Reviews of Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch
They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa.




A surprising place among red dunes
We used Bagatelle as a transit stop for one night en-route back to Windhoek and it proved so attractive we wished we had been able to stay longer. The camp is located in its own large private game reserve which used to be a ranch. The accommodation is in well appointed, spacious, framed tented chalets safari camp style, and ours was high on a red sandy dune with a pleasing view. As usual we enjoyed good hospitality and good food (buffet self-service) - good as buffets go but not "gourmet".
Activities here are particularly varied and interesting ranging from trips by 4x4 through the game park which extends many km (where a large variety of wild life can be seen in attractive surroundings), to a "bushmen walk" focussing on bushmen culture, to seeing some orphaned cheetahs that are kept in their own very large enclosure being fed.
There is also an observatory with an interesting lecture available on astronomy in the context of the southern hemisphere night sky.
Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch review
Power cut during dinner meant back up generator, but not up to scratch and intermittent.
Buffet style dinner average.
Staff not particularly friendly.
Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch review
Fantastic location. Charming chalet and very helpful staff.
Enjoyed dinner but recommend using insect repellent when eating outside in the evening.
Kalahari Delight
We loved Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch and the accommodation was idyllic. Nice sundowners and views. In the evening we had a very spectacular storm with lightning. Not too much rain but some. We did the Bushmans Walk and this is highly recommended. A very interesting activity but the morning was cool and so were the bushmen !!!! Their story of the Love Bow and the dual purpose tree for constipation and diarrhoea.... is well worth seeing as the miming is great !!
Visit was one night only but unfortunately marred by the fact my wife lost her mobile smartphone. This only discovered at the next lodge and we immediately contacted Bagatelle as the only place it could have been lost was in the jeep transfer from dune house to our car. Unfortunately they could not find it so this was a bit of a black mark. Someone has it I am afraid.
Lovely location Bagatelle Game Ranch
Our chalet No 2 overlooking the waterhole among beautiful dune was brilliant. Everyone friendly. Would not go Cheetah feeding again since they are only 50 meters from the ranch.
Read more about the whole safariAmazing place!
A very interesting place. The location is excellent. We had a quite good dinner there, in a beautiful area.
We highly recommend the morning activity with the local San people.
Disappointed at Bagatelle Game Ranch
We had 1 night in a Dune chalet and 1 in a Straw Bale chalet. Dune chalets have a bath, are more expensive and give views over their not very impressive waterhole. But BEWARE - you need a 4 wheel drive car to get up to them. With a 2 wheel drive Nissan we got stuck in the sand, and had to be towed out! In the day the lack of wall insulation, and inefficiency of the air con unit in the Dune chalet made it feel as if we were literally in an oven - definitely NOT to be recommended, whereas we were quite comfortable in the straw bale chalet, all of which are closer to the Lodge reception.
Excellent early morning game tour - we saw a lot, though no Meercats! Also good sundowner tour. They have 3 orphaned cheetahs there, and we went on a short evening feeding tour into their enclosure, but it lacked the feel of the wild.
Good food, specialising in springbok, oryx and kudu. They even have a "tame" springbok, oryx and pheasant wandering around. Nice pool and pool bar.
Bad management - the owner/manager took no interest in his guests at all, never once greeting us or other guests, or asking if we were enjoying our stay. Would not return.
Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch review
Perfectly placed as your first stop in Namibia (on your way to Fish River Canyon), or as your last stop on the way back to Windhoek airport.
The chalets are good and the owners and staff very friendly and helpful (we asked about the meerkats and we were treated to our own private viewing). The tame springbok that wanders around the lobby/bar/restaurant area is cute (feed it the ginger biscuits).
We elected for just the cheetah feeding activity - this was very well organised and good value.
Perfect for a over-night stay
Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch review
The sundowner jourmeys are very scenic, informative and good value. There is also an extensive wine list under the relatively new owners and very good food.
It's a bit of a slog up the hill through thick sand to the best accommodation if you don't have a 4 by 4.
Bagatelle was absolutely lovely
Unfortunately, as the pick up of the hire car had taken such a long time, we did not arrive at Bagatelle until 8.30pm, by which time of course, it was dark, making it difficult to read the signs to the ranch.
The owners were very welcoming, took us by car to our rooms, and back, for a superb dinner. A time to be collected from our rooms in the morning, was arranged, and the jeeps were there for us. The driver took us to see Meerkats, and Cheetah before breakfast.
The rooms were beautiful, food excellent, and owners & staff a delight.
We all wished that we had had 2 nights there, especially after our very late arrival. There were interesting activities, in which we were unable to take part, due to lack of time.