Altes Landhaus Country Lodge

What is an ostrich?

by Jenniflower

A fully grown ostrich towers over the average man. They are very strong, and fast!

They can do some serious damage if you have ruffled their feathers (so to speak!).

They mate between April and September - the cooler months - mainly, but may also conceive other times of the year.

The male ostrich makes a hole (more like a shallow trough), for the female to lay her eggs in. She will lay anything between 10 and 16 eggs in all.

They hatch in about 42-44 days.

Males are the more beautiful of the specie, with black and white contrasting feathers... and females are more mousey brown and greyish in colour.

What is interesting with ostriches is generalyl the female loks after the eggs herself.. but in their case, the male and female take turns... the female often looking after them during the day, and the male at night.

Angora farming

by cleocat

There is an Angora farm nearby the ostrich farm. They sell beautiful mohair jerseys and scarfs on the premises. Certain times of the day there are tours available where they show you the process. You can hold the rabbits and they show you how the hair is removed so it doesn't hurt the rabbits.

Meiringspoort

by myriam_c

The impressive Swartberg Mountains are the borderline between the Great and the Little Karoo. The highest mountain of this chain is the Swartberg itself. The Swartberg Mountains can be reached either over the spectacular Swartberg Pass (see my Swartberg page) or via the faster road over Meiringspoort.
Beautiful scenery with bizar formations of sandstone and red rocks.
On the road there are various resting places with (clean) bathrooms and well equiped picknick spots.

HIGHGATE OSTRICH SHOW FARM.

by PEE-WEE

HIGHGATE, established almost 100 years ago by the Hooper family, is a large Ostrich Farming concern producing primarily feathers and ostrich by-products. Highgate opened to the public in 1938 and since then many thousands of visitors from all over the world have been entertained on the establishment.

Oudtshoorn - stay an extra day

by glennkasner

"Cango Caves"

Mention the name Oudtshoorn (meaning old horn) and two things come to mind. The world famous Cango Caves and the world's largest bird, the ostrich.
The Cango Caves were discovered in 1780 but the first recorded visit only took place in 1806.
In 1816 a plan elevation was made showing the cave's layout from the entrance as far as the drum room.
Four years later regulations were proclaimed in order to protect the caves.
In 1890 the caves were extended as far as the Grand Hall.
1926 saw the appointment of the first guides and some 12 years later the Cango Caves were proclaimes a National Monument.
As recently as 1972 Cango 2 was discovered but this section remains closed to the public (an excellent Video / DVD is available at the curio shop)