Walking with meerkats introduces people to the astonishing diversity of subterranean life that is dug up during a meerkat day of foraging leading to an increased knowledge of the importance of conserving what is left of natural habitats. Being involved in the rich social life of a meerkat family is enormously rewarding and children, especially, walk away with an increased sense of belonging to the great circle of life that is nature.

I have lived and walked with meerkats for two years in Springbok (South Africa) and the Makgadikgadi Pans (Botswana). One of my greatest achievements is the many hours I have served as a meerkat sentinel post! The daily scent marking that I undergo by the dominant male is testimony to the fact that I am completely accepted within the meerkat family. My research has been documented in “Meerkat Adventures with Nigel Marven” on Animal Planet and in South Africa’s nature program 50/50. I have published two articles on meerkats in Africa Geographic September 2005 (“Meerkats of the Makgadikgadi”) and Diversions September 2006 (“Meerkat Moments”).

The project is currently based at Moolmanshoek Private Game Reserve, a beautiful undiscovered piece of nature hidden in the Eastern Free State. Shelton Khanyoka and I are working with meerkats to bring people into contact with nature and promote conservation. Shelton has a rich background of habituating wild animals and working with film crews on National Geographic documentary film productions.