Ever Ride and Ostrich?

Sunday was an exciting time here in South Africa. I started off the day eating a quick breakfast before leaving to make the journey through the mountains to Oudtshoorn.

The excitement began at the Cango Ostrich Show Farm where I learned the difference between the coloring of male and female ostriches (males have black and white feathers, females have gray and brown feathers), finding out that ostrich eggs are thick and sturdy enough for a human to stand directly on them, and best of all learning the techniques behind successful ostrich riding.

You would think riding an ostrich would be quite complicated, but really it's just like jumping onto your older brother's back-- except you have more control over the ostrich whereas your brother will run around like a mad man. Steering an ostrich is as simple as pushing their long neck left or right to turn them, just like a horse without reigns or a saddle. The key is to hold onto the wings for your reigns and lean back so you don't go toppling over the front of the ostrich. The only thing I did not appreciate about this place is that they really were in a rush to get us in and out, not everyone had the opportunity to ride an ostrich.

The next adventure was off to the Cango Caves for adventure caving.

 I was the only veteran caving-adventurer so the rest of the interns that decided to do the adventure were quite surprised at the small spaces that were required to squeeze through. At one point there was a tiny opening on the ground with a light shining in, the interns thought it was a joke to make us think we had to crawl into it. Still thinking it was a joke, the interns all laughed and gasped at once as I shimmied straight up the tiny chimney for about three meters. I was pretty graceful so it was nice to make the recovery from the not so graceful cage diving fiasco. Although this was deemed an 'adventure' tour, I've been on more exciting caving and spelunking escapades in the states so as a veteran I was not as impressed as the other novice cave explorers.

Lunch was a nice meaty ostrich burger, which for some reason I expected to taste like alligator. That was not the case at all. At the ostrich farm they explained that ostriches have barely any fat to them and I think that is what made the flavor so odd. I was glad I tried it, but could only guzzle down half the burger before getting sick of the flavor. Perhaps I started to feel bad at the fact that I was riding an ostrich not too much earlier in the day as well.

The day ended at the Cango Wildlife Ranch, which was almost a mini zoo. We went on a walk through tour with a guide that involved animals like the Nile crocodiles, pygmy hippos, and cape vultures in which they said there were only 22 left in the wild. 

The wildlife ranch focused a lot on conservation and preservation especially of cheetahs. Other big cats in the park included white lions, tiger cubs, and white tigers. 

One of the neater things about this place is that they constantly have the opportunity for visitors to encounter any of their big cats close up, a few of the big snakes, as well as cage dive with the crocodiles which I would have done if I brought extra money with! The prices are actually insanely affordable as well coming out to the most expensive one being maybe $30 or so U.S. dollars.

Overall, I think the adventure to Oudtshoorn was a success and another one that I would take if I were to come to South Africa again, especially to the wildlife park to cage dive with the crocodiles.