Meet the Meerkat Mob with Meerkat Adventures and De Zeekoe Lodge

Image from Meerkat Adventures

Meerkats have gained a lot of notoriety in recent years with the popularity of the reality TV show Meerkat Manor and some meerkats such as Flower have been elevated to celebrity status with a book dedicated to her.

At the De Zeekoe Lodge Devey Glinister’s Meerkat Adventures are very popular among foreign and local guests. Many people seem to share a fascination with these gregarious animals that can usually be found in large groups known as “gangs” and “mobs”.

The name meerkat is derived from Afrikaans and literally translates into “marsh cat” even though meerkats do not live near marshes and are not cats. These squirrel-sized animals are in fact a subspecies of mongoose and are known for their upright posture. They can often be seen standing on their rear legs with their front paws hanging over their bellies, starting into the plains of southern Africa where they live. 

Image from Meerkat Adventures. 

Meerkat mobs are highly organised, hierarchical communities. Meerkats work together in numbers to ensure their survival. A few members of the mob typically act as lookouts, watching the sky for prey birds. While the lookouts guard the group, other members of the gang will forage for foods that make up their varied diet.

Meerkats aren’t morning animals. They often sleep late and only emerge from their burrows during the late morning hours because of their fast metabolisms. Meerkats lack insulation and can lose as much as 5% of their body weight when exposed to cold conditions.

Each meerkat gang usually has a dominant alpha male and an alpha female. Gang members who have abandoned their duties or who have shamed the gang can be cast out from the gang. Outcasts often live on the edge of the territory in which a gang hunts.

For meerkat lovers, MeerkatAdventures is a great way of getting up close and personal with these fascinating creatures. Have a look at the website for more information on booking your tour and also visit the De Zeekoe Lodge to book your stay in meerkat territory. 

Image from Meerkat Adventures.