Bela-Bela and its relaxing hot springs
Round up your family and friends and head for this charming historic town in the Waterberg bushveld. Bela-Bela offers you relaxing hot springs to swim in, mountains to climb and hike, unspoilt landscapes and many well-preserved wilderness areas. Frolic in their fun water world or take a game drive if you love wildlife and birds. Bela-Bela means “boiling boiling” in Setswana, which refers to the hot springs that are this town's main attraction.
Pack your swimming costumes and towels. Bela -Bela's ancient hot springs remain nature's gift and you can swim, soak, slide down watery tunnels or just lie in the shade and relax.
Something for everyone
This is a hiking, game-viewing, cycling and wandering country. Big skies and red sandstone mountains, abundant game and remarkable birdlife.
Take your pick from a number of reserves, including Mabula, Kunkuru and Sondela. Lapalala Wilderness has long been at the heart of conservation in the Waterberg, and here you can meet two orphaned rhinos, one black, the other white, and find out about their history and habitat.
Birds, from ducks, sand pipers and kingfishers to storks, buzzards and fish eagles, are the main attraction at the nearby Nylsvley Nature Reserve. Nylsvley’s floodplain is the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere and is one of the top birding spots in the country.
From cycling to marathon running, there’s also lots of sporting action in Bela-Bela. Over 15 000 people from around the country gather at Mabalingwe Nature Reserve near Bela-Bela annually for the Mabalingwe Lion Man Mountain Bike Race, one of the most popular mountain-bike events in South Africa.
The Warmbaths Dam, some 8 km from town, is a popular spot for water sports and fishing. There are excellent golf courses in the area, many of them with wild animals sharing the greens.
You can also take a guided tour at the Thaba Kwena Crocodile Farm near Bela-Bela, one of the largest commercial crocodile farms in the country.
Tips:
- How to get there: Bela-Bela is approximately 200 km from Johannesburg on the N1 highway.
- Best time to visit: Spring and Autumn going into Winter.
- Getting around: Self-drive is best, especially if you want to explore the beauty of the surrounding area at your own pace. There are guided tours and game drives available at various game reserves.
- What to pack: Hats, sunscreen, swimming gear, cameras, walking shoes and good company.
- Where to stay: The Welgevonden Game Reserve has many excellent five-star camps; Lapalala Wilderness has assorted budget accommodation from self-catering wilderness camps to a hotel. There are many B&Bs, guesthouses and lodges dotted in and around Bela-Bela and the Waterberg area as well.
For more information: https://southafrica.net/gl/en/travel/article/bela-bela-and-its-relaxing-hot-springs