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Getting crafty with wire
Bela Bela's wire artists
Wire art heart made in Bela Bela.
© Bridget Hilton-Barber
Did you know?
The name Bela Bela means 'water that boils' in the local Tswana language.
Visit the wire art market in Bela Bela for interesting gifts and curios made from old wire. It's located opposite the entrance to Forever Resorts, home to the hot springs for which Bela Bela is famous.
The wire art market is an inspiring place. The artists use old fencing and other discarded wire to create unusual and fun objects for sale. It's amazing what can be made from old wire! Take your pick from wire hearts, wire wheelbarrows, wire picture frames and more.
The wire art that is sold here has made its way across most of South Africa's curio and street markets, but the nice thing about shopping at its original source is that you get to meet the people who make the wire art and - after the customary haggling - you will get it at very affordable prices.
Bela Bela itself is a charming town. The name Bela Bela refers to the hot mineral springs that bubble out of the earth at a rate of about 22 000l per hour. Rich in sodium chloride, calcium carbonate and other minerals, these waters have healing properties that have long attracted visitors.
Bela Bela has grown rapidly as an eco-tourism destination in the last decade. The town is surrounded by a variety of game lodges and reserves, conservancies and wilderness areas. Together they form the Waterberg Biosphere Reserve, which aims to protect the region’s habitat.
Another popular attraction nearby is the Nylsvley Nature Reserve, one of South Africa's premier birding spots. During the summer months, Nylsvley attracts the highest number of birds in the southern hemisphere, and at any one time it is estimated there are up to 80 000 birds in the area.
Travel tips & Planning info
Who to contact
Bela Bela Tourism
Tel: +27 (0)14 736 3694
Email: info@belabelatourism.co.za
How to get here
You'll find the wire art market opposite the entrance to Forever Resorts in downtown Bela Bela.
Around the area
Visit the nearby Nylsvley Nature Reserve, one of the country's premier birding spots. At any one time there are approx. 80 000 birds in the area.
Length of stay
Make at least a day of it in Bela Bela so you can fit in a trip to Forever Resorts, which has a series of swimming pools, hot springs and wonderful water slides for the kids.
Where to stay
Bela Bela has plenty of guesthouses and B&Bs if you are planning to overnight in the town.
What's happening
Bela Bela is a lively little town, with good shops and restaurants. Check out the Bela Bela Waterfront, and take a drive along the R101 to see some unusual roadside stalls.