Boiling boiling. That’s what the name Bela-Bela means – and it refers to the hot springs for which this pretty town is famed. These hot mineral springs bubble out of the earth at about 22 000 litres per hour with a temperature of around 53 degrees C.
The water is rich in sodium chloride, calcium carbonate and other salts that have healing properties. And the springs have soothed arthritis and rheumatism for centuries.
The Healing Waters
The springs were known and used for healing by local tribes many hundreds of years ago. The Tswana people of the region named them Bela-Bela, the water that boils on its own.
Today these legendary waters have been harnessed and turned into a series of fountains, pools and bathing areas at Forever Resorts Warmbaths, a popular health and family holiday resort.
A Family Getaway
Enjoy a unique – and healthy - family holiday in the heart of the unspoilt Waterberg. The spa has a large mineral-water indoor pool, a high-temperature pool, sauna, underwater massage and hydrotherapy. Ailments such as rheumatism, arthritis, muscular pains, skin problems and headaches are treated here.
The spa is based on Baden-Baden in Germany and is the second largest of its kind in the world. The resort has excellent family accommodation and was voted a Top 20 Resort by Caravan & Outdoor Life in 2007. To top that, the Waterberg region has an average of 286 sunny days every year!
A Chance Discovery
The first settlers to see the springs were two white hunters. In 1860 Jan Grobler and Carl van Heerden were out hunting when they saw steam rising from the ground. Van Heerden later built a farm around the springs. And the area became well known for its therapeutic qualities.
After a visit by President Burgers in 1873, the state decided to buy the farm and develop a health resort around the springs.
Today Bela-Bela is still well known for its hot springs and more than a million tourists visit the town each year, making it one of the most popular tourism destinations in the region.
The Heart of the Waterberg
Bela-Bela is at the heart of the scenic Waterberg mountains. The region is part of the Waterberg Biosphere Reserve, which covers some 100 000ha – and is home to a variety of affordable and exclusive bushveld getaways, wild animals and the beautiful and remote Marakele National Park.
Game Galore
Besides the springs, Bela-Bela is well known for its wildlife. There are many family-friendly game reserves in the surrounding areas, including Mabula, Mabalingwe, Bonwa Phala, Kunkuru and Sondela. At Lapalala Wilderness you can visit and feed two orphaned rhino – one black, the other white.
A Birder’s Paradise
From ducks, sand pipers and kingfishers to storks, buzzards and fish eagles, you can see them all at Nylsvley Nature Reserve. Nylsvley’s floodplain is the largest of its kind in the country. So pack a picnic and spend a day discovering birds.
Fun for the Whole Family
The famous Bela-Bela Tourism Festival (previously called the 'Sunshine Festival') has been a big day on the social calendar for the last 20 years. Featuring music, arts & crafts, food stalls and wildlife stands, the festival has become very popular with both locals and visitors. It takes place from the end of May to early June.
The Great Outdoors
From cycling to marathon running, there’s plenty of activity for the outdoor enthusiast in Bela-Bela. The 'Mabalingwe Lion Man Mountain Bike Race' is one of the most recognised mountain-bike racing events in South Africa.
Over 15 000 people from around the country gather at Mabalingwe Nature Reserve near Bela-Bela each year. The race has different routes. Families and novices usually participate in the 35-km route; tough and fit athletes prefer the 80-km one.
The Warmbaths Dam, some 8kms from town, is the spot for water sports and fishing. There are excellent courses for golfers.
History and Heritage 
There are several historical sights in and around Bela-Bela. Visit the grave of Christina Pretorius, wife of Voortrekker leader Andries Pretorius. While trekking through this area, she fell ill and persuaded her husband to continue without her.
You can see the British Blockhouse, erected during the Anglo-Boer War to protect the railway line.
The rock formation of Buyskop was once the halfway mark on the postal route between Pretoria and Polokwane, and stone was quarried here for the construction of the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
Miles of Big Smiles
There are more crocodiles than you can imagine at the Thaba Kwena Crocodile Farm near Bela-Bela. Take a guided tour of the largest commercial crocodile farm in South Africa. Just one of the highlights of a memorable family holiday in the wonderful Waterberg.
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