Reviews of Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch
(89%) From 101 travellersThey do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa.
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A fine end to our trip
Magnificent setting overlooking the Kalahari desert the main lodge is superbly fitted out. Our straw bale constructed chalet was luxurious and extremely welcoming and comfortable. The grounds themselves were very relaxing.
The staff were friendly and attentive and the food very good. It was an extremely fine venue to spend our last night and following morning before our return to Windhoek.
Recommended
Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch review
We only spent one night here, but could easily have done two. Comfortable and friendly with good food. The chalets on the dune ridge looked quite dramatic against that amazing burnt orange sand. Lovely bath with a view, though perhaps a bit pointless given the prominent notices to conserve water!
The highlights for us were the very busy meerkat gang, which we spent a long time following, and the four cheetahs that Bagatelle home, particularly the young female that we got really close to.
A fine start
Our first nights in Namibia; Bagatelle courteously and efficiently run; cuisine and hospitality excellent; private ownership gave first class feeling of comfort and concern; young management very competent, good humoured and always concerned for our welfare and interests.
Had these been our final nights, we might have been disappointed in the variety of wild life available on view tho' some magnificent sighting of hornbill and lilac breasted roller; guide very fully informed and entertaining.
Keeping, feeding and, in one case, an invitation to pat a cheetah, all rather tacky. Our choice of this venue substantially influenced by advertised resident meer cats - in fact, none were there, absent elsewhere where food was more plentiful.
Highlight - bright fire, cheerful company and exceptional cooking.
Lows - the collection of domesticated 'wild' animals and the phony experience of 'captive' cheetahs.
Expert Africa comments
These are very good points and highlight the difference between how perhaps we, from the UK, expect to find African wildlife and sometimes how it can be in Africa. Like many guestfarms in Namibia, Bagatelle feels that its captive cheetahs are an attraction that some visitors want to see – hence the organized viewings.
The "captive" cheetahs at Bagatelle are in a large 12ha area, approved by the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF). The CCF rescues cheetahs from farmers who used to kill cheetahs as vermin, and they have relocated a couple here for their own safety. Bagatelle are happy to take care of these cheetahs.
Bagatelle also has various habituated, almost ‘pet’ animals, including the cheetah, called Pepper, and the meerkats. For various reasons they are very used to humans (whether they were orphaned, hand reared, or have just live close to humans and are now not bothered by them). These animals are free to roam and are not restrained at Bagatelle in any way - hence, the absence of the meerkats when these travellers visited. Apparently they went off foraging for a number of days, but Bagatelle are very happy that they are all back "home" again now!
Feed the cheetahs!
Dune chalets really put you in amongst the sand dunes with the best views.
Participating in the Cheetah and other animal feedings proved to be close encounters! Exceptionally interesting nature drive of some 4 hours. Welcoming and friendly staff eager to show their ranch.
A great way to start the trip
As this was only an overnight stay we did not take advantage of any activities.
Read more about the whole safariGreat welcome to Namibia
We couldn't fault them on anything! Staff very friendly and helpful. Meercats a highlight.
Read more about the whole safariBagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch review
Beautiful start to the holiday just the right distance from Windhoek. Warm friendly staff.
Food really good & trips worthwhile 2 days here is enough though.
GREAT HOSPITLITY,PERSONAL ATTENTION AND HELP.
FROM THE MOMENT WE ARRIVED, WE FELT THAT WE WERE PAUL'S GUESTS, NOT JUST CUSTOMERS.
HE WAS HELPFUL AND INFORMATIVE, GREAT WITH THE KIDS. LEARNT OUR NAMES AND HELPED US TO MAKE THE MOST OF OUR SHORT STAY. HE HELPED OUT WITH CAR PROBLEMS, GROVELLING UNDER THE CAR IN THE SAND JUST AFTER HAVING A SHOWER!
THE QUALITY OF ACCOMODATION WAS SUPERB,THE FOOD WAS FABULOUS AND GENEROUS. WE WANTED TO STAY LONGER!
THE CHEETAH ENCOUNTER WAS A DEFINITE HIGHLIGHT.
A great introduction to Namibia
We unfortunately managed to get stuck in the sand in the driveway of the ranch. A simple sign at the entrance to 'keep right' would solve this problem as we are aware that others suffered the same fate - we had to be pulled out by the manager!
However the accommodation was superb and we enjoyed our stay immensely. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful
Expert Africa comments
Along with virtually all of the feedback that we receive , we've passed these comments onto Bagatelle Game Ranch - and asked them to solve the sand-trap, so that subsequent travellers don't also get stuck!
Really welcoming and informative
This was one of our favourite destinations and we would have liked an extra half day - everything was good about this especially the friendliness of the staff.
This was a marvellous first night of our holiday
We have always believed that acting responsibly is the only way to approach tourism and we're one of
the few companies to hold AITO's original coveted 5-star status for responsible tourism. It's a lead
that others are now following.
