Bela-Bela

Bela-Bela (which means the pot that boils), formerly known as "Warmbaths" or "Warmbad" in Afrikaans, owes its origins to the hot mineral springs that bubble out of the earth at about 22 000 liters of water per hour at a temperature of approximately 53C.

The water is rich in minerals such as sodium chloride, calcium carbonate and other salts, and is believed to have curative properties.

The pleasantly mild climate during the winter months and an average of 286 sunny days every year add to the popularity of the destination. The town is just over an hours drive from Gauteng and lies on the Springbok Flats on the highway to the north.

Bela-Bela is also a gateway to the southern Waterberg and Thabazimbi. Bela-Bela offers accommodationin a variety of types - from self catering chalets to lucury 5-star lodges.

Bela-Bela serves a thriving agricultural region and has some well-stocked game reserves in the area. Most of the resorts offer excellent conference, sport, accommodation, recreation and restaurant facilities.

Some of the reserves boast the Big Five and countless other savannah species against a backdrop of scenic Waterberg countryside.

The hot springs at Bela Bela, were known to the local inhabitants for many years. It yields over 20 000 litres of water per hour at a constant temperature of 53C and flows into the enclosed spa complex, where pools and spa treatment rooms are open to visitors.

The surrounding grounds have been developed to provide a wide range of water sport facilities, including super tubes; speed slides; a wave pool; river ride; cable water ski-ing; tennis gokarts; paddle boats and horse riding.

Accommodation is available at the hotel, at self catering lodges along with a camping and caravan site. There is also a modern conference facility.

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Safari Lodges

The R518 west from Bela Bela follows the mountain range to several private game lodges. These include Kwafubesi Tented Safari Camp and Mabula game lodge which offer numerous facilities. Game drives; bush walks and birding excursions are part of the extensive programmes offered on these large estates.

To the east is the well known Sondela Wildlife Centre and reserve, equipped with rustic chalets and wonderful game walks and self drive routes.

A unique 18 hole golf estate at Zebula Lodges combines luxury privately owned accommodation, a clubhouse and game viewing drives on the estate.

Settlers Agricultural Museum

Settlers Agricultural Museum is a display of antique agricultural implements and tractors

Thaba Kwena Crocodile Farm

Within easy reach of the town you can visit the Thaba Kwena Crocodile farm, where over 10 000 crocodiles are reared;

Adventures with Elephants

It is an educational elephant interaction facility located on a wildlife reserve 35 km from Bela Bela off the R516 on the D1000 adjacent to the Zebula Country Club.

Other

Other facilities around Bela Bela include, a number of excellent spas; conference centres, some offering additional attractions such as health spas and team building programmes for the more energetic; clay target shooting; archery; golf, horseback riding trails; watersports; angling, at any of the surrounding dams and scenic drives into the mountains.

Attractions to visit include the Anglo-Boer War blockhouse; the grave of Christina Pretorius, the wife of Andries Pretorius; Buyskop, an Anglo-Boer War battle site and also the quarry where the stone for the Union Building was quarried.

There are restaurants to suit every taste within the town and particularly at the Waterfront complex, where the Information Offices are located.
A visit to Bela-Bela provides a unique and invigorating family holiday in the heart of the Waterberg.

Contact

Bela-Bela Tourism
Tel: (014) 736 3694
Fax: (014) 736 2890

Shop No. 1 Warmbaths Waterfront, Marx Street, Bela-Bela

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The mineral springs that flows out of the Earth with a temperature of 53C gave rise to the establishment of the town of Warmbaths - today called Bela-Bela ("pot that boils" in Tswana).

The water from these springs are rich in sodium chloride, calcium carbonate and other salts that are highly beneficial to those suffering from rheumatic ailments. From early days the local Resorts was a popular destination.

Originally the Voortrekker Carl Van Heerden established the first farm in this area at the Mineral Springs and called it Het Bad. The area in and around the mineral springs was a marshland where great numbers of wild animals were trapped and died in the mud.

During 1873 the then South African Republic (ZAR) realised the tourism and recreational opportunities that Het Bad had to offer, purchased the farm and established the town of Hartingsburg .

During the Anglo-Boer war the British annexed the place and called it Warm Baths. The British also erected a blockhouse to protect the railway line to Pietersburg (Polokwane) and it still stands today.

A very few people actually lived in Hartingsburg as the fresh water supply was poor and it was visited by sick persons during only 5 months of the year. Although Hartingsburg was the official name the place was commonly called "Warmbaths". In 1903 the British government changed the name of the Post Office to Warm Baths.

In 1920 Warm Baths was reproclaimed a township and in 1932 Warmbaths achieved village town status and town council status in 1960.

Since then the township has made rapid strides. New residential areas sprang up, modern business concerns were erected and magnificent schools and hotels made their appearance.

In the year 2002 Warmbaths was officially renamed Bela-Bela.