Once a sheep and cattle ranch, Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch is now a homely and warm accommodation nestled into the red desert dunes of the Kalahari. Expect wonderful meals, a tranquil setting and scenic wildlife excursions making for a perfect stopover on routes across the desert.
Location
The ranch sits on red dunes between Hardap and Stampriet on the southern edge of the Kalahari. It is positioned amid some of the region’s highest dunes on a private game ranch with an assortment of habituated wildlife. It’s two and a half hours from Windhoek and makes for a great stop on the long route towards Fish River Canyon.
Rooms
There are 20 en-suite rooms at the lodge, six of which line the ridge of the dune. Four Dune Chalets are raised on stilts with wooden furnishings throughout and wonderful views over the dunes from outdoor decks. Two Exclusive Dune Chalets are more spacious offering larger deck with plunge pools and a hot tub. Eight Savannah Rooms, constructed using hay bales, are smaller and sit in the valley between the dunes. There are two poolside rooms with spacious, fresh interiors and four garden-facing rooms connected to the main area.
Communal Areas
Decorated in rustic, earthy tones resembling the red sand dunes, the main area is warm and inviting, once housing a working farmhouse. There are cosy fireplaces for cold evenings, lots of places to relax and a reading lounge to spend an afternoon with a book. Dine on the patio under the stars or in the large dining area inside with wine from the lodge’s well-stocked wine cellar. Enjoy drinks at the poolside bar or spend evenings in the Bagatelle Observatory to explore the dark skies of the Kalahari.
Activities
Take early morning nature and afternoon nature drives to explore the area, animals and birdlife. Embark on bush walks with San bushman to the local village, take horseback rides through the desert and indulge in sundowners on the sand dunes to watch the spectacular sunset. The ranch works in association with the Cheetah Conservation Fund and they are custodians to a number of rescued cheetah’s which are housed in an enclosure near to the lodge. While the animals are being rehabilitated, guests can visit to watch them being fed.
When to go
Find out when is best to visit
- Excellent
- Good
- Poor
WET SEASON
This is the peak of the wet season, yet days with rainfall are very spread-out. A season of change as the landscape totally transforms to a green flowering ‘desert’, a beautiful time to visit. Great birding with migratory species present and fantastic wildlife viewing opportunities.
Midday temperatures are however very high during this period, averaging 35°C/95°F, but can often rise well over this to 45°C/113°F or more. Humidity levels though are surprisingly low, so this extreme heat can be bearable and as this is a desert landscape after sunset the temperatures rapidly drop off to a much more pleasant 19°C/95°F. Occasionally mornings can be cold, so do pack a light fleece.
Like the rest of Namibia, The Kalahari has very distinct wet and dry seasons; rain occurs sporadically usually in the form of sharp thunderstorms from November through to April, the rest of the year clear skies dominate.
WET SEASON
This is the peak of the wet season, yet days with rainfall are very spread-out. A season of change as the landscape totally transforms to a green flowering ‘desert’, a beautiful time to visit. Great birding with migratory species present and fantastic wildlife viewing opportunities.
Midday temperatures are however very high during this period, averaging 35°C/95°F, but can often rise well over this to 45°C/113°F or more. Humidity levels though are surprisingly low, so this extreme heat can be bearable and as this is a desert landscape after sunset the temperatures rapidly drop off to a much more pleasant 19°C/95°F. Occasionally mornings can be cold, so do pack a light fleece.
Like the rest of Namibia, The Kalahari has very distinct wet and dry seasons; rain occurs sporadically usually in the form of sharp thunderstorms from November through to April, the rest of the year clear skies dominate.
WET SEASON
This is the peak of the wet season, yet days with rainfall are very spread-out. A season of change as the landscape totally transforms to a green flowering ‘desert’, a beautiful time to visit. Great birding with migratory species present and fantastic wildlife viewing opportunities.
Midday temperatures have cooled slightly, averaging 33°C/91°F, but temperatures can still occasionally climb over 40°C/104°F. Humidity levels though are surprisingly low, so this extreme heat can be bearable and as this is a desert landscape after sunset the temperatures rapidly drop off to a much more pleasant 17°C/62°F. Occasionally mornings can be very cold, so do pack a warm fleece.
Like the rest of Namibia, The Kalahari has very distinct wet and dry seasons; rain occurs sporadically usually in the form of sharp thunderstorms from November through to April, the rest of the year clear skies dominate.
WET SEASON
This is the peak of the wet season, yet days with rainfall are very spread out. A season of change as the landscape transforms to a green flowering ‘desert’, a beautiful time to visit. Great birding with migratory species present.
Midday temperatures have cooled, averaging a very pleasant 29°C/84°F. As this is a desert landscape after sunset, the temperatures rapidly drop off to a chilly average minimum of 12°C/53°F. Occasionally mornings can be very cold, even sub-zero, so do pack warm layers, and gloves.
Like the rest of Namibia, The Kalahari has very distinct wet and dry seasons; rain occurs sporadically usually in the form of sharp thunderstorms from November through to April, the rest of the year clear skies dominate.
DRY SEASON
Whilst the occasional shower is still possible, May is the beginning of the dry season. The landscape will still be many shades of green following the rain. Midday temperatures are pleasant, but the mornings are cold, with an average minimum low of 6°C/42°F. Sub-zero mornings are very much a possibility here, so do pack appropriately for those early activities!
Like the rest of Namibia, The Kalahari has very distinct wet and dry seasons; rain occurs sporadically usually in the form of sharp thunderstorms from November through to April, the rest of the year clear skies dominate.
DRY SEASON
Clear skies still dominate, the landscape is rapidly returning to a semi-arid desert.
Midday temperatures are pleasant, averaging around 24°C/75°F. The mornings are very cold, with an average minimum low of 1°C/31°F. Sub-zero mornings are very common, so do pack appropriately for those early activities!
Like the rest of Namibia, The Kalahari has very distinct wet and dry seasons; rain occurs sporadically usually in the form of sharp thunderstorms from November through to April, the rest of the year clear skies dominate.
DRY SEASON
Clear skies still dominate, the landscape is rapidly returning to a semi-arid desert.
Midday temperatures are pleasant, averaging around 24°C/75°F. The mornings are very cold, with an average minimum low of 1°C/31°F. Sub-zero mornings are very common, so do pack appropriately for those early activities!
Like the rest of Namibia, The Kalahari has very distinct wet and dry seasons; rain occurs sporadically usually in the form of sharp thunderstorms from November through to April, the rest of the year clear skies dominate.
DRY SEASON
Clear skies still dominate, the landscape is rapidly returning to a semi-arid desert.
Midday temperatures are pleasant, averaging around 24°C/75°F. The mornings are very cold, with an average minimum low of 1°C/31°F. Sub-zero mornings are very common, so do pack appropriately for those early activities!
Like the rest of Namibia, The Kalahari has very distinct wet and dry seasons; rain occurs sporadically usually in the form of sharp thunderstorms from November through to April, the rest of the year clear skies dominate.
DRY SEASON
Clear skies still dominate, the landscape is rapidly returning to a semi-arid desert. Game viewing opportunities remain strong.
Midday temperatures are pleasant, averaging around 31°C/88°F. The mornings are cold, with a minimum low of 8°C/46°F. Sub-zero mornings are still very much a possibility here, so do pack appropriately for those early game drives!
Like the rest of Namibia, The Kalahari has very distinct wet and dry seasons; rain occurs sporadically usually in the form of sharp thunderstorms from November through to April, the rest of the year clear skies dominate.
DRY SEASON
Clear skies still dominate.
Temperatures begin to climb, especially towards the end of the month. Midday temperatures average around 29°C/84°F, but occasionally temperatures can climb over 40°C/104°F. Mornings remain cool to cold, with an average minimum low of 12°C/54°F – so do pack a warm fleece!
Like the rest of Namibia, The Kalahari has very distinct wet and dry seasons; rain occurs sporadically usually in the form of sharp thunderstorms from November through to April, the rest of the year clear skies dominate.
DRY SEASON
Clear skies still dominate.
Temperatures begin to climb, especially towards the end of the month. Midday temperatures average around 29°C/84°F, but occasionally temperatures can climb over 40°C/104°F. Mornings remain cool to cold, with an average minimum low of 12°C/54°F – so do pack a warm fleece!
Like the rest of Namibia, The Kalahari has very distinct wet and dry seasons; rain occurs sporadically usually in the form of sharp thunderstorms from November through to April, the rest of the year clear skies dominate.
WET SEASON
A season of change as the landscape totally transforms to a green flowering ‘desert’, a beautiful time to visit. This great birding with migratory species present.
Midday temperatures are however very high during this period, averaging 35°C/95°F, but can rise well over this to 45°C/113°F or more. Humidity levels though are surprisingly low, so this extreme heat can be bearable and as this is a desert landscape after sunset the temperatures rapidly drop off to a much more pleasant 19°C/95°F.
Like the rest of Namibia, The Kalahari has very distinct wet and dry seasons; rain occurs sporadically usually in the form of sharp thunderstorms from November through to April, the rest of the year clear skies dominate.
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The personalised service provided was far beyond my expectations. A three week trip visiting four countries in Africa, multiple game reserves, wineries and much, much more was flawless. While a close encounter with a leopard and her cubs…
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