Few animals capture hearts quite like meerkats. With their upright posture, expressive faces, and endlessly entertaining antics, these charismatic little creatures have become beloved icons of the animal world. At Eagle Heights Wildlife Foundation, our Meerkat Experience offers you the rare opportunity to step into their world, meet our small mob up close, and discover why these social, intelligent animals are so utterly captivating.
Why the Meerkat Experience is Special
Meerkats are among the most social and communicative animals on the planet. In the wild, they live in tight-knit family groups in the harsh Kalahari Desert of southern Africa, where cooperation and communication are essential for survival. They’re sentries, diggers, babysitters, and teachers—each member of the mob plays a vital role.
Our small mob of three meerkats at Eagle Heights has their own distinct personalities and social dynamics. Watching them interact, communicate, and go about their daily routines is endlessly fascinating. They’re curious, playful, and surprisingly bold—and when you meet them face-to-face, you’ll understand why they’ve captured the imagination of people worldwide.
The Meerkat Experience gives you exclusive, intimate access to our mob. This isn’t viewing from behind glass or watching from a distance—you’ll be right there with them, learning about their behaviour, feeding them, and experiencing their world from their perspective.
What’s Included in Your Meerkat Experience?
Meet Our Meerkat Mob
The heart of this experience is meeting our three meerkat residents. Each has their own personality—one might be the bold explorer, always first to investigate anything new. Another might be the watchful sentry, standing upright and scanning for potential threats (even though they’re perfectly safe!). The third might be the social butterfly, eager to interact and always in the middle of the action.
Our experienced handlers know each meerkat intimately and will introduce you to their individual quirks, preferences, and roles within the mob. You’ll learn their names, their histories, and what makes each one special. With only three meerkats, this is a genuinely intimate experience—you’ll have the time and space to observe their interactions and appreciate their individual characters.
Get Up Close and Personal
This is a hands-on, interactive experience. You’ll enter the meerkat enclosure and have the opportunity to sit quietly whilst our meerkats go about their business around you. They’re naturally curious animals, so don’t be surprised if they come to investigate you, sniff your shoes, or even climb on you for a better vantage point!
You’ll be able to observe their natural behaviours up close—their grooming rituals, their communication through chirps and calls, their digging instincts, and their constant vigilance. Meerkats are always alert, always watching, and always ready to sound the alarm if they spot anything unusual. It’s fascinating to watch their instincts at work, even in the safety of their enclosure.
Feed the Meerkats
One of the highlights of the experience is the opportunity to feed our meerkat mob. Under the guidance of our handlers, you’ll offer them their favourite treats and watch as they eagerly accept your offerings. Meerkats are opportunistic feeders in the wild, and they bring that same enthusiasm to mealtime in captivity!
Feeding time is when you’ll really see their personalities shine. Some are polite and gentle, carefully taking food from your hand. Others are more assertive, making sure they get their share. Watching them eat—holding food in their tiny paws, munching away with obvious enjoyment—is absolutely adorable.
Our handlers will explain what meerkats eat in the wild (insects, small reptiles, roots, and bulbs) and how we replicate a healthy, balanced diet for them in captivity. You’ll learn about their nutritional needs and the care that goes into keeping them healthy and happy.
Learn About Meerkat Behaviour and Conservation
Throughout your experience, our knowledgeable handlers will share fascinating insights into meerkat behaviour, social structure, and survival strategies. You’ll learn how they communicate through a complex system of vocalisations—different calls for different threats, contact calls to keep the mob together, and alarm calls that send everyone diving for cover.
You’ll discover how their social structure works—meerkats have a dominant breeding pair, whilst other members of the mob help with babysitting, teaching pups, and keeping watch. You’ll understand their sentinel behaviour—taking turns standing guard whilst others forage, always alert for predators like eagles, jackals, and snakes.
You’ll also learn about meerkat conservation. Whilst meerkats aren’t currently endangered, they face threats from habitat loss and climate change. Understanding their role in their ecosystem and the challenges they face helps us appreciate why conservation matters for all species, not just the high-profile ones.
Complimentary General Admission
As with all our experiences, complimentary general admission to Eagle Heights Wildlife Foundation is included with your Meerkat Experience. This means you can arrive any time from when we open and stay until closing if you wish. You’re not restricted to just your experience time!
Make a full day of it: enjoy your Meerkat Experience, see our animal collection, watch the flying demonstrations, then explore our grounds at your leisure. Meet our 50+ other animal residents including over 30 rescued huskies, our alpacas, and more than 20 species of birds of prey. Grab lunch or refreshments at our tearoom and soak up the peaceful countryside atmosphere. The whole day is yours to enjoy.
Watch Our Flying Demonstrations
Your experience also includes access to our spectacular flying demonstrations. Watch in awe as eagles, owls, falcons, and other birds of prey take to the skies, demonstrating their incredible hunting skills, speed, and agility. Our expert handlers will explain the unique adaptations that make these birds such successful predators and share insights into their behaviour and conservation.
These demonstrations are more than entertainment—they’re education in action. You’ll leave with a deeper appreciation for birds of prey and the vital role they play in ecosystems around the world.
The Practical Details
Who Can Participate: The Meerkat Experience is suitable for ages 11 and over. Participants under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. This makes it perfect for families with older children, teenagers, and adults who want an intimate, educational animal encounter.
Group Size: We offer two booking options: – £79 for two participants – £158 for four participants
This flexibility allows couples, friends, or families to choose the option that suits them best. Small group sizes ensure an intimate, quality experience where everyone gets plenty of time with our meerkats and opportunities to ask questions.
Duration: The Meerkat Experience typically lasts around 45–60 minutes, including meeting the meerkats, feeding them, learning about their behaviour, and seeing our animal collection. With your included general admission and flying demonstrations, you can easily turn this into a half-day or full-day visit.
Timing: Meerkat Experiences run on selected days throughout the year. We recommend booking well in advance to secure your preferred date, as this is one of our most popular experiences.
Booking: All experiences must be booked in advance—we cannot accommodate on-site bookings. Your voucher is valid for 12 months, giving you plenty of flexibility to choose the perfect date.
What to Wear: Comfortable clothing and closed-toe shoes are recommended. Meerkats have sharp claws (perfect for digging!), so avoid delicate fabrics. You may be sitting on the ground or in their enclosure, so dress accordingly.
Photography: Cameras are welcome and encouraged! You’ll want to capture these adorable creatures and the joy on your face when you’re surrounded by curious meerkats. Our handlers are happy to take photos of you with the mob.
Why Choose the Meerkat Experience?
It’s Intimate and Personal
With only three meerkats in our mob, this is a genuinely intimate experience. You’re not competing with dozens of other visitors for the animals’ attention or struggling to see over crowds. You’ll have quality time to observe each meerkat’s personality, watch their interactions, and appreciate their individual quirks.
This small mob size means you can really connect with these animals and understand their social dynamics. You’ll see how they communicate, how they support each other, and how their relationships work. It’s the kind of meaningful animal encounter that creates lasting memories.
It’s Perfect for Families with Older Children
At 11+, the Meerkat Experience is ideal for families with older children and teenagers. It’s educational without being boring, interactive without being chaotic, and engaging for all ages. Children will love the hands-on elements—feeding the meerkats, watching them up close, and learning about their fascinating behaviours.
Parents appreciate the educational value and the opportunity to share a special experience with their children. It’s the kind of family activity that everyone enjoys and remembers.
It’s Educational and Inspiring
You’ll leave the Meerkat Experience with a deep understanding of these remarkable animals—their behaviour, their social structure, their survival strategies, and their conservation needs. This isn’t just entertainment (though it absolutely is entertaining!)—it’s meaningful education that broadens your understanding of the natural world.
Seeing our rescued animal collection adds another layer of learning, showing you the reality of animal rescue and the importance of compassionate care. It’s the kind of experience that can inspire more thoughtful choices and greater awareness of animal welfare issues.
It’s Great Value
At £79 for two participants or £158 for four, the Meerkat Experience offers exceptional value. You get intimate access to our meerkat mob, feeding opportunities, expert guidance, access to our flying demonstrations, and full-day admission to Eagle Heights Wildlife Foundation. It’s a complete day out packed with education, entertainment, and unforgettable animal encounters.
You’re Supporting Animal Welfare and Conservation
Every penny from your Meerkat Experience goes directly towards the care of our animal residents and our conservation work. We’re a non-profit dedicated to wildlife education, conservation, and providing affordable outdoor activities. When you book an experience with us, you’re not just treating yourself—you’re supporting our mission to protect animals and raise environmental awareness.
We’ve successfully reintroduced Common Buzzards and Barn Owls to the local area, we maintain our grounds chemical-free, we’ve planted 100 native trees, and we work closely with conservation organisations. Your booking makes all of this possible.
It’s a Unique Gift Experience
Searching for a special gift for an animal lover? The Meerkat Experience is the kind of present that creates lasting memories. It’s thoughtful, it’s unique, and it’s so much more meaningful than material possessions. Perfect for birthdays, special occasions, or simply showing someone you care.
What Our Visitors Say
The Meerkat Experience consistently receives rave reviews. Visitors describe it as “absolutely magical,” “so much fun,” and “the highlight of our visit to Eagle Heights.” Families tell us their children talk about the meerkats for weeks afterwards. Adults are charmed by their personalities and fascinated by their behaviours.
There’s something irresistibly endearing about meerkats. Their expressive faces, their upright posture, their constant activity—they’re entertaining, adorable, and genuinely interesting. It’s impossible not to fall in love with them.
Meet Our Meerkat Personalities
Our small mob of three meerkats each brings something special to the group. Without revealing too much (we want you to discover their personalities for yourself!), we can tell you that you’ll meet individuals with distinct roles and temperaments.
There’s the vigilant one—always on watch, always alert, taking their sentinel duties seriously even in the safety of their enclosure. There’s the social one—curious about visitors, eager to interact, and always in the middle of the action. And there’s the character—the meerkat with quirks and habits that make our handlers smile every day.
Together, they’re a tight-knit little family. Watching them interact—grooming each other, communicating through chirps and calls, working together—is a beautiful reminder of the importance of social bonds in the animal world.
Planning Your Visit
Eagle Heights is located in the beautiful Kent countryside at Lullingstone Lane, Eynsford, DA4 0JB. We’re just five minutes from the Swanley Interchange, making us easily accessible by car. If you’re travelling by public transport, Eynsford train station is a 1.4-mile walk away (though be warned, there’s a steep hill!). Local taxi services are available with advance booking.
We’re open daily from 10:30am to 5pm between April and September, and Friday to Sunday from 11am to 4pm between October and March. Your Meerkat Experience timing will be confirmed when you book, but with complimentary general admission included, you can arrive when we open and stay until closing.
We recommend arriving early to explore Eagle Heights before your experience, or staying afterwards to enjoy the flying demonstrations and meet our other residents. Either way, you’ll have plenty of time to make the most of your visit.
Don’t forget your camera—you’ll want to capture these adorable creatures and the joy on your face when you’re meeting them up close!
Your Meerkat Adventure Awaits
The Meerkat Experience at Eagle Heights Wildlife Foundation is more than just an animal encounter—it’s an intimate introduction to one of nature’s most charismatic creatures, a lesson in social behaviour and survival, and an experience that will make you smile from start to finish.
Our small mob of three meerkats is waiting to meet you. They’re curious, they’re entertaining, and they’re ready to share their world with you. All that’s missing is you.
Book your Meerkat Experience here and prepare for an intimate encounter with some of the animal kingdom’s most captivating characters. The mob is waiting.
