The meerkat or suricate (Suricata suricatta) is a small carnivoran belonging to the mongoose family (Herpestidae). It is the only member of the genus Suricata. Meerkats live in all parts of the Kalahari Desert in Botswana, in much of the Namib Desert in Namibia and southwestern Angola, and in South Africa. A group of meerkats is called a "mob", "gang" or "clan".

Wildlife

Meerkat

Suricata suricatta

The meerkat or suricate (Suricata suricatta) is a small carnivoran belonging to the mongoose family (Herpestidae).

from Wikipedia

Showing stays that recordMeerkat10+ stays list it on site or nearby

Species insights▾

When to visit

Recorded year-round

Recorded in every month, so no month is the wrong month to look. We would rather say that than invent a best time.

Best monthsAny month

Records926 records

Curve from 926 national iNaturalist observations, not from one property. Single-month spikes are discarded as upload artefacts, and below 50 records we show no curve at all.

Where you'll find it

Northern Cape and beyond

Provinces where Meerkat is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.

926 records, iNaturalist

Parks where hosts record the Meerkat

6 places
Kgalagadi Transfrontier ParkNorthern Cape · Best Aug to Oct
6 places

Places to stay

10+ results in South Africa

Kwandwe Melton Manor

Eastern Cape

Meerkat recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge

Eastern Cape

Meerkat recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard · Game drives

Price on request

Kwandwe Uplands Homestead

Eastern Cape

Meerkat recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Kwandwe Fort House

Eastern Cape

Meerkat recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Kwandwe Ecca Lodge

Eastern Cape

Meerkat recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Lupus Den Country House

Sundays River Valley, Addo

Meerkat recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Black backed jackal, Bushbuck

From R 2,600 per night

Heritage View Birding Retreat

Delareyville

Meerkat recorded here · Grassland biome · 14 birds recorded · Brown hyena, Black backed jackal · Photography

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 1,000 per night

Inverdoorn Private Game Reserve

Western Cape

Meerkat recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome · 16 birds recorded · Black wildebeest, Black backed jackal · Spa, Stargazing

Supports Saving Private Rhino

Price on request

Aquila Private Game Reserve & Spa

Touws River

Meerkat recorded here · Fynbos biome · 1 bird recorded · Giraffe, Leopard · Spa, Stargazing

Supports Saving Private Rhino

From R 7,820 per night

Grootkolk Wilderness Camp

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Meerkat recorded here · Savanna biome · 97 birds recorded · Gemsbok, Springbok

From R 2,634 per night

Bitterpan Wilderness Camp

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Meerkat recorded here · Savanna biome · 97 birds recorded · Gemsbok, Camel thorn · Stargazing, 4x4 trails

From R 2,634 per night

Kieliekrankie Wilderness Camp

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Meerkat recorded here · Savanna biome · 97 birds recorded · Camel thorn, Gemsbok · Stargazing

From R 2,634 per night

Gharagab Wilderness Camp

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Meerkat recorded here · Savanna biome · 97 birds recorded · Gemsbok, Giraffe · Stargazing, 4x4 trails

From R 2,634 per night

Kalahari Tented Camp

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Meerkat recorded here · Savanna biome · 97 birds recorded · Gemsbok, Springbok · Stargazing

From R 2,314 per night

Urikaruus Wilderness Camp

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Meerkat recorded here · Savanna biome · 97 birds recorded · Gemsbok, Springbok · Stargazing

From R 2,634 per night

Phefumula Country Retreat

Magaliesburg

Meerkat recorded here · Savanna biome · Meerkat · Hiking, Scenic drives

From R 1,000 per night

More stays nearby

Babylonstoren

Klapmuts, Simondium

12 birds recorded · Angulate tortoise, Wild olive · Spa, Vineyards

Price on request

Tanda Tula Safari Camp

Limpopo

Savanna biome · 27 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard · Guided walk, Game drives

Price on request

Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge

Hluhluwe

Savanna biome · 285 birds recorded · African wild dog, Spotted hyena · Game drives

Price on request

Thonga Beach Lodge

Manguzi

Forest biome · 60 birds recorded · Humpback whale, Southern right whale · Canoeing, Snorkelling

Price on request

La Clé Lodge & Villas

Franschhoek

Fynbos biome · Cycling

Price on request

Coot Club

Stanford

Fynbos biome · 8 birds recorded · White milkwood, Southern right whale · Whale watching, Canoeing

Price on request

Ubuntu Lodge at Elephant Point

Hazyview

Savanna biome · 1 bird recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Scenic drives

Price on request

Vergenoegd Löw Boutique Hotel & Spa

Somerset West

Fynbos biome · 1 bird recorded · Vineyards, Wine tasting

Price on request

Plan a trip around these stays

Planning a trip

When and where to find the Meerkat

Hosts have recorded the Meerkat at stays in or beside Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

When to go, park by park

Here all yearEasiest viewing

Best months to visit each park where hosts record the Meerkat
Park	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Kgalagadi	Here	Here	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Here	Here	Here	Here	Here	Here	Here

Darker months are each park's own best season, when thinner bush or scarce water makes viewing easier. A sighting is never guaranteed.

Best hours of the day

Early morning and late afternoon. The Meerkat is out through the day, and easiest to watch before the heat.
Midday heat. Often resting in shade or near water.

Ways to look

Drive yourself

Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.

Where hosts record it

Kgalagadi

Species

Suricata suricatta

Records

926

iNaturalist observations

Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.

Questions travellers ask

A record means a host has seen the Meerkat on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.

Which parks and reserves are best for the Meerkat in South Africa?

Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Meerkat at stays in or beside Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. A record means a host has seen it on the property or nearby, which makes these the places to base yourself; it is never a guarantee of a sighting on any given day.

Where can you see the Meerkat in South Africa?

The Meerkat is most recorded in Northern Cape (45% of records), Eastern Cape (25% of records), Mpumalanga (8% of records), based on 926 iNaturalist observations. 16 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Meerkat on site or nearby.

When is the best time to see the Meerkat?

The Meerkat is recorded throughout the year, so no month is the wrong month to look for it. For the parks where hosts record it most, these are the best seasons they give. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: Aug-Oct, flowers, Mar-May. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.

What is the Meerkat?