Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch

Just 50km north-east of Mariental, on the southern edge of the Kalahari, lies Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch, nestled between some of the highest dunes in the region and boasting a menagerie of habituated wildlife including three cheetahs protected in conjunction with the Cheetah Conservation Fund.

A combination drive through the ranch for late-afternoon game-spotting includes a pit stop to feed the cheetahs and sundowners on a dune accompanied by a truly Namibian snack. A walk with a San bushman to his village, horseback riding and star-viewing from the Observatory with a state-of-the-art computerised telescope are also available.

Bagatelle has Dune Chalets raised on stilts on top of the dunes, Savannah Chalets in the valley between the dunes, and Garden Rooms next to the lodge. All are air-conditioned, have en-suite bathrooms and the same high standard of luxury and finishes. The living area is inviting, with a lounge and reading room, walk-in wine cellar and jovial bar. The stunning pool and an intimate boma are key highlights and the dining area, where local delicacies are served, opens onto the grand vista over a waterhole and the wildlife-speckled Kalahari dunes beyond.