Marken Ostrich Ranch

Company Description

world ostrich farming started during the late 1880's in South Africa,this was also the start of the ostrich industry worldwide. The fashiondemand in Europe for ostrich feathers inspired the growth of the industry,with the Oudtshoorn district quickly being established as the Ostrichcapital of the world. During the first decade of the previous century,ostrich feathers gained record prices on foreign markets, ranking 4th onthe list of South African exports, after gold, diamonds and wool. Theconsequence of this newly found opulence meant that ostrich farmers wereable to build beautiful sandstone mansions. A unique feature, of the Safariexperience is a visit to the Ostrich Palace "Welgeluk" which was built atthe height of the feather boom in 1910. The homestead is a NationalMonument and a superb example of the type of architecture that was used atthe time. Safari Ostrich Show Farm, was established more than 40 years agoby two 4th generation ostrich farmers - Derek Fisch and the late HarryLipschitz.