Travelers
fascinated by World Renowned Meerkats by Gillian Meier
Famous for being the world’s
largest man-made hole, Kimberley (South Africa’s historic mining town)
is becoming increasingly popular to tourists not only for having been blessed
with some of the world’s most precious diamonds, but also for being a sacred
haven for the creator’s beautiful Meerkat species.
The effect of the screenings
of Animal Planet’s Meerkat Manor episodes has ignited a tremendous amount
of spectator value and interest in wild Meerkat viewing for tourists from
around the world. On the edge of the mysterious Kalahari Desert wilderness
is a large concession that is home to more than 70 species of mammal including
lion, cheetah and the rare desert black rhino. This historical home of
the Bushmen offers a rare but beautiful natural habitat for these small
social carnivores also known as the desert Mongoose.
Read
travel articles on the Northern Cape Province:
News of these exquisite creatures
has traveled far and wide as tourists share their unique Meerkat encounters
with other wildlife and travel enthusiasts.
Meerkat sightings are becoming
so popular that travelers are making a visit to view the Kimberly Meerkat
an essential part of their Meerkat experience en route to their visits
to see the Desert Meerkats.
Travelers can enjoy the sightings
and attractions offered by this famous old mining town which is less than
400 kilometers away from the Kalahari Desert before they continue on to
their tour of viewing the Meerkat in their natural surrounds.
The
Meerkat adventure begins before sunrise in Kimberley. Travelers enjoy
early morning coffee and rusks (a crispy baked dough enjoyed as a typical
South African morning treat) in the ‘veld’ (a South African term for the
bush) while watching the sun come up and the Meerkat awakening to another
day with a ritual sunbathing session. This is a wild gang of Meerkat and
the viewing is done at a respectful distance. After a rustic brunch in
the African ‘veld’, travelers visit the Big Hole in Kimberly where the
middle part of the day is spent exploring the history of this fascinating
diamond town.
Afternoon sunsets are then
spent with a tame or habituated Meerkat group of orphans. Up close and
personal, visitors will be able to get an intimate insight into their social
lives and also some great photo opportunities. When the Meerkats go to
sleep in their burrows, the visitors bid each other farewell over sundowners
and shared memories of an unforgettable day with Meerkats in the Kalahari
Desert.
The
Kalahari is renowned for having exclusive luxury private and malaria free
game reserves situated in the heart of the Northern Cape Province. It offers
the ultimate safari experience in elegantly simple surroundings nestled
in the red sands of the Kalahari. Star gazing is big in the Kalahari, hot
air ballooning too, but the reserve is known across the world as an excellent
place for bird watching with more than 200 species of birds some of them
indigenous to the arid zone, found in the varying habitats of the reserve.
Raptors and in particular, vultures, are very well represented. The most
abundant species are the white-backed vulture and the lappet-faced vulture.
Of course the main activity
in this Game Reserve is game watching from the private game viewing vehicle
or guided walks or horseback trails across the red dunes.
With activities like these
one can almost predict that some of the luxurious deluxe facilities available
within the reserve would include a well stocked private wine cellar, private
plane, high powered telescope (for star gazing, of course), a private chef,
a library and a host of other luxuries.
About the Author - Tswalu
Kalahari Reserve is a very special Kalahari Resort in the Northern Cape
Province of South Africa belonging to the well known Oppenheimer family.
For more information on the Meerkat Adventure Tour visit www.tswalu.com
