Ostriches are the biggest birds in the world, and here in Oudtshoorn, South Africa you have the opportunity to get up close and personal with these amazing creatures.

Oudtshoorn is a friendly, little town situated about 55 kilometers from the coastal town of George. Stay in one of the town hotels, lodges, towns or guesthouses. Alternatively you can stay on one of the local ostrich farms and enjoy a truly relaxing and educational visit.

You will have a truly hands-on experience of these fantastic birds when you visit any of the local farms. Most of the farms will offer guided tours, and are also very visitor-, disabled and child friendly. Visitors will be given interesting information about the ostrich industry in South Africa. They will also be able to come into direct contact with the ostriches, with a lot of the farms giving them the opportunity to touch the ostriches. At some of the farms, you will even be able to sit on the ostriches, or ride them!

The size of these birds is truly amazing! Adult male ostriches are between 6 and 9 feet (1.8m x 2.7m) at maturity, with females being between 5.5 and 6.5 feet (1.7m x 2m). Adult ostriches can weigh anything from 90kg to 130kg. Mating generally occurs between May and September. After the male has made a sufficiently deep hole in the ground, the female will lay one egg each day until she has laid 10 to 15 eggs. Ostrich eggs are the biggest eggs in the world-an average egg is about 15cm long, 12cm wide and weighs about 1.5kg!

There are many other ostrich products, in addition to ostrich eggs, that are popular amongst tourists and locals. Ostrich feathers are used in fashion and domestic products like dust busters. Ostrich meat is a very healthy alternative to red meat-with the color, flavour being similar to red meat, but having fewer calories. Ostrich leather is used to make various items like shoes, jackets and bags because of its supple, yet strong quality. Visitors will be able to learn about all these products, and be given a chance to purchase some original items.

Ocean Safaris is the largest boat based whale watching company in South Africa, with 2 legally licenced operations along the Garden Route: Plettenberg Bay, and Knysna.

Welcome to our world, a world dedicated to the observation and conservation of whales and dolphins. As an environmentally conscious eco-marine business, we are rated by Europe magazine, as one of the top 25 worldwide. Ocean Safaris is unique in that we provide support to the Centre for Dolphin Studies via proceeds from our boats trips, ensuring the ongoing research and information sharing from the only accredited research institute of its kind here in South Africa.

It coast to coast whale and dolphin legally licensed close encounters with Ocean Safaris. Come and join us as we Observe & Conserve?

Our head office can be found in an extraordinary town called Plettenberg Bay, hailed as the African Mecca for the rich and famous. But there is more than a cosmopolitan flair to our environment! We have a Bay that offers a diverse range of marine mammals, sharks and birds, and a seal colony that spans around 400 meters, along Robberg Nature Reserve.

Join us on a magical journey - the smell of salt in the air, the cry of birds in your ears and sights of whales and dolphins that will quite literally, take your breath away.Our boats are operational 3 times a day.

Generally our cruise times are 9.00am, 11.30am and 2.30pm, but we ask you to confirm this with each booking, as times do change according to weather patterns.

Trips on rail with the Outeniqua Power Van or the Choo Tjoe steam train are some of the most popular tourist attractions in the Garden Route. This unique eco experience can be enjoyed from the comfort of your carriage while enjoying one of the most scenic railway passes in the country. Experience the forest, four passes, waterfalls, 6 tunnels, fynbos, flowers, birds and animal with panoramic views.

Daily trips between 07:00 am and 21:00 pm in summer and between 10:00 am and 17:00 pm in winter are available. The Outeniqua Transport Museum houses a large collection of steam locomotives and carriages dating back to the bygone years. The Museum offers hours of exploration and intrigue while your children can enjoy a ride on the miniature steam train. The Museum also serves as the departure and arrival point for both the Outeniqua Choo Tjoe and Outeniqua Power Van.

George is steeped in history and is the sixth oldest town in South Africa. It was named after the reigning monarch in 1811, King George III. The Outeniqua forests were the reason the Dutch East India Company, established a woodcutters outpost in 1776, on the site that became George today.

On the trip to Platform 1 restaurant at the old station building in Great Brak you will discover the breathtaking views from the Maalgate Bridge and Glentana Heights. This trip is great for special occasions throughout the year.

Over-the-mountain to Herold lets you can enjoy farm tours and great atmosphere, away from the rush of the crowds.

The mountain bike excursion takes cyclists with mountain bikes to the top of Montague Pass, cycling down the historic and scenic pass all the way back to George is great and full of excitement. It is about 15km back of which 90% is downhill.

Advance reservations are necessary at least 24hours before departure. Trains will depart from and arrive at Knysna station.

The Garden Route has often been described as heaven on earth ?a visual gem, this piece of exquisite African scenery and untamed coastline is home to one of South Africa top golf courses ?The Fancourt Hotel and Country Club Estate, offering four courses to the avid golfer.

Courses include a little something for everyone, for very experienced players to the excited novice and facilities at the hotel for those who enjoy simply sitting back and soaking up the scenery.

There are 2 Elephant parks in the Garden Route, the large Addo Elephant Park and the small Knysna Elephant Park. Get up-close-and-personal with the earth largest living land mammals. The Knysna Elephant Park offers a rare and exciting opportunity to get close to these magnificent creatures. The well-informed, friendly guides will teach you all about the sad and mystical Knysna elephants, the world Southernmost elephants. Guests are transported to the elephants on a tractor-trailer where they have the opportunity to touch, feed and take photographs. Buckets of fresh fruit and vegetables are available for purchase so that guests are able to feed the elephants and ensure the best possible interaction. There are no barriers or fences to spoil the close encounter but this can be a bit unnerving for some. Guests are then transported back to a unique elephant curios shop and the quaint restaurant.

More than a century ago there were an estimated 500 elephants roaming freely in their natural forest habitat. Sadly, due to human greed and ignorance, there are only 3 reported surviving in the ever dwindling forest, making the future of the Knysna elephant seem bleak. Nothing could be more gratifying than hand-feeding one of these gentle giants. All the elephants in the park are orphans rescued from culling operations in the Kruger Park, except for young Thandi who was born in the park.

The Knysna Elephant Park was established in 1994 in remembrance of the struggle the elephants endured in the Knysna forest. The park spans over a 60 hectare camp on which the elephants have free range during the day. At night the elephants are housed in a boma. The camp has an abundance of natural vegetation for eating and a few big sturdy trees for rubbing up against to alleviate dry, itchy skin. It also includes two large dams for drinking and splashing about for some fun in the sun. Elephants love to cover themselves in muddy water to keep their body temperature down on hot days.The park boasts some of Africa most qualified elephant minders who keep a watchful eye on the herd.