Bullsport Guest Farm: Our full report

Bullsport Guest Farm (also known as BuellsPort, or more correctly BüllsPort) stands approximately 250km southwest of Windhoek, and about 50km south of Solitaire, in its own section of the majestic Naukluft Mountains. Also offering hiking and horseriding, Bullsport is one of Namibia's oldest farms.

The guest farm is owned and run by Johanna and Ernst Sauber who have always offered a very warm welcome and great hospitality. This has been augmented in recent years by the addition of some well-designed luxury rooms.

There are 8 'standard' rooms at Bullsport (the farm's original rooms), split into six twin rooms, one triple and one family room with four beds; additional beds are available on request. These rooms are fairly basic, but all are en suite – two with a bath, six with a shower – and all have mobile gas heaters and fans, but no air conditioning.

In addition, Bullsport recently completed 6 'luxury' rooms, which we'd always recommend. These are larger and come with private verandas, en-suite bathrooms, separate toilets, fly screens on the doors and windows and under-floor heating/cooling, The rooms have hairdryers and mobile gas heaters for cold nights, and the water is solar heated. Both styles of room have tea- and coffee-making facilities.

Bullsport's camping facilities are set about 3km from the main guest farm, and divided into one exclusive camping site for the use of a single group, and a second shared site. Both are tucked away in the Naukluft Mountains, so ideal for nature enthusiasts. Each site comes with two flush toilets, two showers (with water heated by wood-fired donkey-boilers), two sinks and a shaded lapa area, although there's no electricity.

The central facilities at Bullsport Guest Farm include a sparkling swimming pool set in palm-dotted gardens, which reflects the nearby mountains. There's also a big shady veranda, which is popular for sundowners. This is where hearty Namibian dinners are served when the weather's good. Indoors, there's a spacious dining room with a large glass sliding door that opens onto the patio and garden, a self-serve bar and a small library. A Wi-Fi connection is available here, and the farm has a laptop available for guests to check their emails. The atmosphere is always homely and welcoming, and there's secure parking for self-drivers.

Activities at Bullsport Guest Farm focus on hiking and horseriding. There are superb hiking opportunities on the farm and in the surrounding Naukluft Mountains. (On our last visit, we hiked the Quiver Tree Gorge Trail, which was great – stunning scenery through a dry, rugged gorge. We found a leopard print and took far too many pictures!) These walks are self guided but all trails are well marked and easy to follow, and the flora and fauna is rich and beautiful, which makes walking here a real pleasure.

The horseriding at Bullsport Guest Farm is also excellent. Bullsport is a working farm, breeding Namibian horses, and one of the few registered studs in the country. Riding lessons for beginners are available, and there are several short horseriding trails around the farm, lasting between one and three hours. Sometimes zebra and kudu are seen on these rides. For more experienced riders, Bullsport's owner, Johanna, runs guided horseriding trips into the mountains and through neighbouring farms, which take between one and three days. Horseriding should be pre-booked prior to arrival.

Other activities at Bullsport include birdwatching (there are over 200 bird species here) and game-viewing, guided tours to Sesriem and Sossusvlei, and guided 4x4 excursions up the Naukluft Plateau, including some scenic hiking.

It is worth noting that some of the money paid for accommodation (N$5 per bed night) goes to a community trust that has been set up to provide members of the local community with guide training programmes, and to help other projects come together. So far, eight members of the community have been trained as 'level 1' tour guides.

Our view

Bullsport Guest Farm is a great place to stay near the Naukluft Mountains, and appeals to those who love to walk or ride. It's a real Namibian farm, with very welcoming owners, so staying here is quite a personal experience: down to earth and friendly. It's a far cry from the regimented atmosphere of some of the purpose-built lodges – and great value compared with many of the lodges nearer Sesriem.

Geographics

Location: Namib-Naukluft National Park, Namibia

Ideal length of stay: 2-3 nights are ideal.

Directions: Bullsport Guest Farm lies about 250km southwest of Windhoek. Take the B1 towards Rehoboth, south of Windhoek, and 4km past the town, turn right onto the C24 towards Klein Aub. Take the MR47 past Klein Aub, turn right onto the D1206 at the end, and you'll reach Bullsport after about 28km.

Key personnel

Owner: Bullsport's managers are Ernst and Johanna Sauber.

Food & drink

Usual board basis: Half Board

Food quality: The food here consists of delicious home-cooked dishes such as oryx stew, and other hearty meals.

Dining style: Group Meals

Dining locations: Indoor and Outdoor Dining

Drinks included: Drinks are not included.

Special interests

Riding: Bullsport is a working farm; it breeds Namibian horses, and is one of the few registered studs in Namibia. Riding lessons are available, as are short horse-riding trails and guided 1–3 day excursions into the Naukluft Mountains. It's a great place for keen riders.

See more ideas for Riding in Namibia

Walking: Bullsport Guest Farm is set in the Naukluft Mountains, and eight different hiking trails give you the opportunity to explore the farm and the surrounding area on foot. The trails are well marked, leading through stunning scenery, with the Quivertree trail a particular favourite.

See more ideas for Walking in Namibia

Children

Attitude towards children: Children are very welcome at Bullsport Guest Farm, but there are no special facilities or activities for them.

Equipment: Cots and highchairs can be provided.

Generally recommended for children: Yes

Notes: Children should be supervised by their parents at all times.

Central communications

Power supply: Mains Electricity

Communications: Internet connections are available in Bullsport's 'luxury' rooms.

TV & radio: There are no TVs or radios in the rooms at Bullsport.

Health & safety

Malarial area: No

Medical care: The closest hospital is in Rehoboth, about two hours' drive from the farm.

Dangerous animals: Low Risk

Security measures: There's a secure parking area on site.

Fire safety: There are fire extinguishers around the guest farm.

Extras

Disabled access: On Request

Laundry facilities: Laundry is not included, and available at an extra charge of N$50 per load.

Money: Currency exchange is not possible.