19.08.2021: Dive into the kalahari
After a fantastic breakfast, it was finally time — this is where the journey truly began… straight onto the gravel roads 🤩.
Today’s route led us along the C33, C23 and C15, all the way to Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch.
The drive itself already felt like a proper game drive. Warthogs, baboons, springbok, oryx, yellow mongoose — and so much more — crossed our path along the way. After roughly four hours on the road, we arrived.
The lodge is an absolute dream. The rooms breathe pure Africa — warm, earthy, and instantly grounding.
And then came the highlight of the day: our first real game drive, guided by Felix.
Barely ten minutes in… two white rhinos 🤩🤩🤩
Could it get any better? Oh yes — because they clearly knew Felix and walked straight up to the vehicle ☝🏼. Being that close to these giants is beyond words — raw, powerful, and deeply magical 🥰.
Cruising through the red sands of the Kalahari was an experience in itself. Especially when we powered up steep dunes at full throttle — the three chicas were absolutely loving every second of it 😄.
More than once, the girls found themselves lifted straight up to the roof of the Land Rover — only to be joyfully tossed back onto their seats with a good dose of momentum 😂🤣. Felix was clearly having just as much fun in this vast natural playground, and it all blended into one unforgettable experience.
And the sightings… absolutely unreal: eland and lechwe antelope, zebras, wildebeest, a kori bustard, giraffes, black springbok — one highlight after another.
Then we moved on to the cheetah feeding — another jaw-dropping moment. These animals are all orphans, living here with plenty of space and as close to freedom as possible. Watching their speed up close was simply mind-blowing 🤙🏼 — pure power and elegance in motion.
After saying goodbye to the cheetahs, we headed to the sundowner spot. Perched on top of a dune, snacks and cold drinks were waiting. We went for the classic gin & tonic 🤪, while the girls opted for Coke 🤙🏼.
Absolute magic. The way the Kalahari light shifts, how grass and sand melt into a breathtaking play of colors — it’s something you don’t just see, you feel 🥰.
20.08.2021
Today began in a very special way. At 8:00 sharp, we met with the San people for a Bushman Walk — one of the oldest living cultures on Earth. They showed us how they, and their ancestors, survived in the desert… and in some ways still do today. It’s mind-blowing how they manage to live with so little, using only what nature provides 🤩. Very quickly, it became clear: we could all learn so much from these people.
After 2½ deeply inspiring hours, we returned full of gratitude and happiness, more than ready for breakfast.
But just as we sat down, Felix — the rancher — appeared at our table and casually said he had something special he’d like to show us 🤷🏼♂️.
So… back into the jeep.
Moments later, it was obvious what he meant. He led us to a meerkat family, and we were allowed to sit incredibly close, quietly watching their playful, curious little world unfold 🤩🥰. One of those moments you don’t plan — and never forget.
…but that wasn’t the end of it ☝🏼
Felix casually mentioned that the two rhinos were nearby — and asked if we’d like to pay them a quick visit. The question was purely rhetorical. Minutes later, we were off on what can only be called our very own VIP Rhino Adventure Safari 🥰.
It didn’t take long before Felix found them. And just like that, Grace was back ☝🏼 — right there, close enough to touch, standing calmly beside the jeep. Then Felix said something we’ll never forget: we could gently touch her horn.
That moment became the second truly unforgettable, almost surreal highlight of the day 🤩🤩.
Overwhelmed, grateful, and completely blissed out, we finally made it to what had now turned into a late breakfast — wearing the biggest smiles imaginable 😃.
The rest of the day flowed by slowly, spent soaking up the atmosphere of this incredible lodge, relaxing by the pool 😆.
As the sun began to sink, we climbed one last dune and simply sat there — taking in the breathtaking sunset and the deep, timeless silence of the Kalahari.
