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Maasai Ostrich Resort & Farm, the only ostrich farm in East, Central and West Africa, has introduced a students’ package; to give primary school kids a chance to visit the farm and learn about ostriches at an affordable fee.
Jotham Otieno, the general manager says ‘it’s a place for kids to learn’ and therefore wanted to encourage more school visits to enable kids to learn about the lifestyle of the largest bird in the world.
The students’ package allows school kids to visit the farm for a farm tour, an ostrich ride, swimming and a plate of chips and soda at just Sh500.The farm has tour guides who take visitors around; explaining the various characteristics of the bird but Jotham, the manager was my tour guide for the day.
An ostrich roars like a lion, he explains, as we walk along the massive paddocks housing the mature ostriches; three females and one male in each paddock.
It is also the fastest animal after cheetah; and has the longest eye sight but the smallest thinking capacity.
An ostrich performs a dance before mating; and its egg is equivalent of 24 eggs of a chicken
Located on a 200 acres of land; Maasai Ostrich Resort & Farm was started in 1991, initially as a farm until 1996 when it was turned into a hotel.The farm is the only ostrich farm in East, Central and West Africa, with the other two being in Namibia and South Africa.
The hotel now has five rooms and ten tents all self contained; with an additional 24 more rooms currently under construction.
The farm has 1000 ostriches and supplies meat and other ostrich products all over Kenya as well as overseas.
According to Jotham, none of the ostriches products go into waste; including the feathers, leather, and egg shells.
The bird’s meat is cholesterol free and its oil is medicinal; while the egg shells can be used  as decorations or lampshades, to make soup bowls as well as for making buttons.
Feathers of the ostrich can be used to make different kinds of dusters including camera dusters, table dusters or even cloth dusters; and its leather makes beautiful leather products.
A tour around the farm allows one to observe the ostriches from the youngest stage after they hatch to the biggest stage. Ostriches have a lifespan of 30 years; but the oldest at the farm is 17years.
For meat, Jotham explains that the ideal age for slaughtering is up to 8months because after 10 months, the meat is usually hard ; and if slaughtered after that; the meat can only be used for making burgers but it has to be grinded first.
The farms’ natural environment with numerous trees gives one a chance to breath in some unsullied air; and is home to at least 60 species of birds.
Just outside the hotel is an expansive well-manicured garden with green leafy trees; with one side acting as a camping site that can accommodate up to 800 campers; and one side being used as a garden restaurant where visitors are served their meals with no need of tents at all.
‘We want to keep it natural,’ says Jotham.
There is also a swimming pool for both adults and kids as well as a play area for kids;with swings ,a dry slide and a bouncy castle put up on weekends; as well as a tennis court and a volleyball pitch that can also be used as a football pitch.
For the ostrich rides; the farm has a circular arena measuring approximately 25 meters in diameter where kids as well as adults not over 70kgs can ride on the ostriches.
There is also a stretch just along the paddocks that house the mature ostriches where visitors can take chariot rides, but for this, one has to book at least five days in advance as the ostrich has to be trained to pull the cart. The chariot ride is a bit expensive at a flat rate of Sh10,000; as the animal has to be insured.
Operating 24 hours, Maasai Ostrich Resort & Farm is usually busy on weekdays; receiving up to 4000 visitors on a good day and up to 500 visitors on a bad day.
Weekdays are mostly for school visits; with at least four schools visiting every week. Some of the schools that have had a chance of experiencing the serenity of farm include Muslim Academy, Acacia, Braeburn and Rusinga School among others.
Charges for family visits depend on the activities taken; with ostrich rides being charged at Sh400 for adults and sh200 for kids on weekdays and Sh200 and Sh100 for adults and kids respectively on weekends.
Swimming is charged at Sh300 for adults and Sh150 for kids while farm tours are charged at Sh200 for adults and Sh100 for kids. Camping charges are Sh800 per day for parents while kids pay Sh500; with advance booking being recommended for this especially during the holidays, as the place is usually packed.
Maasai Ostrich Resort and farm is located in Kitengela off Namanga Road; just 45 kilometers from Nairobi. For more information or for booking; contact them on 020 250 2128/9 or email
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