Ostriches ostriches ostriches

Trip Start Apr 27, 2006
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Trip End May 09, 2006


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Friday, May 5, 2006

Oudtshoorn is Ostrich town, and they don't let you forget it. For miles on the approach to town all you can see is ostrich farms. And of course, when in Rome... ride a roman ostrich. So it was off to the Safari ostrich farm for a bit of tourist kitsch.

After meeting the eminence grise of the ostrich farm - 27 year old Jack the Ripper and his wife - it was off to the "Ostrich Museum" (a shed) containing bottled ostrich fetuses, display feathers, and items taken from ostrich stomachs (how an ostrich can eat a bullet I'll never know).

Then... as a warm up to the inevitable retail opportunity, it was off to the Ostrich riding/racing paddock. If that offends your sense of animal welfare... well, get over it.

Ostrich leather handbags - in fluorescent pink - were available for about USD 500-600. And on the shelves we stayed. Although the ostrich biltong is kinda tasty, for biltong... and tip for young players, the painted/carved ostrich eggs are 50% cheaper at the capetown flea markets.
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