Bela Bela, Limpopo

Forever Resorts, Bela-Bela

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Bela Bela means 'boiling boiling’ in the Tswana language, which refers to the hot springs that are this charming town's main attraction. Bela Set in the foothills of the beautiful Waterberg mountains, Bela Bela's hot springs were originally used for healing purposes by the Tswana people hundreds of years ago. Today these legendary waters have been turned into a series of fountains, pools and bathing areas at various health and holiday resorts. 

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. Bela-Bela is a friendly town that dates back to the time of the Voortrekkers, although the surrounding Waterberg has an ancient history. Bela Bela lies at the heart of the beautiful Waterberg, an unspoiled 100 000ha mountain wilderness that has been declared a UNESCO Waterberg Biosphere Reserve.

This is hiking, game-viewing, cycling, 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 rhino – 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 spot 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 8km 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.