Reviews of Bagatelle Game Ranch
Wildlife sightings and reviews
194 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited Bagatelle Game Ranch and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa

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"More than just a stopover"
The staff were superb, the game drive exceeded expectations, as did the dinner. There is decent game viewing here, including two white rhino, although these are habituated to people to the point of being tame rather than wild." See all these reviews: 12n in Namibia

Eland
1 sighting

Giraffe
1 sighting

Oryx
Multiple sightings

Wildebeest
1 sighting

Zebra
1 sighting
"Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch review"
The chalet rooms have great deck views overlooking the red Kalahari dunes and a small manmade watering hole. The atmosphere is very casual and relaxed. However the room interiors are very basically equipped and in need of renovation (e.g., mosquito nets do not cover the bed, shower tile grout is almost black with age, window screens had holes).
The main building and attached boma/breakfast patio is very nicely decorated and it is easy to walk unaccompanied between the main building and chalet rooms at all hours of the day. Golf carts are available if needed. Hand sanitizer stations were positioned through the main building during our stay in April 2021, but Covid protocols were very relaxed and not enforced despite "wear masks inside" signs being posted on lobby doors. Most guests ignored any mask-wearing or social distancing guidelines. Dinner was plated and average-to-good quality, served at isolated tables in the main building's boma. Breakfast was buffet with optional hot menu options (eggs, sausage, etc) to order. For those needing to stay connected: there is spotty MTC mobile connectivity in the rooms but no wifi. Wifi is available but extremely slow in the main building only.
The staff and family/owners were all exceptionally friendly and accommodating. The ranch is a family-run establishment and while it houses a lot of different animals (horses, cheetah, 2 white rhino, sable antelope, wildebeest, oryx, giraffe, eland), the ranch feels more like a petting zoo than a conservation reserve. We paid the separate charge upon arrival for a sunset game, which was a shared vehicle with another couple. Most of it was spent driving around the fenced property with the guide calling out the prices paid for each animal. Enjoyable for sundowners but felt like a zoo, which was disappointing.
Overall we did not find Bagatelle to be a good value. It underwhelmed in many areas (room interiors, food, zoo atmosphere) to justify the room rates compared to other lodges throughout Namibia. Will look to stay elsewhere if we return to the area." See all these reviews: 13n in Namibia

Cheetah
1 sighting

Eland
1 sighting

Giraffe
2 sightings

Oryx
2 sightings

Wildebeest
1 sighting
"Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch review"
It gives a real introduction to a trip, there is plenty of wildlife to see and the guides and staff are very friendly.
Hope to return again soon." See all these reviews: 19n in Namibia

Aardvark
1 sighting

Cheetah
1 sighting

Eland
1 sighting

Giraffe
7 sightings

Meerkat
3 sightings

Oryx
4 sightings

Wildebeest
4 sightings

Zebra
3 sightings
"Hidden and Exceptionnal place"

Cheetah
Multiple sightings

Meerkat
Multiple sightings

Zebra
Multiple sightings
"Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch review"
Rooms were fine, somewhat basic but suited us grand and the four of us were accommodated in the one chalet.
Staff friendly and helpful.
Good that kids were half price on activities." See all these reviews: 16n in Namibia
"Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch review"

Eland
Multiple sightings

Giraffe
1 sighting

Meerkat
Multiple sightings

Oryx
Multiple sightings

Wildebeest
Multiple sightings

Zebra
Multiple sightings
"Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch review"
strongly recommend the northern route to lodge if coming from Windhoek: this is marked on the brown highway signs, it gives a great view of the dunes, and best examples of social weaver bird nests we saw in Namibia.
Oryx for supper was badly overcooked though asked for rare (also over spiced). No complimentary wine as listed in guide book." See all these reviews: 6n in Namibia

Eland
2 sightings
"It rained!"
A bit concerned about the number of dead animals we saw.
Our game drive was in pouring rain - in the Kalahari desert!" See all these reviews: 12n in Namibia; 3n in Zimbabwe; 2n in South Africa

Oryx
Multiple sightings

Wildebeest
Multiple sightings

Zebra
Multiple sightings
"Night Drive at Bagatelle was amazing"
Also lots of other unusual wildlife such as spring hares, aardwolf, bat-eared fox and zorillas." See all these reviews: 16n in Namibia

Aardvark
5 sightings

Eland
2 sightings

Giraffe
2 sightings

Meerkat
1 sighting

Oryx
10 sightings

Wildebeest
2 sightings

Zebra
2 sightings
"Wish we could have stayed longer"

Cheetah
1 sighting

Giraffe
Multiple sightings

Meerkat
1 sighting

Oryx
Multiple sightings

Wildebeest
Multiple sightings

Zebra
Multiple sightings
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