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 | |
| Coordinates: 33°35′S 22°12′E / 33.583°S 22.200°E | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Western Cape |
| District | Garden Route |
| Municipality | Oudtshoorn |
| Established | 1857 |
| Government | |
| • Councillor | James du Preez (DA) |
| 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 |
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Oudtshoorn (/ˈaʊtshɔːrn/, Afrikaans pronunciation: [ˈœutsˌɦuərən]) 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. Dubbed the "ostrich capital of the world", Oudtshoorn is known for its ostrich-feather booms, during 1865–1870 and 1900–1914. With approximately 60,000 inhabitants, it is the largest town in the Klein 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 stated by Pierre D. Toit.
Bhongolethu is a township 10 km (6 mi) east of Oudtshoorn. Derived from Xhosa, its name means "our pride".