South Africa features an obscure history of ostrich riding, a bizarre mode of transportation where humans attempt to saddle and steer incredibly aggressive, prehistoric-looking flightless birds.

A closer look

South Africa features an obscure history of ostrich riding, a bizarre mode of transportation where humans attempt to saddle and steer incredibly aggressive, prehistoric-looking flightless birds. Ostriches can sprint at highway speeds and possess massive, dinosaur-like claws capable of disemboweling a predator, making them arguably the absolute worst candidates for animal domestication. Despite the glaring safety risks, early tourists and farmers thought it would be absolutely hilarious to strap a tiny saddle on these temperamental feather dusters and hold on for dear life. While horse riding is majestic and dignified, climbing onto an ostrich just guarantees you will end up getting violently thrown into the dirt by a creature with a brain literally smaller than its own eyeballs