Oudtshoorn

Oudtshoorn (49 images)
Oudtshoorn was named for the wife of the first civil comissioner for the area. It grew to fame as "The Ostrich Capital of the World" when ostrich feathers became an importnat fashion accessory. Lucerne grows easily in the area and since it is the favorite food of the ostriches, it enabled the local farmers to raise the flightless birds for the feather trade.

From approximately 1870 to the beginning of World War I, feathers were a source of tremendous wealth to the local farmers. They built tremendous mansions of only the best materials for themselves. Those elegant homes were called Feather Palaces because it was the sale of feathers that made the money with which to buy them.

Today, Oudtshoorn is a small city that is commonly visited by tourists who wish to stop at an ostrich farm or visit the Cango Caves.

There was a festival going on the day that we visited and as we drove through the city, we were able to get a good idea of what South Africans do for fun, and it looked a lot like what we in the United States do.

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Traveling Through the Countryside