Meerkats are some of the cutest and most famous mammals in the animal kingdom. Many zoo’s across the world have a popular Meerkat Manor, but nothing beats seeing these charismatic mammals in their natural environment. Here are the facts and where to see them.
Meerkat tours in South Africa and Botswana
Meerkats live in the dry areas of southern Africa, in Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. A clan of about 20 meerkats live in burrows dug with their sharp claws. The alpha pair heads the family, and in meerkat society, they are the sole breeding pair.
While the meerkat clan venture outside their burrow, a sentry will be posted and warn other members with barks and whistles if a dangerous eagle or jackal ventures too close. A young adult will be charged with the nursery of pups older than a month. They are taught how to forage for insects, dig burrows, eat scorpions without being stung and meerkat society rules at playtime.
Foraging is a daily necessity because meerkats have no body fat. On warm sunny mornings they will emerge, carefully checking if the coast is clear before inspecting anything new or strange in their territory. Any sudden movement will scare them into the burrow immediately.
There are very few places where you can see meerkats in the wild. They will usually disappear long before you reach their foraging territory by vehicle or on foot. To get close to the meerkats, the clan have to be carefully habituated.
At Tswalu Private Game Reserve in the Northern Cape, South Africa, guests are seated on mats, taking care not to cast shadows over the meerkats. You need to sit very still, and eventually their curiosity will get the better of them! Once relaxed, the clan will start interacting with each other, playing and foraging in the sunlight before retiring to the burrows before sunset.
Meerkat excursions at Jack's Camp
You can also visit our furry friends in the Klein Karoo as part of your journey through the Garden Route or the Wine Route in South Africa. De Zeekoe Guest Farm outside Oudtshoorn offer early morning wild meerkat tours. Children must be aged eleven and over.
The meerkats at Jack’s Camp in Botswana’s Makgadikgadi Pans have their own guide that camps with them at night, so this clan is very used to humans. Some of the sentries even climb on their visitors to get a better lookout! Once the meerkats have warmed themselves in the early morning sun and disperse for foraging, guests can enjoy a bush breakfast.
Don’t be tempted to swap your stuffed meerkat for the real thing as they make terrible pets. Because of their territorial instincts, they will scent-mark their territory and even owner! Meerkats are pack animals and will get out of control as a single pet. It is best to visit them in their sunny homeland where they are happiest.
Meerkat family in South Africa
How would you like to see some meerkats up close?
