Highgate Ostrich Show Farm - Oudtshoorn, Western Cape

Oudtshoorn is home to what is said to be South Africas first and finest and most original Ostrich Show Farm, Highgate. Highgate has been identified as one of South Africas Top Ten Attractions, and offers guided tours, ostrich racing, a restaurant and curio shop. It was established almost 100 years ago by the Hooper family and opened its doors to the public in 1938 and has since welcomed thousands of visitors from all over the world, including royalty, presidents and prime ministers to name but a few.

Their Ostrich Palace, which was built in 1902, is home to the restaurant where visitors can enjoy the original taste of ostrich dishes. Ostrich steaks were first served at Highgate over 30 years ago and ostrich meat today has become highly sought after as it is low in cholesterol, calories and almost fat free.

Among some of the activities which are on offer at Highgate are daily ostrich racing, hand feeding ostriches, riding an ostrich, sitting on an ostrich, visiting the incubators, visiting a nest and standing on eggs to show their strength, seeing day old ostrich chicks, and watching the manufacturing of ostrich products. Tours last approximately one and a half hours and are conducted by multilingual guides. The tours will teach you all about the birds, and you will truly enjoy your time in this valley surrounded by thousands of ostriches and majestic mountains.

Some of the products available at Highgate include, ostrich feathers, ostrich egg shells, ostrich leather, ostrich feather boas and even an ostrich egg shell bra. There is a wide variety of ostrich feathers which can be coloured to match any occasion and this includes beautiful boas of different lengths and colours too. Ostrich egg shells have always been a very popular curio because of the endless uses for them. They are often used for artwork, engraving and decoupage. The shells can also be mounted to make unique lampshades.

Ostrich leather is available in a wide range of products, Highgate selling one of the largest varieties of items in the world. The ostrich egg shell bra is definitely a show stopper and is available in genuine or replica ostrich egg shell.