The largest and heaviest bird in the world is the ostrich. Fossils of this massive, flightless bird date back to 25 million years ago. They haven’t changed much. Females can grow up to 2m tall and weigh more than 90kgs, with males reaching 2.7m nine feet tall and roughly 127kgs.

While they are flightless, they are the fastest birds on land. They can reach speeds of 70kms an hour. Running at only 48kms, an ostrich would finish a marathon (41kms) in around 40 minutes… or less if he was annoyed. You can’t outrun an ostrich. Nearly 10 people can enjoy a plate of scrambled eggs from just one ostrich egg. Ostrich meat is exceptionally nutritious and lean and is sold in most South African supermarkets.

A great place to meet an ostrich, whose long legs, neck, large eyes with long eyelashes resemble an avian cat-walk model, is Highgate Ostrich Show Farm in Oudtshoorn, in the Klein Karoo area of South Africa’s Western Cape.

Surrounded by the picturesque Swartberg Mountains, Highgate has a number of different tours all of which visit the main yard and the farmlands. The main yard is home to the incubators, a collection of gizzard stones and the showroom. In the main yard you can feed the ostriches, meet the tiny spotted chicks, discover the different varieties of feathers an ostrich has, browse the products which are for sale that are made from the feathers, the eggs and ostrich skin. Most of the products are made by Highgate staff, and you can watch their unique craftsmanship as they create these special products.

The region’s magnificent climate is great for growing, hops for hand-crafted beer, grapes for the local wine industry, and olives, all of which are also available in the showroom.

After visiting the farmlands, where you can visit the breeding pairs’ nests and learn more about the bird’s anatomy, you can enjoy a delicious meal at Highgate’s al-fresco restaurant, The Pepper Tree.