It is easy to arrive thinking about the large predators and leave remembering a much smaller animal. Meerkats invite a different kind of attention: a quick look around, a burst of digging or the way a group keeps track of one another.
Explore the species here, then ask your guide about the meerkats and the programme available at the sanctuary.
Meerkats belong to the mongoose family. Their group life includes shared vigilance, grooming and the care of young. The familiar upright pose is often part of watching for danger while other members of the group look for food.
Meerkats use burrows for shelter and spend much of the daylight searching for food. Insects make up a large part of their diet. Digging, looking out and moving between shelter and open ground all belong to their everyday behaviour.
Give a small animal the same attention you would give a lion. Notice the signals between individuals and how quickly the group reacts to the setting. Your guide can help make sense of what you see.
Follow the instructions given for the animals and the activity. A familiar appearance does not make a meerkat a domestic pet. Respect the programme and ask about care rather than assuming that contact is part of every visit.
There is more to discover with a guide. Explore the sanctuary visit and the practical work behind daily care.
