Species guide · Most wanted
Where to see meerkats in the wild
Standing upright on sentry duty, the meerkat is one of the most charming animals in Africa, and one of the best for children. In a few places, wild colonies have grown so used to researchers and guides that you can sit quietly among them as they wake and warm up in the sun.
Quick answer
The Makgadikgadi Pans in Botswana and the southern Kalahari in South Africa are the best places to see wild meerkats up close, where guides visit habituated colonies at dawn. They can be seen all year; the cooler months, April to September, are most comfortable, and meerkats emerge to sunbathe soon after sunrise.
Best regionMakgadikgadi and the southern Kalahari
Best timeApril to September
Good forFamilies and photographers
The best places to look
Botswana
Makgadikgadi Pans
Habituated colonies on the edge of the pans, often combined with brown hyena and, in the rains, the zebra migration.
South Africa
Southern Kalahari
Private reserves where meerkat colonies are followed by researchers, alongside pangolin, aardvark and black-maned lion.
When to go
| Months | Chances | Why |
|---|---|---|
| April to September | Best | Cool, dry mornings: meerkats sunbathe at their burrows before foraging. |
| October to March | Good | Hot afternoons, so visits are at dawn; pups are often seen in the warmer months. |
Tips from the field
- Be at the burrow before sunrise to see the colony wake up.
- Sit low and still; meerkats may use you as a lookout post.
- Pair with brown hyena, aardvark or pangolin for a full Kalahari wishlist.
Questions travellers ask
Are the meerkats wild?
Yes. They are wild colonies that have become used to people over years of research and careful guiding. They are never fed or handled.
Is seeing meerkats good for children?
It is one of the best wildlife experiences for children: close, calm and in daylight.
Where can I see meerkats in South Africa?
In the southern Kalahari, at private reserves that work with habituated colonies.
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