Highgate Ostrich Farm: Hand-Feed & Ride with Derby Show
You Feed the Bird, Then It Races Past You
You hand-feed ostriches in the main yard, learn their anatomy in the farmlands, and optionally ride one if you're willing. The highlight is watching the ostrich derby on the world's longest race track with professional jockeys. You finish with a three or four-course traditional meal overlooking the Klein Karoo valley, all included in the ticket price.
1h 15m
Step-by-step itinerary
Ostrich farm tour and meal
- Learn about ostriches
- Feed ostriches by hand
- Watch feather, egg, leather crafts
- Visit main yard exhibits
- Explore farmlands and anatomy
- Ride an ostrich (optional)
- Watch traditional ostrich race
- Enjoy ostrich meal at restaurant
The Experience
Most farms let you watch from behind a fence. Highgate doesn't. In the main yard, you walk up to the ostriches and feed them by hand — and yes, they're enormous, and yes, your heart rate goes up a little. The staff show you the incubators, the gizzard stones they swallow, the feathers that end up in the craft demonstrations. It's the kind of detail that sticks with you: a bird that needs stones to digest, eyes that make you want to hug it, and a personality that's nothing like you'd expect.
Then you move to the farmlands. This is where the tour splits between the curious and the brave. You see the breeding pairs at their nests, learn how the anatomy actually works — why they're so fast, how they balance — and if you're game, you can ride one. The staff know what they're doing; they've done this thousands of times. After that comes the ostrich derby, the real show: professional jockeys on the world's longest ostrich race track, and you're standing trackside watching it happen. It's absurd and genuine at the same time, and it's the reason people remember this place.
The tour wraps with a traditional ostrich meal in The Pepper Tree Restaurant, which sits inside the historic homestead with views across the Klein Karoo valley toward the Swartberg Mountains. You choose between a three-course classic or a four-course premium with a cheese platter — both include ostrich egg and meat prepared in ways you won't find anywhere else. The whole experience runs about an hour and fifteen minutes from start to finish, and everything is included: entry, activities, the meal, all of it.
What’s included
- All activities including hand-feeding ostriches, the farmlands tour, the ostrich derby, and a traditional three or four-course meal in The Pepper Tree Restaurant.
- All taxes, fees and handling charges are included.
- Drinks are available at the restaurant.
Operated by Highgate Ostrich Show Farm
Is this one for you?Book this if you want a full afternoon experience in one ticket — the farm handles the activity, the meal, and the entertainment, so you just show up and spend the time. The short duration (1 hour 15 minutes) makes it easy to fit into a Western Cape itinerary without eating a whole day.
Traveler reviews
Top questions
Can you really ride an ostrich?
Yes, if you want to. The staff offer it as an option during the farmlands section; it's not mandatory.
How long does the whole thing take?
About 1 hour 15 minutes from arrival to the end of the meal.
Is the meal included in the ticket price?
Yes. You choose between a classic three-course meal or a premium four-course meal with cheese platter, both included.
What's the ostrich derby?
A traditional race performed by professional jockeys on the world's longest ostrich race track. You watch as a spectator.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes, the farm describes it as fun for the whole family and suitable for all physical fitness levels.
What should I wear?
Comfortable clothes, a hat, and sunblock. You'll be outdoors in the Klein Karoo valley.
Do you need to book in advance?
The listing is a skip-the-line ticket, so advance booking is recommended to avoid queues.
Is there a shop on site?
Yes, there's a Curio Shop where you can buy items, and The Pepper Tree Restaurant for meals and drinks.
Highgate Ostrich Farm: Hand-Feed & Ride with Derby Show
1h 15m · EN · at your hotel
from US$ 12.56 per person
★★★★★★★★★★4.68125 reviews
