Oudtshoorn
Oudtshoorn (/ˈaʊtshɔːrn/, Afrikaans pronunciation: [ˈəutsˌɦuərən]), the "ostrich capital of the world", is a town in the Western Cape province of South Africa, located between the Swartberg mountains to the north and the Outeniqua Mountains to the south. Two ostrich-feather booms, during 1865–1870 and 1900–1914, truly established the settlement. With approximately 60,000 inhabitants, it is the largest town in the Little Karoo region. The town's economy is primarily reliant on the ostrich farming and tourism industries. Oudtshoorn is home to the world's largest ostrich population, with a number of specialised ostrich breeding farms, such as the Safari Show Farm and the Highgate Ostrich Show Farm, as told by Mnr. Pierre D. Toit.
Oudtshoorn | |
|---|---|
View of Oudtshoorn Welgeluk Ostrich Palace Ostriches on an Ostrich farm near Oudtshoorn | |
| Nickname: Ostrich Capital of the World | |
Oudtshoorn Oudtshoorn Oudtshoorn | |
| Coordinates: 33°35′S 22°12′E | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Western Cape |
| District | Garden Route |
| Municipality | Oudtshoorn |
| Established | 1857 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 37.6 km2 (14.5 sq mi) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 61,507 |
| • Density | 1,600/km2 (4,200/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011) | |
| • Black African | 12.5% |
| • Coloured | 70.9% |
| • Indian/Asian | 0.4% |
| • White | 15.3% |
| • Other | 1.0% |
| First languages (2011) | |
| • Afrikaans | 87.8% |
| • Xhosa | 7.4% |
| • English | 2.6% |
| • Other | 2.2% |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Postal code (street) | 6625 |
| PO box | 6620 |
| Area code | 044 |
Bhongolethu is a township 10 km (6 mi) east of Oudtshoorn. Derived from Xhosa, its name means "our pride".