Feather Power
The beautiful CP Nel Museum, formerly the high school, has an excellent series of exhibits on feathers, fashion, ostriches and local authors. Of specific interest is the re-installation of an old synagogue, built when the town supported a large Jewish population, which earned it the nickname ‘Jerusalem of the East’.
An annex to the CP Nel Museum is the Le Roux townhouse, situated a couple of blocks away. This perfect little house museum is lovingly furnished in period style, and the enthusiastic guides will give you a pretty good idea of how the wealthy lived their life in the ‘good old days’.
Other interesting buildings to check out include Forster’s Manor (also known as Forster’s Folly). This is a superb example of a restored Feather Palace, originally built in 1902, and visitors are welcome to have a look around. It offers luxurious accommodation in 8 en suite rooms and it is run by the local hotel school.
If you are a scholar of Afrikaner culture (and who isn’t?!), drive to the other side of town to visit Arbeidsgenot. This is the home of CJ Langenhoven who wrote the words of ‘Die Stem’, and several other much loved Afrikaans works of poetry and literature. The music to our dolorous national anthem, incidentally, was written by the NGK Reverend De Villiers of Simonstown.
A Walking Tour
There are several ostrich ranches around Oudtshoorn, and all offer tours and opportunities for visitors to get up close and personal with these ungainly birds.
If you would like to explore the human side of the feather boom, a walking tour booklet is available from the museums and info centre, which will guide you through the historical homes and buildings of old Oudtshoorn.
By David Fleminger
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