Ostrich, Table Mountain National Park near Cape Town

The Ostrich, a large flightless bird native to Africa, is distinctive in its appearance, with a long neck and legs and the ability to run at maximum speeds of about 72 kilometers per hour, the top land speed of any bird.

The Ostrich is the largest living species of bird, and lays the largest egg of any living bird.

Table Mountain National Park, established for the purpose of protecting the natural environment of the Table Mountain Chain, and in particular the rare fynbos vegetation, contains two well-known landmarks: Table Mountain, for which the park is named; and the Cape of Good Hope, the southwesternmost extremity of Africa.

PHOTO SOURCE: Friedrich von Horsten, courtesy of, and copyright, South Africa Tourism, a department of the government of South Africa, used with permission.

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