Submitted on Tuesday, October 26 @ 05:49:20 CEST by Grant THE MEERKAT MAGIC MALL MEERKAT MERCHANDISE SHOP - BUY A MEERKAT / SURICATE THEMED GIFT THAT SUPPORTS WILD AND FREE MEERKAT / SURICATE CONSERVATION SINCE 1993 WITH THE MEERKAT MAGIC CONSERVATION PROJECT - MEERKAT MAGIC MOMENTS - MEERKAT ADVENTURES OUDTSHOORN WESTERN CAPE SOUTH AFRICA!
THE MEERKAT MAGIC CONSERVATION PROJECT - MEERKAT MAGIC MOMENTS - MEERKAT ADVENTURES OUDTSHOORN WESTERN CAPE SOUTH AFRICA- ENJOY A MEERKAT ADVENTURE AND EXPERIENCE WILD AND FREE MEERKAT MAGIC WITH GRANT M. MC ILRATH - A.K.A - THE MEERKAT MAN - A PROFESSIONAL CONSERVATION BIOLOGIST AND INTERNATIONALLY PUBLISHED WILDLIFE RESEARCHER / WILDLIFE PROTECTOR - INVOLVED WITH MEERKAT / SURICATE FILMS WITH THE BBC, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, DISCOVERY CHANNEL AND MANY MORE SINCE 1993!
**** BOOKING DETAILS HERE ****
SEND A TOUR BOOKING REQUEST FORM BELOW:
To go to the Tour booking form - AND SELECT ANY DEPARTMENT AS ALL ARE CHECKED BY GRANT press here.
To learn more about Grant M. Mc Ilrath- A.K.A - The Meerkat Man and the amazing world of Wild meerkats / suricates for a morning Sunrise or afternoon Sunset Tour (** TOURS ARE ON A FIRST RESERVED BASIS WITH VERY LIMITED OPENINGS BETWEEN FILMING AND RESEARCH - BOOKING FAR IN ADVANCE IS ESSENTIAL** ).
You can now experience "Your very own unedited wildlife documentary, and Walk With Wildlife in their natural environment!”, please contact Grant at: (an SMS - mobile text is the best method, or an e-mail - these are answered between field work and filming) Tel: +27 (0) 44 272 3077 / Cell: (SMS +27 (0) 82 413 6895) or e-mail Grant at: or you can simply press here to send an addressed e-mail to gmmcilrath@mweb.co.za
BEWARE OF IMITATIONS - COPY-KATS!
THE MEERKAT MAGIC CONSERVATION PROJECT IS THE WORLD'S ONLY WILD MEERKAT / MEERKATS / SURICATE / SURICATES CONSERVATION PROJECT LOCATED AROUND OUDTSHOORN, WESTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA AND HAS BEEN WORKING WITH WILD AND FREE MEERKATS / SURICATES FULL TIME IN THE FIELD SINCE 1993!
Enjoy Meerkat Adventures with The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project in The Meerkat Magic Valley around Oudtshoorn, Western Cape South Africa with Grant M. Mc Ilrath - A.K.A - The Meerkat Man.
There are No Fed, No handled, No Tame, No marked, No Captured or experimented with animals here!
Please do watch out for anybody claiming to be working with us and with Wild meerkats when they are actually not qualified conservationists or researchers and are feeding and handling tame meerkats instead...If in doubt please DO ask if they are qualified conservationists and internationally published wildlife researchers and how many years they have been actually researching wild meerkats for to find out more about the above statement's truth...Grant M.Mc Ilrath - A.K.A - The Meerkat Man offers Meerkat Adventures to Wild and Free meerkats with The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project - come and enjoy your own private viewing Meerkat Adventure.
** BE A WILDLIFE PROTECTOR WITH US - THE WILD AND FREE MEERKAT CAUSE NEEDS YOU **
Grant M. Mc Ilrath - A.K.A - The Meerkat Man from The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project - Meerkat Adventures has been a professional WILDLIFE PROTECTOR since 1993!
Please join us as a WILDLIFE PROTECTOR and our Wild and Free meerkat / suricate conservation cause with The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project - Meerkat Adventures Oudtshoorn Western Cape South Africa press here to go to the Facebook Cause page.
Join us as a friend!
Grant M.Mc Ilrath - A.K.A - The Meerkat Man invites all International Meerkat Friendly Supporters to be listed as his friend on his Facebook page - many updates are posted there often. To join as a friend simply follow the Facebook link that follows and search for the following names: Grant M. Mc Ilrath OR The Meerkat Man. Press here to to go to Facebook and the name search.
Please note that all Tour Information, including any costs and Tour times will only be updated in this article. Please ensure that you have checked the latest information before your visit. Any Tour operator, accommodation / "client " is also requested to please check this information before reserving any Tour or to contact The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project directly telephonically.
Please note that The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project does not accept any responsibility for ensuring current Tour information anywhere else but in this article and through e-mails and mobile text messages sent by Grant M. Mc Ilrath - A.K.A - The Meerkat Man.
YOU ARE WELCOME TO STAY WITH US AT OUR RESEARCH BASE THE MEERKAT MANSION WHEN YOU VISIT OUR PRIVATE FARM ACCOMMODATION AROUND OUDTSHOORN WESTERN CAPE SOUTH AFRICA!
THE MEERKAT MANSION RESEARCH BASE NOW OFFERS LIMITED SELF CATERING ACCOMMODATION AND CAMPING / CARAVANNING ON OUR OWN PROPERTY AROUND OUDTSHOORN WESTERN CAPE SOUTH AFRICA - WHEN YOU VIST WILD AND FREE MEERKATS / SURICATES AND THE IKKOS EQUINE SANCTUARY AND ANIMAL HAVEN PETTING FARM!
Accommodation that helps to fund previously abused or injured animals and their care by Ikkos Equine Sanctuary and Animal Haven Petting Farm Oudtshoorn Western Cape South Africa AND all the wildlife conservation and self funded behavioral research run by The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project - we offer self catering accommodation (very limited spaces but camping is also available) at The Meerkat Mansion (previously closed to the public and only open to research assistants) and Ikkos Equine Sanctuary and Animal Haven Petting Farm Oudtshoorn Western Cape South Africa: press here.
You can view listed AIRPORT - TRANSPORT - AND SUPPORTED ACCOMMODATION options by pressing the link here: press here.
* ENJOY A MEERKAT ADVENTURE WITH WILD AND FREE MEERKATS / SURICATES IN OUR PRIVATE RESEARCH STUDY SITE RESERVES AROUND OUDTSHOORN, WESTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA
* IKKOS EQUINE SANCTUARY AND ANIMAL HAVEN PETTING FARM IN OUDTSHOORN, WESTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA
All listed adverts on The Wild Web Site - Your Wildlife Friendly Information Portal help to generate income for conservation work from The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project.
** TO HAVE YOUR BUSINESS LISTED AND TO HELP WITH CONSERVATION FUND RAISING....**
***** NEW - Watch The Meerkat Magic Meerkat / Suricate Video / Film Diaries Hosted on YOU TUBE Below *****
The most recent MEERKAT MAGIC MOMENTS - MEERKAT ADVENTURES - video clips are hosted on You Tube above - please do add your comments and visit the main channel hosted on You Tube.
TO GO TO THE MAIN MEERKAT MAGIC MOMENTS VIDEO / FILM DIARIES CHANNEL FOR ALL THE CURRENT EPISODES AND TO SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE NOTIFICATIONS FOR THE LATEST UPLOADS AS SOON AS THEY GO LIVE - YOU CAN VISIT THE DIRECTOR CHANNEL OF GRANT M. MC ILRATH - A.K.A - THE MEERKAT MAN AT THIS LINK:
Press Here.
IKKOS ESTATE AND SANCTUARY / MEERKAT MANSION ACCOMMODATION AND RESEARCH BASE OUDTSHOORN WESTERN CAPE SOUTH AFRICA
THE MEERKAT MAGIC CONSERVATION PROJECT IS THE ONLY WILD AND FREE MEERKAT / SURICATE CONSERVATION PROJECT IN THE WORLD - VARIOUS INDIVIDUALS ARE NOW CLAIMING THAT THEY ARE WORKING WITH WILD AND FREE MEERKATS / SURICATES AND ARE TRYING TO OFFER MEERKAT / SURICATE VISITS TO SEE TAME ANIMALS THAT ARE FED AND HANDLED.
THE MEERKAT MAGIC CONSERVATION PROJECT IS NOT PART OF ANY OTHER ACCOMMODATION ESTABLISHMENT OR THIRD PARTY BUSINESS AND DOES NOT WORK WITH TAME MEERKATS OR HANDLED ANIMALS.
WE ARE PROFESSIONAL INTERNATIONALLY PUBLISHED WILDLIFE RESEARCHERS.
WE ARE NOT OSTRICH FARMERS OR TOURISM ESTABLISHMENTS CLAIMING TO DO WILDLIFE RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION FOR THEIR OWN PROFIT...ON TAME AND FED / HANDLED MEERKATS / SURICATES.
ALL WILD AND FREE MEERKAT TOURS ARE ONLY DONE BY GRANT M. MC ILRATH - A.K.A - THE MEERKAT MAN - WE DO NOT HAVE INEXPERIENCED GUIDES TAKING OUR TOURS AND CLAIMING TO BE QUALIFIED RESEARCHERS - YOU GET THE REAL DEAL WITH GRANT- RESEARCHING AND CONSERVING WILD AND FREE MEERKATS / SURICATES FULL TIME AS A QULIFIED CONSERVATIONIST AND WILDLIFE PROTECTOR SINCE 1993!
IKKOS ESTATE AND SANCTUARY / MEERKAT MANSION (THE MEERKAT MAN AND MEERKAT LADY OWN THIS STUDY SITE AND WORKING FARM WHICH IS ALSO AN INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED EQUINE SANCTUARY AND ANIMAL HAVEN PETTING FARM AND HOME TO THE MEERKAT MAGIC CONSERVATION PROJECT RESEARCH BASE. THERE ARE VERY LIMITED SPACES AVAILABLE FOR SELECT GUESTS AT OUR SELF CATERING ESTABLISHMENT.
IF YOU ARE TIRED OF OVERPRICED ACCOMMODATION AND WANT TO GET OUT OF THE BUILT UP AREAS THEN VISIT US ON OUR OWN SECLUDED FARM AND MEERKAT MANSION RESEARCH BASE - WE NOW ALSO OFFER CHEAP CAMPING / CARAVANNING ON OUR EXPANSIVE PROPERTY AROUND OUDTSHOORN WESTERN CAPE SOUTH AFRICA.
FREE TO SEND UNIQUE IN THE WORLD WILD AND FREE MEERKAT GREETING CARDS FROM THE MEERKAT MAGIC MOMENTS COLLECTION!
The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project - Meerkat Magic Moments - Wild and Free Meerkat Conservation Greeting Cards! Please enjoy sending our Meerkat Magic Moments images of Wild and Free meerkats from The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project including Meerkat Magic Moments from the world famous Wild and Free Ungulungu meerkat group living around Oudtshoorn Western Cape of South Africa and other very special study animals too!!
You can go to the main page and then choose application to send free cards now at this link: press here.
Please do check the rest of this article for Wild and Free meerkat / suricate Tour details 0R SIMPLY SEND A BOOKING FORM FOR UP TO THE MINUTE INFORMATION HERE...
**** BOOK DETAILS HERE ****
SEND A TOUR BOOKING REQUEST FORM BELOW:
To go to the Tour booking form - AND SELECT ANY DEPARTMENT AS ALL ARE CHECKED BY GRANT press here.
The Sunrise and Sunset Tour times DO change throughout the year, according to weather and Wild meerkat / suricate activity times, please ALWAYS check the Tour times before your visit directly with Grant M. Mc Ilrath - A.K.A - The Meerkat Man or Laura J. Mc Ilrath - A.K.A - The Meerkat Lady ONLY - nobody else has authority to provide this information from The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project.
Visits are on a first booked first served principle. Please ensure that your Tour is confirmed the day before your Tour a few hours before sunset please or it will be assumed that you are not on the Tour. This needs to be done to ensure that Wild meerkat / suricate groups are located for any Tours the next day before they go to sleep, as the study animals use different sleeping areas daily (it takes a few hours to locate a study group daily, and NO Tours are taken in the morning unless a study group has been located in time).
There are a limited number of openings for guests who may visit on any Tour day for a morning SUNRISE or afternoon SUNSET tour - please check availability with the tour booking form above. Tour spaces are only kept open once they are confirmed again the day before the Tour.
TRANSPORT
Guests need to make their own transport arrangements to get to THE MEERKAT MANSION RESEARCH BASE - however all tours are taken in our own research transport. Any vehicle can easily get to THE MEERKAT MANSION RESEARCH BASE AROUND OUDTSHOORN WESTERN CAPE SOUTH AFRICA.
If you wish to be the only guest on Tour, and want complete exclusivity, this can be arranged with very advanced reservations only, as other guests have to be turned away for that Tour. This must be booked WELL in advance to ensure other guests have other Tour day options please.
* A DVD with three of our international meerkat / suricate conservation documentaries about The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project and filmed in The Meerkat Magic Valley of Oudtshoorn, Western Cape of South Africa - is given as a gift to guest groups attending a WILD AND FREE meerkat / suricate educational tour.
**********
***** The Meerkat Magic Mall Shop - Mobile version is back due to high demand from visitors!
After a visit to the wild meerkats / suricates guests may buy meerkat / suricate themed gifts and unique wild meerkat / suricate printed and laminated images and many different curios from The Mobile Meerkat Magic Mall Shop - when stock is available - visitors may also view our merchandise that funds our conservation work when they are staying at our private MEERKAT MANSION RESEARCH BASE ACCOMMODATION OUDTSHOORN WESTERN CAPE SOUTH AFRICA.
To find out how you can help with Conservation Fund Raising and how to Adopt Wild and Free meerkats / suricates in The Meerkat Magic Valley of The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project in Oudtshoorn, Western Cape of South Africa Please press the article link here
***** THE EXTENDED MEERKAT / SURICATE TOUR *****
On advanced request with any Tour booking made, guests may request to extend their Tour BEYOND the normal duration - once other guests leave, the EXTENDED MEERKAT / SURICATE TOUR continues for an additional number of hours. The Tour is then charged per additional hour or part thereof. Guests may even spend the ENTIRE day with the meerkats - so a morning Sunrise Tour all the way to a Sunset Tour on special very advanced request. This offer is only available on certain days and depends on the number of guests wanting this extension on the standard Tour. ******
Watch meerkats, meerkat, watch suricates, suricate, visit meerkats, visit suricates today!!! No fed, no handled, no captured, no marked animals here!!!!
***** The Meerkat Magic Moments Wild and Free Meerkat / Suricate Video Diaries Episodes *****
The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project proudly brings you The Meerkat Magic Moments Wild and Free Meerkat / Suricate Video Diaries Episodes filmed in The Meerkat Magic Valley Oudtshoorn, Western Cape, South Africa. The true, unedited, no pre-determined script, no post editing, the real behind the scenes and science with truly wild and free meerkats / suricates, unfed, unhandled, uncaptured, never marked and never fitted with tracking devices - filmed and narrated by Grant M. Mc Ilrath - A.K.A - The Meerkat Man who has worked full time with wild meerkat / suricate in the wild since 1993 and is still doing this daily. The Meerkat Magic Video Diaries is the True story of the species, with real sounds, no music, and filmed as if the viewer was filming it themselves or standing there watching the event. You can watch the latest EPISODE at the following link...
You may have watched many meerkat / suricate films over the years, including Meerkat Manor, but imagine searching for / watching / walking with Wild and Free meerkats / suricates - like your very own unedited personalised wildlife documentary like Tour?
Now you can here at The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project in Oudtshoorn, Western Cape of South Africa. Be taken behind the scenes and science to watch really Wild, unfed, unhandled, uncaptured meerkats / suricates, with Grant M. Mc Ilrath - A.K.A - The Meerkat Man who is your qualified Nature Conservationist and Internationally published Research Biologist Tour guide, who has been doing full time field research on the Wild and Free meerkat / suricate species since 1993 as a WILDLIFE PROTECTOR. Your visit will also help fund Wild and Free meerkat / suricate habitat conservation.
****BOOKING DETAILS: ****
Telephone calls are very rarely answered due to our field work, only mobile text or e-mail messages are replied to - a mobile text message is best as it contains the correct international dialling codes to ensure message delivery thank you.
Please note images taken on Tour are e-mailed to guests who request this via e-mail after their Tour and supply the relevant Tour date. These images may take a few weeks to send as hundreds of images need to be edited and sent around the world - please be patient with this thank you.
All Tour payments must please be paid directly to Grant or Laura after the Tour in cash and NOT to accommodation owners, not by cheque, or credit card thank you - unless a previous arrangement has been made directly with Grant or Laura in this regard.
The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project is the only business responsible for any arrangements made by it, please ensure you have made direct contact with Grant or Laura to ensure your Tour. A booking name and mobile contact number must please be given to Grant or Laura with any booking so that guests can be contacted in case of an emergency, Tour update etc.
All Tour costs go towards making sure that The Meerkat Magic Conservation project continues it's wildlife conservation work. Guests who attend Tours are regarded as Meerkat Friendly Supporters and on Tour completion they become Meerkat Veterans in recognition of their aid in our conservation work.
Only Tour cost quotes given on booking requests directly from The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project can be regarded as valid and current. The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project is not responsible for any arrangements made with old Tour rates from third parties or associates / booking agents.
Please ensure you have made your booking at the current Tour rate from The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project, or have the current Tour information checked by any booking agent directly please. Tour rates are only valid if confirmed by Grant or Laura.
Once a Tour price quote has been given directly The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project, it remains valid, even if the Tour costs change later after the booking was made.
Tour Cancellation Guide
Please make sure that you have a definite booking at The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project BEFORE you book accommodation. The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project is not responsible for other accommodation arrangements, and if you are unable to go on a Tour and have booked accommodation in advance! Please do make absolutely sure you have confirmed your Tour booking as far in advance as possible, before planning your accommodation, to avoid disappointment. FROM 2009 VISITORS CAN STAY ON SITE WITH US.
Please remember that on a rainy day all Meerkat Magic Tours are cancelled! Any Tour deposits given to The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project directly by prior arrangement and not through ANY other third parties, will be refunded in the advent of a Tour being cancelled, this does not apply to accommodation arrangements, or third party Tour bookings as The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project works independently of accommodation and third party arrangements, and can only be held responsible for The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project direct bookings based on our Terms and conditions of any cancellations made.
ANY Tour cancellations can be made at the SOLE discretion of The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project, nobody else is responisble for any of our choices and this includes accommodation or Tour operators, guides etc. Please DO NOT blame or hold responsible any of the above individuals for choices made by The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project.
Sometimes Tours have to be cancelled, and there are many reasons for this. If a guest is ever unhappy about a Tour being cancelled PLEASE always address your queries / complaints directly to The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project and ONLY to The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project as nobody else is responsible for choices made by The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project except for The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project thank you.
******** PHOTOGRAPHY AND FILMING ARRANGEMENTS ********
Photographs are taken of all guests on their Tour watching Wild meerkats / suricates when possible by the The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project with the project equipment, for their own private NON - COMMERCIAL use as part of their Tour at NO EXTRRA CHARGE (as can be seen all over The Wild Web Site), these images can be e-mailed to guests on request, and are added into the visitors / supporters gallery by day and year of the visit over time.
Guests may not however bring their own photographic or film equipment as The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project is an International filming site for conservation related film only, films and articles that benefit study species conservation are allowed to film on special arrangement made well in advance and pre-visit only. For enquiries regarding possible commercial / conservation related filming please visit the following category:
Press here for more information about filming wildlife at The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project.
Only once a group of meerkats has been located at their sleeping burrow for the night, usually around sunset, will guests be contacted to confirm that the Tour is happening the next day, with current times and the current meeting area. Sometimes the weather is bad for watching meerkats (very overcast or raining), or they are fighting with other groups and can't be watched. The meerkats may have been trapped in an unknown burrow by a predator and they can not be found on occasion due to this.
It is very worthwhile to spend a minimum of four or more days in the area, in the event that any Tours have to be postponed due to the above. The meerkats are wild animals of course, so only once they have been located the day before once they go to sleep in a known burrow, can we expect to see them on a morning Tour the following day and confirm the visit is on for certain and experience The Meerkat Magic!
Please note it is ILLEGAL to keep meerkats / suricates as pets in South Africa, with large associated fines as they are classified as wildlife.
The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project does not support the unsustainable and harmful commercial trade of wild meerkats / suricates. Or capturing of wild meerkats / suricates for pets. None of the study animals at The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project have ever been fed, captured or handled in any way.
The animals do not have hair cuts that can interfere with their heat regulation / thermoregulation, or other artificial markings that can break up their camouflage and give their location away to predators, and none of the study animals have been fitted with telemetry / radio collars that could get caught in vegetation and make the animal more obvious to predators, and need to have the animal captured and handled for this.
The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project is a behavioural observation and conservation project especially interested in ecology to understand and implement conservation of wildlife habitat by investigating alternative land usage and sustainable practices in highly sensitive ecosystems.
The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project is self funded by Observe and Conserve Sustainable Eco- Tourism and Alternative land usage management practices with UNFED wild free study animals. Your Tour helps to cover the high running costs of The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project - the Tour costs are given with booking requests. Please check with The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project that you have the correct Tour costs as these are subject to change over time.
Tour income is also used for providing charity educational presentation work for local schools and paying wildlife tracker salaries for previously unemployed local people on or around the main study areas, who are always given preference for employment here.
All meerkat friendly supporters and meerkat veterans are recognised under the Meerkat Friendly Supporter gallery in the Picture Album section of The Wild Web Site visitors. It may take a number of years before all images are added from each visit, but in time they are updated. Or under the "Special Thanks" or "Sponsors / donations" categories over the years.
This could be you Watching Wild meerkats / suricates at The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project on your very own wildlife Tour, in Oudtshoorn, Western Cape, South Africa!
You can view the most recent updates of visitors to The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project on Sunrise Tours and Sunset Tours, in the Meerkat Magic Valley of Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape of South Africa, and read their comments about their Tour experiences at the following link.
**** Please note that it may take many months over the year before Tour images are added to this gallery, images are usually added to the gallery in the winter months or at the end of the year.
However guests are always welcome to send an e-mail request directly to The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project with their exact Tour details and dates and their full name, their Tour images will be sent to them directly upon any request where possible as soon as possible, and the relevant images will still be added to the Tour gallery over the year when possible, depending on field work.
Thousands of images are taken per month- please understand that it takes many many hours to edit these all between field research and Tours. Pictures have been added starting from September 2004, to view them please do so by pressing the link here: press here.
**** Virtual Meerkat / Suricate Tour Video File Downloads! ****
You are welcome to download these Virtual Meerkat / Suricate Tours of Sunrise Tour experiences watching Wild meerkats / suricates at The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project in Oudtshoorn, Western Cape, South Africa. The files play in Windows Media Player and are in WMV format. Enjoy! Please press here to go to the File Download area.
**** YOUR VALUED OPINION IS REQUESTED- PLEASE CAST YOUR ANONYMOUS VOTE ON THE CURRENT TOPICAL SURVEY **** TO VOTE PRESS HERE
Please note that The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project also does many charity school educational presentations funded through your sustainable Observe and Conserve Eco-tourism, and employs local previously disadvantaged communities.
Grant M. Mc Ilrath- A.K.A - The Meerkat Man after giving a Charity presentation to a disadvantaged school at the C.P. Nel Museum in Oudtshoorn, Western Cape of South Africa.
Grant M. Mc Ilrath- A.K.A - The Meerkat Man with school pupils from Lategansvlei Primary Farm School in Oudtshoorn, Western Cape of South Africa.
A study group of wild meerkats / suricates needs to be located before sunset the day before a Tour for any Tour the next day. Meerkats / suricates have over 24 sleeping burrows on average, and territories of over 10 kilometres per study group, and they do not usually spend more then one night at any sleeping area, and often move many kilometres from where they wake up - finding them is a time consuming task, hence booking deadlines.
Since none of the study animals are intentionally never handled, or captured, they do not have any radio tracking devices (collars/ tags / telemetry), so a study group needs to be located by sighting only, which can take a few hours of tracking the day before any Tour.
On rainy days all Tours are automatically cancelled as the study animals remain inactive within their burrows. On occasion a Study group may not be located for various reasons. It is highly recommended that guests spend a minimum of four nights in the area in case of rain or unforeseen and unavoidable circumstances which lead to cancelling Tours.
Guests should contact Grant M. Mc Ilrath - A.K.A - the Meerkat Man directly on his mobile number provided or with an SMS (mobile text - the best way...), +27 (0) 82 413 6895 and leave a message - it is very unusual that calls will be answered whenever field work is happening (most of the day), but all messages will be replied to upon returning from the field, whenever possible, and messages will be replied too, and we will confirm arrangements, missed calls will not be returned, only detailed messages thank you, as we receive many calls each day.
E-mails are usually checked ONCE A WEEK on average, but sometimes there is a longer delay - since we are in the field doing research most of the time, so please ensure advanced reservations are made (some reservations are made a year in advance or more). Usually The Wild Web Site is updated in the Winter months, and Tour images of guests are normally added then from the years Tours, depending on field research. These Tour images can be requested via e-mail before that with the exact Tour date and Tour type - Sunrise or Sunset, and they will then be e-mailed as soon as possible.
Sometimes over the year, insects may occasionally bother guests - it is suggested that they bring insect repellent before any visit- sudden movements to swat insects are not good around the study animals, as predators usually move suddenly, and sudden movements will then scare the animals.
If you want to be on a smaller more exclusive wild meerkat / meerkats / suricate / suricates viewing Tour, then a great time to visit is in Winter - from May to August...just bring warm clothes and a thermos flask of hot liquid, fewer guests visit each day in the off peak season for Tourism.
All Tours should be booked well in advance of any visit (some bookings are received over a year in advance, and once reserved unless cancelled or re- confirmed the day before the Tour seats will not be available to anybody else), preferably bookings should be made in advance - all the Tours need to be booked though The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project directly to ensure availability.
PHOTOGRAPHY AND FILMING GUIDE
No photography is permitted by guests on Tours, and when possible pictures of guests will be taken by the Tour leader of guests on their Tours, which will be freely available to guests through this Wild Web Site as eCards in the media galleries, and for their own private use but remain the copyright material of The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project.
These eCards are like digital, musical post cards and can be sent immediately to any e-mail address in the world, they will also be credited to guests as Meerkat Friendly Supporters and remain in the media galleries! This allows guests to simply relax and enjoy their Tours!
* A DVD with three of our international meerkat / suricate conservation documentaries about The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project, filmed is given as a gift to guest groups attending a meerkat Tour.
All images are copyright to The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project and may not be used for any form of commercial gain without written permission directly from The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project.
Professional photography and film largely funds the conservation work and pays assistant salaries for The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project, and guests are welcome to attend on viewing Tours for the experience, but photographic / filming Tours have only been made possible through thousands of hours and many years of time and patience and must be paid for in kind.
If this becomes a common resource then The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project will loose a very important funding source for this Conservation Project from Film Crews and Journalists who then would be able to get these unique images anywhere and not have to visit The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project.
Usually journalists / photographers who wish to do a feature article appearing on the front page / cover will be permitted to visit this unique in the world conservation area with prior arrangement only.
You can read the current information regarding professional photography and filming at the following link, costs are given on request only:Press here.
To capture The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project Experience, Grant M. Mc Ilrath - A.K.A - The Meerkat Man wrote a poem, you can read it if you
press here.
No tame meerkats / suricates are worked with! The animals are not fed, or artificially protected from predators or natural elements in any way. Through a comprehensive series of calls and hand signals the wild animals have given Grant M. Mc Ilrath - A.K.A - The Meerkat Man their highly selective trust and anybody who is with him following guidelines of observation will be tolerated by the study animals.
This allows the collection of unbiased, representative data on the natural behaviour of wildlife. These Neuro Linguistic Programming Habituation for highly selective tolerance / trust recognition are the unique intellectual property of The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project.
Grant M. Mc Ilrath- A.K.A- The Meerkat Man (has spent more time then anybody else in the world studying wild meerkats in the field full time since 1993 - is your guide) on a morning Sunrise Tour in The Meerkat Magic Valley of The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project in Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape of South Africa, giving a Live Unedited Wildlife Documentary presentation with The Ungulungu or other WILD UNFED FREE ETHICALLY RESEARCHED meerkats / suricates study groups.
The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project is the only place in the world, where guests can get very close to this sub-species of the three recognised WILD meerkat / suricate sub-species without disturbing them with The Meerkat Man on a morning Sunrise and afternoon Sunset Tour!
What to
expect or watch out for on
Tours:
Your world expert
on Wild meerkat / suricate behaviour, Grant, will
give guests a very detailed description of
what they are seeing, and discuss many different
aspects of The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project and answer
any questions they have before or after the
tour. Guest movements and viewing
opportunities are guided by Grant depending
on the Wild animals behaviour at any given time,
so that the Wild animals remain relaxed and
undisturbed by viewers.
Grant is not
responsible for any of the Wild meerkat / suricate
behaviours, and will only allow guests/
photographers / film crews the incredible opportunity
to view these Wild animals up close, and not
guarantee the Wild animal behaviours at any
time, or the amount of time the Wild animals
spend at a sleeping burrow, or around it where
they can be viewed- this is random. Morning
Sunrise Tours allow guests to view the Wild
animals at the sleeping burrow and around the
burrow, and then follow the wild meerkats / suricates away from the burrow to see what they are doing for a short time.
One or more
pictures are usually taken of guests attending
the Tours by Grant, watching the Wild meerkats,
and these are then sent to guests who request the Tour images by date of visit by sending Grant an e-mail - no images are sent to guests if the guest does not ask for this via e-mail please note.
In the
morning during a Sunrise
Tour guests will most likely be able to
see the following typical social interactions
at the sleeping burrow of:
almost definitely- sunning, guarding, and
possibly- play fighting, hugging, huddling,
foraging, auto and allo grooming, digging
renovations, and any other random events, like
predation sequences, war dancing agonistic
displays, elevated guarding, different animal
interactions with the Wild meerkats and more. If
there are babies or pups present in
the Wild meerkat group, guests may also see
babysitting behaviour, pup grooming, suckling,
feeding of pups and other pup related
behaviours. Various vocalisations/ meerkat calls
may also be heard and explained. Of course none
of these behaviours are predictable ahead of
time.
In the afternoon
during a Sunset Tour guests
will most likely be able to see the following
typical social interactions away
from and at the sleeping
burrow of: almost definitely-
foraging, guarding, elevated guarding, and
possibly- play fighting, hugging, huddling, auto
and allo grooming, digging renovations, and any
other random events, like predation sequences,
war dancing agonistic displays, different animal
interactions with the Wild meerkats and more. If
there are babies or pups present in
the Wild meerkat group, guests may also see
babysitting behaviour, pup grooming, suckling,
feeding of pups and other pup related
behaviours. Various vocalisations/ meerkat calls
may also be heard and explained. Of course none
of these behaviours are predictable ahead of
time.
IMPORTANT TOUR INFORMATION:
Please make absolutely sure you are medically fit to attend a Tour, as the Tour can not be easily stopped once we are watching the wild meerkats / suricates as this will disturb them and break the fragile trust which allows us close, after many many years of not disturbing the wild animals - if you have any medical condition that you may be concerned about, please do inform Grant before attending the tour for guidelines and more specific information on what to expect on the tour thank you.
Please make very sure you are unlikely to faint (by eating before your visit, and bringing snacks, water / drinks with you if needed), or if you have another medical condition please bring the required medication with you on Tours in case of an emergency need. Please do come prepared and notify Grant M. Mc Ilrath - A.K.A - The Meerkat Man of any possible health issues before you attend a tour.
If you are a diabetic, please make sure you are prepared to be out doors for a few hours- bringing sweets or whatever is needed with you on the Tours. If you are feeling sick, coughing or sneezing loudly and often, please rather do not attend the Tour on this occasion as you may disturb the Wild animals, and probably not enjoy the Tour if you are ill, and disturb any other guests on the Tours, this is not intended to sound overly strict but is an observation from past Tours.
1. The duration of the Tour may vary slightly depending on weather conditions and individual wild meerkat / suricate group behaviour- please be flexible when you visit due to the wild nature of this experience - once the Tour is completed and all the guests attending feel that they would like to leave the Tour is then over - guests are requested not to attend a Tour unless they are able to be there for the duration of the Tour, as leaving the Tour group disturbs the meerkats / suricates.
As Tour times change depending on many different factors over the year, please always ensure that whoever makes the Tour booking knows the current Tour times for morning Sunrise and afternoon Sunset Tours!
2. Please DO leave a message if you are making a booking via telephone (an SMS - mobile text is the best) as this will be checked when returning from the study sites during the day. It is best to book via e-mail and as far in advance - we get Tour bookings over a year in advance, and there are limited spaces on any Tour.
3. Only guests of at least 8 years may attend a Tour, as the Tour is aimed towards a more mature audience due to the Tour nature and duration and wild animal tolerance to fast or sudden movements - however special arrangements can be made in advance via e-mail or mobile text. The wildlife can be very easily alarmed by younger viewers who may possibly become impatient sitting quietly for a few hours, or who may get too excited and move suddenly.
This can be negotiated depending on the child's behaviour and if the parent believes the child will be quiet and patient while on Tour, so as not to disturb the Wild meerkats / suricates. Child minding services are often available at guest houses while adults are on tour. School Educational Presentations are given to large groups of children to balance this aspect, and occur in a secure and controlled environment more suited to younger children.
4. Please always wear suitable clothing to ensure your comfort during any Tour (very loose clothing is not advised as on windy days this clothing moves too much and scares the animals- thank you)- especially closed shoes, hats, eye wear, sunscreen, insect repellent is preferred etc.
5. It is requested that guests do not leave the Tour group as this will disturb the wildlife on the guided Tour, so please check all "nature calls" pre - visit when possible...Please TURN OFF any cell phones or other potentially noisy equipment when you attend the Tours.
6. The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project is also funded by our film / photography work, these images can be purchased by downloading a lovely computer screen saver with over 100 slides of meerkats/ suricates including their calls, this is unique in the world, and the images have been taken over many years (from 1993 to...ongoing) of Wild meerkat/ suricate research! If given as a gift, the name/ business will be added to the Special Thanks category of The Wild Web Site permanently in recognition of support!
7. The above animation is just a very small preview of screen saver 2 which has over 136 slides and includes all the 52 slides from screen saver 1 also- the actual slides are 800 resolution and more.
8. Your visit helps support and increase the awareness of small game habitat conservation around the world, and the wild meerkat / suricate is the symbol for The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project!
9. Please make absolutely sure you have enough days in the area for your Tour. There are numerous activities to experience in Oudtshoorn, Western Cape of South Africa and the surrounding areas, so at least a week in the area is a good idea. If the weather is poor- you can find a link to the local weather forecast on the home page or under the links section of this website. If it rains the Tours will be cancelled.
10. Please make sure you have booked your Tours as far in advance as possible (we do receive bookings over a year in advance), a few days is usually a bare minimum for bookings, as we have guests from around the world visiting, and Tour sizes are small. This is the only place in the entire world where you can watch this subspecies of Wild unfed free meerkats / suricates up close! This is also the only Wild meerkat / suricate conservation project in the world, which is also funded through Tour visits and donations.
11. Please include a mobile contact number, and the number of guests who wish to attend the Tour, and the dates you would like to book your visit, and where you plan to stay in any e-mail sent to The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project.
12. The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project is intentionally not marked on any maps of the area, this is a guided Tour, and a meeting place must be arranged before the Tour begins. You are advised to make all such arrangements before arriving in Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape of South Africa, for your Tour.
You are advised to contact Grant M. Mc Ilrath - A.K.A - The Meerkat Man on his cell number to finalise tour arrangements on your arrival in Oudtshoorn, Western Cape of South Africa : +27 (0)82 413 6895, and please DO leave a message (an SMS is the best) as we are in the field doing research most of the day and are away from telephones! You will be contacted if you leave a message whenever possible and as soon as possible, thank you.
14. You can e-mail your booking requests directly at the following link for your ease, please press here:E-mail:
gmmcilrath@mweb.co.za
(**** the afternoon Sunset Tours are not available at the moment to guests and are reserved for filming).
Currently afternoon Sunset Tours allow us to see the animals foraging for food, and their behaviour away from their sleeping areas. The morning Sunrise Tours allow us to sit close to the animals and watch their social interaction. The duration that we see the wild meerkats / suricates is entirely dependant on the animals.
The morning Sunrise Tours usually have guests anything from one meter to 15 meters from the wild meerkats / suricates depending on how they decide to move around.
Visitors should be prepared to sit fairly still, or stand around the burrow for the duration of the morning Sunrise Tour, and then be able to follow the study group as they leave the burrow and we Walk With Wildlife - the duration of time spent at the burrow is random each day.
If you have low blood sugar levels or are prone to fainting you are advised to bring the required medication with / food please, or if standing fairly still for periods of time with few movements is difficult for you, please consider this before any bookings thank you. The wild animals are very intolerant of sudden movements from any observers including researchers who they know.
You are advised to have something small to eat before any Tours and bring refreshments with you.
A hat and sunglasses as well as warm clothes are advised for the Tours at the moment. Please ensure that you wear closed shoes not sandals. Binoculars are good to have on the Tour once the animals have left the burrow.
How to download the latest Meerkat Magic marketing posters (with many pictures of meerkats / suricates...), publicity, images, business cards and meerkat / suricate video clips and Unique computer screen savers with Wild meerkat / suricate photographs and sounds and more from the file download section.
Most downloadable files are in Zipped Compression Format for faster downloads to your machine. You can also open and print the files without downloading them if you prefer, please choose the unzipped files for this.
To download the latest marketing posters of The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project (with many pictures of meerkats / suricates...), publicity, images, business cards and meerkat / suricate video clips and Unique computer screen savers with Wild meerkat / suricate photographs and sounds and more press here.
To read an amusing and informative nature story article about the morning Sunrise and afternoon Sunset Tour and ostriches and BMWpress here.
IKKOS EQUINE SANCTUARY AND ANIMAL HAVEN PETTING FARM INFORMATION BELOW
Horse Riding and Equine Therapy Attractions and Activities in Oudtshoorn, Western Cape, South Africa
Ikkos Equine Sanctuary and Animal Haven Petting Farm now has a new site - you can get the most recent news and pictures at the following link:
**** To visit the Ikkos Equine Sanctuary and Animal Haven Petting Farm site - For all the newest pictures and news Press here
IKKOS EQUINE SANCTUARY AND ANIMAL HAVEN PETTING FARM MERCHANDISE - All merchandise features animals from Ikkos Equine Sanctuary and Animal Haven Petting Farm and can be made according to your specifications. You choose your favourite animal and the picture you like most from the ones displayed in our galleries and the merchandise will be tailor made for you!
ALL money raised from the sale of merchandise will go straight back into the sanctuary and be used for the upkeep of all of the animals on the farm!
All merchandise can be posted worldwide. The buyer is to pay the postage costs but these will be charged at cost price - nothing extra will be added to the postage costs. What we pay is what you pay!
**** To visit the Merchandise Shop of Ikkos Equine Sanctuary and Animal Haven Petting FarmPress here
ANIMAL HAVEN PETTING FARM
Come and visit our petting farm and meet our friendly, fun animals. You can meet horses, donkeys,dogs, cats, an angora goat, sheep, mini pigs guinea pigs and rabbits.
Come and pet them and feed them and even have a ride on one of our horses!
Take home some great memories and some great photographs and you can even purchase specially made merchandise with pictures of our petting farm animals on.
All money raised goes directly back into Ikkos Equine Sanctuary and Animal Haven Petting Farm for the care of all the animals.
Come and enjoy our quiet, relaxing farm environment and wide range of animal interactions at Ikkos Equine Sanctuary and Animal Haven Petting Farm.
An amazing, unique,interactive experience for the whole family!
**** To visit the Ikkos Equine Sanctuary and Animal Haven Petting Farm site - For all the newest pictures and news Press here
Ikkos eco horse riding trails and tours.
An outstanding equestrian experience, run by Laura Jane Mc Ilrath (Maiden name - Laura Jane Seymour) - A.K.A - The Meerkat Lady.
Situated in The Meerkat Magic Valley in association with The Meerkat Magic Conservation Project around Oudtshoorn, Western Cape of South Africa.
Relax with our gentle, friendly equines in this beautiful landscape, an experience for the entire family!
460 BY 60 IKKOS MAP
We also offer a variety of unique equine activities that you can't do anywhere else in or around Oudtshoorn, Western Cape of South Africa.
If you don't want to ride we offer equine therapy - come out and walk our horses, ponies and donkeys out in the bush for a relaxing, laid back, leisurely stroll.
Also there is the opportunity for you to come out and spend an hour or two grooming, feeding and getting to know our horses and find out more about equine health, care and behaviour.
The Greek word for horse is Ikkos, the "Great Light", come and enjoy our enlightening all round equestrian experience.
Contact Details:
The best way to contact Laura Jane Mc Ilrath (Maiden name - Laura Jane Seymour) - A.K.A - The Meerkat Lady is to send her an SMS (mobile text...) to the following number for the quickest response: +27 (0) 76 600 1115
Alternatively you can send an addressed e-mail to Laura Jane Mc Ilrath (Maiden name - Laura Jane Seymour) - A.K.A - The Meerkat Lady by pressing the following link: horsetrails@hotmail.co.uk
YOU ARE VISITING THE WILD WEB SITE OF http://www.meerkatmagic.com - YOUR WILDLIFE FRIENDLY INFORMATION PORTAL WATCH WILD MEERKATS / SURICATES AT THE MEERKAT MAGIC CONSERVATION PROJECT AND GO ON MEERKAT ADVENTURES OUDTSHOORN WESTERN CAPE SOUTH AFRICA WITH GRANT M. MC ILRATH - A.K.A - THE MEERKAT MAN - BEWARE OF IMITATIONS WITH PRETEND RESEARCHER GUIDES AND TAME MEERKATS - GRANT M. MC ILRATH - A.K.A - THE MEERKAT MAN HAS BEEN RESEARCHING WILD AND FREE MEERKATS AS A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL CONSERVATIONIST AND INTERNATIONALLY PUBLISHED RESEARCH BIOLOGIST FULL TIME IN THE WILD SINCE 1993! GO ON YOUR OWN UNEDITED WILDLIFE DOCUMENTARY SUNRISE AND SUNSET TOUR TODAY
WHERE YOU FEATURE WITH THE WILDLIFE
WE TAKE YOU BEHIND THE SCENES AND SCIENCE!
THIS IS A UNIQUE IN THE WORLD ATTRACTION / ACTIVITY / HABITAT CONSERVATION PROJECT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
HAVE YOU WATCHED MEERKAT MANOR OR OTHER MEERKAT / SURICATE FILMS - NOW WATCH MEERKATS / SURICATES FOR REAL IN THE WILD HERE! - PRESS HERE FOR THE LATEST TOUR INFORMATION -
THE MEERKAT MAGIC CONSERVATION PROJECT PROUDLY PRESENTS MEERKAT MAGIC MOMENTS MEERKAT / MEERKATS / SURICATE / SURICATES VIDEO / FILM DIARIES WATCH THE LATEST MEERKAT / SURICATE VIDEO / FILM - PRESS HERE
YOU CAN NOW ADOPT WILD AND FREE MEERKATS / SURICATES IN OUDTSHOORN WESTERN CAPE OF SOUTH AFRICA AND HELP TO CONSERVE THE WILD MEERKAT / SURICATE HABITAT. PRESS HERE TO FIND OUT MORE!
ALL MEERKAT / SURICATE STUDY ANIMALS AT THE MEERKAT MAGIC CONSERVATION PROJECT ARE WILD AND FREE ROAMING AND UNFED AND UNCAPTURED AND NEVER HANDLED!
DO NOT SUPPORT THE MEERKAT / SURICATE PET TRADE PLEASE!
PLEASE RATHER WATCH THEM IN THE WILD WHERE THEY BELONG... THE ONLY PLACE IN THE WORLD TO WATCH THIS WILD FREE ROAMING UNFED MEERKAT / SURICATE SUB-SPECIES UP CLOSE IS HERE IN THE MEERKAT MAGIC VALLEY AND SURROUNDING STUDY SITES!
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