Ever been to the "Ostrich Capitol of the World"?

Bushman art at the entrance of the Cango Caves.
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Carlene took us up through Robinson Pass to Oudtshoorn today, the self proclaimed "Ostrich Capitol of the World."  The mountain pass was spectacular and the high mountain valley was just as it was billed, field after field of ostriches for as far as the eye can see -- yes, much like the cattle in WY.!  We returned through the Outeniqua Pass, another glorious mountain pass, particularly stunning with the coast in the background during our descent.

Our first stop was the fabulous Cango Caves.  They are different than, but every bit as wonderful as the Kartchner Caverns in AZ.  We were going to take the "adventure tour" but chickened out as the pictures made it look really, really primitive, wet and dirty.  Last season a lady got stuck crawling through a formation and not only she, but dozens of others who had gone in before her, were stuck in there for 11 hours until they freed her.  Oh my!  Can you imagine?  Had we dressed for it, we probably would have done it, but...anyway, we enjoyed ourselves!  Just at the entrance of the cave was this amazing bushman art -- one of the few examples remaining.  Bushmen stayed at the entrance of caves and not much of their art has survived the elements and the touch of people.  The tour lasted two hours and our guide led us through two huge caverns and maybe four other smaller rooms.  The formations are incredible, as you can see!

South Africa offers almost as many wild risk-taking adventures as New Zealand!

Cango Cave formations
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For lunch we stopped at a Guest House that advertised a "light lunch" and we OF COURSE we ordered ostrich!  We had smoked ostrich fillet strips and ostrich pate along with the usual South African salad (Greeklike -- similar to the one at The Other Place in SLC).   All three of us loved ostrich.  Just like the advertisements, it is a leaner red meat!  The pate was particularly good, very flavorful.  The strips were like a lean salami, very tasty.  I wonder why ostrich has never took off in the states?

Cango Cave Cavern
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The most fun of the day, however, was at the Cango Ostrich Farm.  First we learned all about ostrich farms who get 15% of their income from the sale of the feathers, 25% from the meat, but a full 60% from the leather products made and sold from their hides.  They are indeed beautiful!  Then we learned all about the ostriches.  The males' beaks and legs go red when they "fall in love" and mate.  True story -- we came upon this pair mating on the way back and could see it!  At the farm we got to feed ostriches food pellets; then putting their food pellets between his lips, they "kissed" Denny; then Carlene rode one; and finally we all got neck rubs!  lololol  We laughed so much. The ostrich farms incubate the eggs of "good producers" and then return the hatchlings to pairs of ostrich who have proved to be "good parents."   We were cautioned that most ostriches do NOT like humans and that their kick is to be avoided.  Like the bison in Yellowstone, these animals are deceptively calm looking.  The one that kissed Denny though, is an "unusually calm" one, thank goodness.

a beautiful Hoopoe
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Finally we went to the Cango Wildlife Ranch and Research Center.  There they are working at revitalizing South African wild game.  They take in orphans and have a breeding program.  Much like the pandas in China, they allow (for a donation to their cause) people to hold and pet the hand raised animals that have no fear of humans.  Of course that is both good and bad -- good for the future perhaps, but not so good for these animals who will never be "wild."  Though we declined to pet the cheetahs, white tiger, or white lion cubs, we applaud their efforts with them.  The park in general was too much like a zoo for us to really enjoy -- though the unusual inhabitants like white tigers and lions were beautiful.  They also have large, very natural crocodile and hippo habitats -- natural that is until you come upon the crocodile pond in which you can dive with them (in a cage).  lol   South Africa offers almost as many wild risk-taking adventures as New Zealand!

Denny walking on ostrich eggs
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Our drive back through a different pass was made even more memorable as a storm rolled in over the mountains.  South Africa is indeed a very beautiful country!