ostrich Show Farm, where for 140 rand ($9) and an hour and a half, we took part in all of the aforementioned activities. Our charismatic guide Danian packed tons of information into our tour. Based on this, please find…
Everything You Ever Needed to Know About Ostriches:
Ostriches are used for many things with multiple uses for their leather, eggs, meat and feathers.
One ostrich egg is the equivalent to two dozen chicken eggs.
Male ostriches have naturally blue skin, female ostriches have pink skin.
Ostriches typically have one mate for life.
Sometimes a male ostrich will take up with two female ostriches, then the farm has to incubate the eggs themselves to prevent fighting.
Ostrich eggs are very strong.
Ostriches are fast and have strong legs, they can break your back and kill you.
If an ostrich runs at you, play dead.
When you play dead, an ostrich may come and sit on you for awhile. That’s cool, wait it out.
Ostriches are extremely fast, and can run up to 43 miles per hour.
Male ostrich feathers are the pretty ones, used for costumes and decorating.
Female ostrich feathers are better used for cleaning, like in feather dusters (no comment).
Erica in Wonderland 