Aruba Ostrich Farm — Attraction in Aruba

10/05/17 The ostrich farm was interesting, seeing these big flightless birds and their beautiful eyelashes (girls – eat your hearts out!). There were some emu as well. Our guide gave a rundown of the average ‘vital statistics’ of ostriches and also of their breeding habits. We were allowed to feed the ostriches from a bowl filled with pellets, a time for the farm photographer to take photos for the guests which they could purchase at the end of the tour. The ostrich farm on Aruba is for tourism purposes only. No feathers or ostrich eggs were sold. We got to see an incubator for the eggs – if the male ostrich rejects an egg, a member of staff will remove the egg and put it in the incubator in the hope of being able to salvage the egg and get it to hatch. We were also shown the differences between emu and ostrich eggs, an emu’s eggs being smaller and a beautiful blue colour compared to the cream coloured large shell of an ostrich. Guests took photographs of our farm guide as she showed the eggs. Her brilliant sense of humour got the better of her and she posed like a film or catwalk star, batting her eyelashes! It was very funny. She then asked for a volunteer guest to hold an ostrich egg next to a painted ostrich on the wall, bending over a bit and hold the egg near the painting’s rear-end - as if catching the egg - for guests to take photos. However, unbeknown to the guest our guide bent down behind the guest and held an emu egg just underneath his bum, between his legs at a respectful non-touching distance! The other guests howled with laughter. The chap on display soon realised why! Unfortunately I forgot to press the capture button on my camera. The visit was interesting but I felt sorry for the ostriches – their pens were small and I sensed they were stressed. I have been to ostrich farms in South Africa and the pens were a lot bigger - they are huge birds and need...

The Ostrich Farm has birds, ostriches, and emus (so, of course, also be prepared for some Liberty Mutual insurance jokes [LiMu Emu].) The experience of feeding the ostriches was a good one. You can do it from a bowl and/or by hand. Harold, our tour guide, did a good job of facilitating the photo sessions with the birds. However, he started the tour 15 minutes late with no apologies or acknowledgements of this lateness. He rushed through the tour by talking real fast and walking way ahead of all of the group, barely allowing time for questions throughout the course of the tour. He did allow time for questions at the very end of it. It all just seemed like Harold was in a hurry to get the tour done as fast as he could.

The restaurant is advertised there, and we were hungry and looking forward to lunch. However, it was closed when we were there, and we were told that the owners and workers of the restaurant basically run it periodically whenever they feel like it. They did have shaved ice available and a small freezer with pre-packaged, frozen desserts. Ostrich and Emu eggs are on the menu there. Even though it states that a prior reservation is required for these dishes, there is no link, no reservation form online, and no information about how to do this reservation. Also, this was located rather far out and the taxi was expensive to get there. The restrooms were clean and...

I have mixed feelings about this place. I have been to the one in Curacao, which I loved and was expecting the same. Thus this was a little disappointing. This is a walking tour around the grounds. It is led by an informative guide. Our group was small. Everything was said in 2 languages so we had to wait around while it was repeated in the second language. We got to hand feed the Ostrich which made great photos. The information was educational and all my 5 year olds questions were entertained. We got to hold the hollowed eggs. Though I was really hoping my little one couldhd a baby as I did in Curacao. Maybe it is not the right season. The price doesn't sound bad until you add up all your guest, $12 for adults $6 for children. So it cost 3 if us $30. The tour last about 45 minutes and the guide comes right out and asks for tips at the end. I was hoping to eat an ostrich steak at their restaurant though it was not on today's menu. The only ostrich they offered was an ostrich egg omelet. The restaurant was not really even a restaurant. It was picnic tables more like take out than a table service restaurant like the one in Curacao. So for someone that has never been this could be a wonderful experience. Though don't have high Hope's if you had a great experience...