Meerkat Madness

 

The movie Meerkat Manor delighted almost all who saw it. Now experience these magnificent animals in their natural environment and learn all about their habits and social structure.

On this 'private' tour you will also have the opportunity to walk alongside these animals as they go about their daily routines as well as the chance to visit a meerkat rehabilitation centre.

Other highlights include the red dunes of the Kalahari Desert, some of the world's highest dunes at Sossusvlei, the coastal town of Swakopmund, game watching on a private game reserve and the chance to feed cheetahs and leopards.

DAY 1 HEATHROW-WINDHOEK
Fly overnight from Heathrow via Johannesburg to Windhoek.

DAY 2 WINDHOEK
On arrival you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel. In the afternoon you have your first encounter with meerkats when you visit a small zoo on the outskirts of the city. Meet Sparky, Ratatouille, Skip and Skallywag and watch them playfully interact with each other, feed them by hand and listen to your guide as he tells you more about these very interesting animals. Overnight: Safari Court Hotel, or similar.

DAY 3 KALAHARI DESERT
Leave Windhoek for the Kalahari Desert where a variety of antelope, smaller mammals, insects and reptiles inhabit the desert. Explore this specialized ecosystem with your experienced guide, before travelling to your lodge, situated along the rim of one of the red dunes. A resident group of Meerkats live in the lodge surroundings and the best time to view them is at feeding times when they are at their most active. Overnight: Bagatelle Kalahari Game Lodge, or similar. (b)

DAY 4 NAMIB DESERT
Head down the steep escarpment to the edge of the Namib Desert where the meerkats cousin, the ground squirrel, lives in holes in the ground. Like the meerkat, the ground squirrel also has a very tight family bond and your guide will be able to give you information on the differences between these cousins. In the late afternoon you have the opportunity to enjoy a guided walk to a cheetah and leopard area, where these animals are being fed. You have the chance to touch and stroke the cheetah, while you also have excellent photographic opportunities of the lynx, a small predator that roams most parts of Namibia. Overnight: Hammerstein Lodge, or similar. (b)

DAY 5 NAMIB DESERT
Travel to the Sossusvlei area before sunrise to experience this soulful and invigorating area at dawn. In the early afternoon, travel to your lodge, situated amongst vast grass plains that are dotted with majestic and stunning mountains. Here you will stay for two days, in order to follow two resident groups of meerkats! Overnight: Rostock Ritz Desert Lodge, or similar. (b)

DAY 6 NAMIB DESERT
You have the entire day to observe the meerkats. As they are wild animals, it is not always possible to touch them, but you will be able to see how they feed, where they live and how they interact with each other. In the hottest part of the day the meerkats tend to retreat into their burrows, a time when it is also siesta time for you at the lodge. In the later afternoon you can again observe the meerkats. Taking photos is optimal at this time, as the meerkats become most active when the day cools down. Overnight: Rostock Ritz Desert Lodge, or similar. (b)

DAY 7 SWAKOPMUND
On your way to Swakopmund, visit the valley of the Swakop River, this is the only location in the world where the endemic Welwitschia mirabilis grows in such proportions. If there were a place on earth, that resembles a lunar environment, the Moon landscape would be it! This area in the Swakop River Valley eroded over millions of years to form badland topography, and consists of a series of barren hills and valleys. Overnight: Europa Hof Hotel, or similar. (b)

DAY 8 SWAKOPMUND
The entire day is spent at leisure in Swakopmund. Apart from excellent shopping and sightseeing opportunities, Swakopmund is also dubbed Namibia's activity Mecca! Choose from a variety of activities such as a marine cruise, a living desert tour, quadbiking the Namib Desert dunes or enjoying a scenic flight over Sossusvlei or along the Skeleton Coast. Overnight: Europa Hof Hotel, or similar. (b)

DAY 9 CENTRAL NAMIBIA
Enjoy a visit to one of Namibia's only wine farms, before travelling to your lodge, situated in central Namibia on a huge private game reserve. Here you will visit the meerkat rehabilitation centre. Since 2002 the organisation has been reintegrating abandoned meerkats into their natural environment. In the late afternoon you have the chance to explore the game reserve on an optional guided game drive. In the evening you may opt to observe an exciting lion feeding experience. Overnight: Mount Etjo Safari Lodge, or similar. (b,d)

DAY 10 CENTRAL NAMIBIA-WINDHOEK-HEATHROW
After breakfast visit a large wood craft market at Okahandja for a chance to purchase any last minute gifts. From here you will return to Windhoek international airport for your return flight via Johannesburg to Heathrow. (b)

WHAT'S INCLUDED
This is a 'private' guided tour.
Private guide throughout.
A meeting with Meerkats at a petting zoo.
Observing and feeding meerkats in the Kalahari Desert.
Feeding cheetah and leopard.
A visit to some of the highest dunes on earth at Sossusvlei.
The chance to study and observe meerkat families.
A visit to Welwitschia and the Moonlandscape.
A visit to a Meerkat rehabilitation centre at Mount Etjo.
8 breakfasts (b) and 1 dinner (d)