Update: In retrospect I think I can say we would not do this again. Not because it was a bad experience, but rather from an ethical point of view. Although ostriches are farm animals in South Africa (in general, being OK with the animal food industry is a personal choice, our tendencies regarding that shifted over time), at the very least the ostrich riding is highly questionable.
The Cango Ostrich farm was en route to the Cango Caves. There is an ostrich safari show here and this is where I got my first taste of what an ostrich is really like.
For those of you who are not too familiar with ostriches: an ostrich is the world largest bird. It is also flightless. They roam in the African savanna and the desert lands where they get their water from the plants they eat. They have to crack open their eggs after 42 days with their breast plates as the eggs are too hard for the chicks. We found this out by standing on an ostrich egg which would easily hold our body weight without cracking.
When I saw the first ostrich I was scared. They have big big eyes compared with their small heads and they looked like they were ready to attack. The female ostriches were inquisitive and came up to the tractor we were riding on.
I was told earlier that they like shiny things and would eat almost anything. This was proven when we saw what had been found in an ostriches stomach - teddy bears, screw drivers, metals and all sorts of items. So I kept my face and items well away by hiding behind B.
There are many opportunities at the Cango Ostrich farm to get up close to the ostriches which I took very reluctantly - with some peer pressure from B. We fed the ostrich pellets made from grass out of our hands. B feed one straight away and after a few minutes I decided to feed one from my hand too.
That was fun, the ostrich bit my hand ... Luckily they have no teeth. After that first close encounter decided it would be fine to sit on one of them - right here goes nothing ... My bum was on the ostrich and I was ready for my photo.
P.S. If you have no hair on your head do not lie down when an ostrich comes for you ... Run! They will think your head is an egg and try an incubate you ... Remember the incubation goes on for 42 days. You have been warned.