A desert dune stay at Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch

If you want to experience Namibia’s boundless desert landscapes, come to Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch. Our chic chalets are set right on the dunes of the southern Kalahari Desert and during your stay, you’ll experience everything from game drives to bushmen village visits. Guests love the views of warm red-and-gold sand dunes sprinkled with desert vegetation, which come to life when the rains arrive.

Bagatelle was once an old farmhouse that we’ve extensively refurbished, with luxurious chalets showcasing typical African architecture. Think natural thatched roofs and animal prints combined with four-poster beds, a central swimming pool and a spa. We use solar power and a reverse osmosis water system to make the lodge as eco-friendly as possible. Supporting the local Khoisan community is also important to us, and we work with them to offer respectful village tours that allow you to learn about Namibia’s native culture.

The ranch also has a nearby waterhole where you may spot desert creatures, including antelopes, ostriches, zebras and a family of meerkats who live on the property and are great fun to watch. You can ride horses along the dunes or go on game drives to observe the wildlife and immerse yourself in the desert. We work with the Cheetah Conservation Fund to protect the area’s endangered big cats, which include three orphans we care for: Ralf, Etosha and Tuano, who you can visit in their 12-hectare enclosure.

There’s a key focus on experiences at Bagatelle, with ranger-led safaris through the 10,000-hectare reserve, which has some of the highest dunes in the region. You’ll drive through salt pans and valleys dotted with ancient acacias, spotting everything from giraffes to elands and some of the 150 bird species that live here. Guests love the dune sundowners; sipping a G&T while the sunlight paints the dunes is magical. The stargazing sessions here, run by a local astronomer, are also a favourite activity.