KnowKi

Learn the wildlife of national parks

Learn the wildlife of Meerkat National Park

Northern Cape · South Africa

309 species have research-grade observations inside Meerkat National Park on iNaturalist. KnowKi turns the most recorded into short lessons with real photos, so you know what you're looking at before you go.

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Āki the kiwi, KnowKi's guide

Most recorded here

The species with the most research-grade observations on iNaturalist, and how many each has. Most recorded doesn't mean native.

Birds

  1. Sociable Weaver Philetairus socius27
  2. Northern Black Korhaan Afrotis afraoides7
  3. Verreaux's Eagle Aquila verreauxii6
  4. Spike-heeled Lark Chersomanes albofasciata6
  5. Pale Chanting-Goshawk Melierax canorus4
  6. Lark-like Bunting Emberiza impetuani4
  7. Namaqua Sandgrouse Pterocles namaqua4
  8. Hamerkop Scopus umbretta3
  9. Black-chested Snake-Eagle Circaetus pectoralis3
  10. Namaqua Dove Oena capensis2

Plants

  1. Quiver Tree Aloidendron dichotomum142
  2. African sumac Searsia lancea81
  3. Karoo Kunirhus Searsia burchellii70
  4. Yellow Gazania Gazania lichtensteinii52
  5. Thorn Karooviolet Aptosimum spinescens37
  6. Solanum burchellii35
  7. Saltwort Salsola kali34
  8. Kraalbush Aizoon africanum34
  9. Sticky Gumbush Pteronia viscosa32
  10. White Storm Lacomucinaea lineata29

Mammals

  1. Cape Porcupine Hystrix africaeaustralis7
  2. Aardvark Orycteropus afer6
  3. Common Molerat Cryptomys hottentotus4
  4. Steenbok Raphicerus campestris3
  5. Rock Hyrax Procavia capensis3
  6. Greater Kudu Tragelaphus strepsiceros2
  7. Cape Grey Mongoose Herpestes pulverulentus2
  8. Egyptian Slit-faced Bat Nycteris thebaica1
  9. Zorilla Ictonyx striatus1
  10. Yellow Mongoose Cynictis penicillata1

Insects

  1. Karoo Balbyter Ant Camponotus fulvopilosus17
  2. Western Honey Bee Apis mellifera11
  3. Aloe Red Scale Furcaspis capensis4
  4. Migrant Hover Fly Eupeodes corollae3
  5. Orange-winged Dropwing Trithemis kirbyi3
  6. The Geometrician Grammodes stolida3
  7. African Meadow White Pontia helice3
  8. Cape Black-eye Leptomyrina lara2
  9. Striped Hawkmoth Hyles livornica2
  10. Pioneer White Belenois aurota2

Spiders and kin

  1. Dinky Karasberg Scorpion Karasbergia methueni5
  2. Desert Ant-mimicking Jumping Spider Mexcala rufa4
  3. Karoo Burrowing Scorpion Opistophthalmus karrooensis4
  4. African Social Spider Stegodyphus dumicola3
  5. Burrowing Thicktail Scorpion Parabuthus schlechteri3
  6. Paradonea variegata3
  7. Prodidomus purpurascens3
  8. Stiphropus affinis3
  9. Putus dwarf round-headed spider Oecobius putus2
  10. Robust Burrowing Scorpion Opistophthalmus carinatus2

Reptiles

  1. Namaqua Sand Lizard Pedioplanis namaquensis8
  2. Bibron's Thick-toed Gecko Chondrodactylus bibronii5
  3. Western Rock Skink Trachylepis sulcata4
  4. Tent Tortoise Psammobates tentorius4
  5. Leopard Tortoise Stigmochelys pardalis4
  6. Ground Agama Agama aculeata3
  7. Delalande's Beaked Blind Snake Rhinotyphlops lalandei2
  8. Karoo Girdled Lizard Karusasaurus polyzonus2
  9. Namib Giant Ground Gecko Chondrodactylus angulifer2
  10. Spotted Sand Lizard Pedioplanis lineoocellata2

How a trip works

A trip has its own trail of lessons: meet six species, match them to new photos, then practice with four choices. Species you learn go into your Fieldbook, and starting a trip earns its Passport stamp. Your home place stays as it is.

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Species lists and counts from research-grade observations on iNaturalist, as of October 2026. Parks outside the U.S. are from the World Database on Protected Areas (UNEP-WCMC and IUCN, Protected Planet). KnowKi is not affiliated with the National Park Service or any park's managers. Free, with no ads, no account, and no purchases.