Oudtshoorn

Oudtshoorn
Clockwise from top: View of Oudtshoorn, Welgeluk Ostrich Palace, Ostrich farms, NG Church, Cango Caves, CP Nel Museum
Nickname: 
Ostrich Capital of the World
Oudtshoorn is located in Western Cape
Oudtshoorn
Oudtshoorn
Oudtshoorn is located in South Africa
Oudtshoorn
Oudtshoorn
Oudtshoorn is located in Africa
Oudtshoorn
Oudtshoorn
Coordinates: 33°35′S 22°12′E / 33.583°S 22.200°E / -33.583; 22.200
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceWestern Cape
DistrictGarden Route
MunicipalityOudtshoorn
Established1857[1]
Area
 • Total37.6 km2 (14.5 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[2]
 • Total61,507
 • Density1,600/km2 (4,200/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
 • Black African12.5%
 • Coloured70.9%
 • Indian/Asian0.4%
 • White15.3%
 • Other1.0%
First languages (2011)
 • Afrikaans87.8%
 • Xhosa7.4%
 • English2.6%
 • Other2.2%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
6625
PO box
6620
Area code044

Oudtshoorn (/ˈtshɔːrn/, Afrikaans pronunciation: [ˈəutsˌɦuərən]), the "ostrich capital of the world",[3] 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.[4] 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.[5] Oudtshoorn is home to the world's largest ostrich population,[6] 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.

Bhongolethu is a township 10 km (6 mi) east of Oudtshoorn. Derived from Xhosa, its name means "our pride".[7]

  1. ^ Robson, Linda Gillian (2011). "Annexure A" (PDF). The Royal Engineers and settlement planning in the Cape Colony 1806–1872: Approach, methodology and impact (PhD thesis). University of Pretoria. pp. xlv–lii. hdl:2263/26503.
  2. ^ a b c d Sum of the Main Places Oudtshoorn, Bongolethu and Bridgeton from Census 2011.
  3. ^ Robyn Curnow and Teo Kermeliotis (22 February 2012). "S. Africa ostrich industry hit by major bird flu outbreak". Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  4. ^ Footprint. "Oudtshoorn in South Africa". Archived from the original on 20 September 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  5. ^ Vecchiatto, Paul (30 July 2014). "DA heads to court on ANC failure to hand over Oudtshoorn council". Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  6. ^ van der Westhuizen, Lauren (14 April 2011). "South Africa Says Suspends Exports of Ostrich Meat After Bird Flu Outbreak". Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  7. ^ Raper, P.E. (1987). Dictionary of Southern African Place Names. Johannesburg: Lowry. ISBN 9780947042066. Retrieved 17 May 2014.