In the South African Kalahari desert, wildlife photographer Will Burrard-Lucas had an amazing encounter with a group of meerkats. Over several months, he was able to gain the trust of these small desert animals and capture stunning close-up photographs of their daily lives.

Meerkats are small carnivorous animals, belonging to the mongoose family, and are known for their social behavior and the way they live in communities. They typically inhabit arid regions of southern Africa, such as the Kalahari desert, and live in underground burrows.

To gain the trust of the meerkats, Burrard-Lucas had to spend a lot of time with them, gradually approaching closer and closer until he was accepted as part of their community. He set up a camera on a tripod and waited patiently for the meerkats to come to him, eventually getting close enough to capture some incredible close-up shots of the animals’ faces.

Over time, Burrard-Lucas became so familiar to the meerkats that they would even climb on his camera to get a better view of their surroundings. The photographer’s friendship with the meerkats gave him a unique insight into their daily lives and behaviors, which he was able to capture in his stunning photographs.

These incredible images offer a rare glimpse into the world of meerkats, capturing their playful and curious nature, as well as their tight-knit social bonds. Through his work, Burrard-Lucas hopes to raise awareness of these amazing animals and encourage their conservation in the face of habitat loss and other threats.

Overall, the friendship between Burrard-Lucas and the meerkats of the Kalahari desert is a testament to the incredible bonds that can form between humans and the natural world, and a reminder of the importance of preserving these unique and beautiful creatures for future generations.