THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Spend 75 minutes among ostriches at Highgate: feed them by hand, learn about feather and egg crafts, and finish with a traditional ostrich meal against Swartberg views. This family-friendly farm tour mixes animal interaction with local history and a spirited ostrich derby.
Spend 75 minutes among ostriches at Highgate: feed them by hand, learn about feather and egg crafts, and finish with a traditional ostrich meal against Swartberg views. This family-friendly farm tour mixes animal interaction with local history and a spirited ostrich derby.
The farmyard opens like a stage: long-necked ostriches stride through sunlit dust, their eyes tracking visitors with uncanny calm while the Swartberg Mountains hold the horizon steady. Walkways lead from a shaded homestead to the farmlands where incubators hum and feathers are displayed; the air alternates between the chirp of farm life and the low thrum of tourist chatter.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Highgate Ostrich Show Farm · Oudtshoorn, Western Cape
The farmyard opens like a stage: long-necked ostriches stride through sunlit dust, their eyes tracking visitors with uncanny calm while the Swartberg Mountains hold the horizon steady. Walkways lead from a shaded homestead to the farmlands where incubators hum and feathers are displayed; the air alternates between the chirp of farm life and the low thrum of tourist chatter.
Oudtshoorn sits in the Klein Karoo, a semi-arid basin cut into folded sandstone and shale. Ostrich farming shaped the town's economy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries — feather booms financed ornate Cape Dutch houses, and those echoes remain in the homesteads and curio craft demonstrated on site. The farm combines animal husbandry and artisanal skills: leatherwork, egg art, and feather processing are shown alongside biological notes about the world's largest bird.
On the tour expect two distinct sections: a compact main yard where you can feed and photograph birds at close range, and the farmlands where breeding nests and anatomy demonstrations take place. For the brave there’s a supervised chance to sit on or briefly ride an ostrich; professional jockeys stage a lively derby along the long race track.
Practical tips: tours run about 75 minutes, include a choice of Classic or Premier meals at the Pepper Tree Restaurant, and are family-friendly but not hands-off—follow staff instructions around birds. Wear closed-toe shoes and sun protection, arrive with your reservation (skip-the-line ticket applies), and leave time afterward to browse the curio shop or drive a short distance into Oudtshoorn for limestone caves and local museums.
Yes—staff supervise feeding in the main yard and provide safe feed; never feed birds outside guided times or with outside food.
Riding is offered under staff supervision and typically limited by age, size, and temperament of the bird—ask on arrival for current restrictions.
Meals are optional; tours conclude at The Pepper Tree Restaurant where Classic and Premier meal options are available for purchase or pre-booking.
Main yard areas are relatively flat but some farmland sections have uneven ground; contact the farm for specific accessibility accommodations before visiting.
Highgate Ostrich Show Farm operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
The farmyard opens like a stage: long-necked ostriches stride through sunlit dust, their eyes tracking visitors with uncanny calm while the Swartberg Mountains hold the horizon steady. Walkways lead from a shaded homestead to the farmlands where incubators hum and feathers are displayed; the air alternates between the chirp of farm life and the low thrum of tourist chatter.
The farmyard opens like a stage: long-necked ostriches stride through sunlit dust, their eyes tracking visitors with uncanny calm while the Swartberg Mountains hold the horizon steady. Walkways lead from a shaded homestead to the farmlands where incubators hum and feathers are displayed; the air alternates between the chirp of farm life and the low thrum of tourist chatter.
Oudtshoorn sits in the Klein Karoo, a semi-arid basin cut into folded sandstone and shale. Ostrich farming shaped the town's economy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries — feather booms financed ornate Cape Dutch houses, and those echoes remain in the homesteads and curio craft demonstrated on site. The farm combines animal husbandry and artisanal skills: leatherwork, egg art, and feather processing are shown alongside biological notes about the world's largest bird.
On the tour expect two distinct sections: a compact main yard where you can feed and photograph birds at close range, and the farmlands where breeding nests and anatomy demonstrations take place. For the brave there’s a supervised chance to sit on or briefly ride an ostrich; professional jockeys stage a lively derby along the long race track.
Practical tips: tours run about 75 minutes, include a choice of Classic or Premier meals at the Pepper Tree Restaurant, and are family-friendly but not hands-off—follow staff instructions around birds. Wear closed-toe shoes and sun protection, arrive with your reservation (skip-the-line ticket applies), and leave time afterward to browse the curio shop or drive a short distance into Oudtshoorn for limestone caves and local museums.