Reviews of Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch
(90%) From 183 travellersThey do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa.
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Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch review
Bagatelle Ranch was easily reachable on arrival, even though our flight was 2.5 hours delayed by calling in at Accra in the middle of the night (ugh!).
It was a lovely place to start: relaxed, some interesting game viewing, and staff who were all very keen to give us the best of service and conversation, which they did. The cheetah experience with Paul taking us out of the vehicle in the large enclosure, once he had stepped out to give the 3 males their daily feed, was quite something, more than we had expected, and to get within a few metres of cheetah in the open was great. His enthusiasm and well communicated expertise, and that of other staff, was much appreciated.
The dune chalets are very good (air conditioning!) and being set up one of the Kalahari red dune ridges was nice. . In the Bradt Guide, Bagatelle is shown in the wrong place, on the M41 instead of the D1268 on page 182 3rd edition.
Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch review
nice friendly ranch with good food.
The sofa bed in our 'family' room was ok for a one night stay but really only suitable for two small children or one 12yr old - my two twelve yr olds found it uncomfortable and I don't think it would be suitable for an adult.
Paul, our guide was a lovely chap from South Africa and made us very welcome at our first stop
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 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 welcome to Namibia
We couldn't fault them on anything! Staff very friendly and helpful. Meercats a highlight.
Read more about the whole safariGREAT 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.
