Reviews of Bagatelle Game Ranch
Wildlife sightings and reviews
199 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
Wildlife sightings by our travellers
Starting in May-2018, 25 of our travellers have recorded their wildlife sightings at Bagatelle Game Ranch.
Leopard
0% success
Cheetah
40% success
Oryx
82% success
Eland
74% success
White Rhino
67% success
Wildebeest
67% success
Giraffe
55% success
Zebra
50% success
Meerkat
33% success
Aardvark
16% success
Brown Hyena
0% success
Pangolin
0% success
Spotted Hyena
0% success
Mr R & Mrs E
UK
"Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch review"
1 night Arrived 14 Oct 2010
"We were shown meekats and cheetahs for free."
See all these reviews: 12n in Namibia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Good
Mr & Mrs C
Woking
"Stuck in the sand"
1 night Arrived 1 Oct 2010
"The 3km from the road to the ranch was our first experience of driving in sand and we got it wrong! A slightly daunting experience on only our second day in the country but everyone (staff and other guests) was helpful, full of useful advice and managed not to make us feel foolish.
We did the evening sundowner game drive with an excellent and informative guide and enjoyed it and the morning visit to the cheetahs. Seeing the meerkats was a bonus.
Our dune stilt room (no 2) was lovely - very spacious, clean and comfortable." See all these reviews: 17n in Namibia
We did the evening sundowner game drive with an excellent and informative guide and enjoyed it and the morning visit to the cheetahs. Seeing the meerkats was a bonus.
Our dune stilt room (no 2) was lovely - very spacious, clean and comfortable." See all these reviews: 17n in Namibia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Good
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Good
Dr M.
Loughborough
"So much game in the Kalahari"
2 nights Arrived 13 Sep 2010
"The afternoon drive in this official desert was remarkable for the amount of game on view - especially impressive if you haven't already been to Etosha in the north. Even if you have, the Kalahari landscape with its parallel red-coloured dunes is stunning.
The best accommodation is built on stilts overlooking the desert and there are also a few 'tame' animals around the place, including Skank, a female springbok with a short length of hosepipe covering her horns - just as well since she has a tendency to nut people (playfully) in the groin! Excellent gift shop here which is very good value for money.
Best oryx of the trip was served here!" See all these reviews: 10n in Namibia
The best accommodation is built on stilts overlooking the desert and there are also a few 'tame' animals around the place, including Skank, a female springbok with a short length of hosepipe covering her horns - just as well since she has a tendency to nut people (playfully) in the groin! Excellent gift shop here which is very good value for money.
Best oryx of the trip was served here!" See all these reviews: 10n in Namibia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Good
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Good
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Good
Mr & Mrs F
Lancashire
"Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch review"
1 night Arrived 4 Sep 2010
"A lovely relaxing place to stay for one night. There is a resident springbok and oryx allowing an unusual opportunity for a close encounter.
The food here is excellent and meals are taken at separate tables, I am delighted to say." See all these reviews: 15n in Namibia; 6n in South Africa
The food here is excellent and meals are taken at separate tables, I am delighted to say." See all these reviews: 15n in Namibia; 6n in South Africa
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Good
Activities:
Good
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Good
Mr S & Mrs K
UK
"Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch review"
1 night Arrived 4 Sep 2010
"Comfortable accommodation.
Friendly and helpful owner.
Game drive OK as a first day drive, but wouldn't have been worth it after seeing wildlife in more productive areas.
Good place to spend first night." See all these reviews: 18n in Namibia
Friendly and helpful owner.
Game drive OK as a first day drive, but wouldn't have been worth it after seeing wildlife in more productive areas.
Good place to spend first night." See all these reviews: 18n in Namibia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location:
Good
Service:
Good
Activities:
Average
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Good
Mr & Mrs P and Ms
USA
"Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch review"
1 night Arrived 27 Aug 2010
"Stayed here for one night before heading to Windhoek for departure. While the location was a convenient stopover it really added about two hours to our trip to Windhoek and I wonder if we could have used the time differently. The game ranch description is accurate and while the safari was enjoyable the guiding and wildlife experience was not comparable to other locations.
We stayed in the cabins on the "flat" rather than on the dunetop and I think the experience is pretty different between the two. The dunetop locations have great views, overlook a watering station, see the sun rise and set and could be quite special; the locations on the flat feel more like a trailer park setting. I would suggest specifying the "dunetop" location for future visitors or going elsewhere.
The ranch seems to grow springbok, wildebeest and oryx and hence these are the dominant species on the game drive. We also saw many foxes, giraffe, mongoose. Probably the best wildlife viewing is the rehabilitated cheetah in the enclosed field adjacent to the homestead and the semi-domesticated meerkat colony behind the house.
Finally, the per person charge for "cheetah viewing" in the enclosure behind the house seems unreasonable for a half hour excursion.
Overall this is a very comfortable location but for several reasons not one we would go out of our way to revisit." See all these reviews: 12n in Namibia
We stayed in the cabins on the "flat" rather than on the dunetop and I think the experience is pretty different between the two. The dunetop locations have great views, overlook a watering station, see the sun rise and set and could be quite special; the locations on the flat feel more like a trailer park setting. I would suggest specifying the "dunetop" location for future visitors or going elsewhere.
The ranch seems to grow springbok, wildebeest and oryx and hence these are the dominant species on the game drive. We also saw many foxes, giraffe, mongoose. Probably the best wildlife viewing is the rehabilitated cheetah in the enclosed field adjacent to the homestead and the semi-domesticated meerkat colony behind the house.
Finally, the per person charge for "cheetah viewing" in the enclosure behind the house seems unreasonable for a half hour excursion.
Overall this is a very comfortable location but for several reasons not one we would go out of our way to revisit." See all these reviews: 12n in Namibia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location:
Average
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Average
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Good
Mr & Mrs R
Berkeley
"Great introduction to Namibia"
2 nights Arrived 28 Jul 2010
"Plus; - Where else can you sit around the pool in the heat of the afternoon with a tame springbok nibbling grass right beside you!
Lovely ranch. Dune chalet really nice with a fabulous view across the dunes and the waterhole.
Excellent game drive into the local reserve.
Negatives: - As a first stop from the airport (midday landing), it is a long way and we only just made it before sundown. If there had been delays we would have had a problem driving in the dark on strange roads in a strange car. The location itself is lovely.
Cheetah drive takes you inside the enclosure which is only metres from the ranch. We were only "inside" for 10 minutes and saw little more than through the wire fence. At £15 each - not very good value." See all these reviews: 25n in Namibia
Lovely ranch. Dune chalet really nice with a fabulous view across the dunes and the waterhole.
Excellent game drive into the local reserve.
Negatives: - As a first stop from the airport (midday landing), it is a long way and we only just made it before sundown. If there had been delays we would have had a problem driving in the dark on strange roads in a strange car. The location itself is lovely.
Cheetah drive takes you inside the enclosure which is only metres from the ranch. We were only "inside" for 10 minutes and saw little more than through the wire fence. At £15 each - not very good value." See all these reviews: 25n in Namibia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Good
Activities:
Average
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Good
Feedback Response
Bagatelle has got back in touch with us to thank us for the constructive feedback. They would also like to extend an apology to these travellers as the cheetah drive should have been 30 minutes long. They have looked into this, and are also making adjustments to make the drive more interesting.
"Southern Africa Manager"
Mr & Mrs B
Winchester
"Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch review"
1 night Arrived 15 May 2010
"Good one night stop on the way to Tok Tokkie Trail"
See all these reviews: 18n in Namibia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location:
Good
Service:
Good
Activities:
Average
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Good
Mr & Mrs B
Ceredigion
"Great game drive with Pedro"
2 nights Arrived 2 May 2010
"This was our first stop on a month long trip and a lovely introduction to Namibia. We arrived late on a Sunday afternnon and were given a warm welcome by the staff.
The dune chalet was lovely, but sadly we did not see any animals visiting the waterhole. Our game drive with Pedro remains a special memory as it was our first and we were fortunate to see many animals and also a Kori Bustard which flew up in front of our jeep. The staff were very attentive to our needs and during the Cheehah viewing the guide was happy to answer any questions we had.
We did attempt one of the walks, but got rather lost! However, this was a good place to rest before our long drive to Fish River Canyon." See all these reviews: 25n in Namibia
The dune chalet was lovely, but sadly we did not see any animals visiting the waterhole. Our game drive with Pedro remains a special memory as it was our first and we were fortunate to see many animals and also a Kori Bustard which flew up in front of our jeep. The staff were very attentive to our needs and during the Cheehah viewing the guide was happy to answer any questions we had.
We did attempt one of the walks, but got rather lost! However, this was a good place to rest before our long drive to Fish River Canyon." See all these reviews: 25n in Namibia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Good
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Good
Mr I & Mrs A
France
"Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch review"
1 night Arrived 12 Apr 2010
"We arrived at the Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch mid afternoon and were greeted by a chilled drink and warm welcome. The main public area of the ranch is well laid out catering for those who want a bit of privacy or those wanting to meet fellow travellers and socialising. There is a lovely swimming pool and outdoor area to relax.
The chalets were fantastic with views out over the Kalahari. The food was of a high standard and it was lovely to eat outdoors with an open fire to take the chill out of the air.
The staff were very helpful and informative. We did a game drive in the late afternoon which was excellent and the guide was top class.
If you want to see the meercats you must tell the guide the day before because you have to get up very early to see them around the back of the ranch. You will not see them around the camp as some guide books imply.
We will definitely go back to Bagatelle Ranch and would stay for at least 2 nights." See all these reviews: 22n in Namibia
The chalets were fantastic with views out over the Kalahari. The food was of a high standard and it was lovely to eat outdoors with an open fire to take the chill out of the air.
The staff were very helpful and informative. We did a game drive in the late afternoon which was excellent and the guide was top class.
If you want to see the meercats you must tell the guide the day before because you have to get up very early to see them around the back of the ranch. You will not see them around the camp as some guide books imply.
We will definitely go back to Bagatelle Ranch and would stay for at least 2 nights." See all these reviews: 22n in Namibia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Excellent
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Other lodges in Southern Namibia
Alternative places to stay in this same area.
Eningu Clayhouse
Scarcely an hour from Windhoek airport, Eningu is an artistic place to unwind amid the vast silence of the Kalahari.
Central Lodge
Central Lodge offers clean, fresh and comfortable accommodation surrounded by a well-kept garden in the centre of Keetmanshoop.
Kalahari Red Dunes
A good stop between Windhoek and Fish River Canyon, Kalahari Red Dunes is set around a dry lake on a private reserve, with excellent walking opportunities.
Kalahari Anib Lodge
Kalahari Anib Lodge is a comfortable stop between Windhoek and Fish River Canyon. Expect stunning Kalahari scenery, two swimming pools and lots of space.
Dabis Guest Farm
For good farm hospitality, wholesome cooking and an interesting farm drive, Dabis makes a great stop en-route from Lüderitz to the Sesriem area.
Kalahari Bush Breaks
Kalahari Bush Breaks, situated on the edge of the Kalahari Desert, is a perfect stop-over whilst driving between Namibia and Botswana.
Hotel Helmeringhausen
Hotel Helmeringhausen is a unique hotel in the heart of southern Namibia's farming district and makes a good stopover option.
Namtib Desert Lodge
A charming owner run lodge, located off the scenic D707, Namtib Desert Lodge is a convenient stop en route from the south to Sossusvlei.
Kanaan Desert Retreat
The tented Kanaan Desert Retreat offers a range of activities against the beautiful backdrop of the Namib Desert.
Otjimbondona
Otjimbondona Kalahari is a luxurious, peaceful and relaxing lodge conveniently located close to Windhoek's International Airport.
Kalahari Farmhouse
Kalahari Farmhouse, located in Stampriet has comfortable chalets in the gardens of an old farmhouse.
