Bela-Bela Introduction
Bela-Bela may have changed its name many times throughout its history, but the meaning of its name remains the same – "boiling water". The name refers to the hot springs in this town in Limpopo, the northernmost province of South Africa. The hot springs have transformed Bela-Bela from a farming community into a spa resort. While the springs are the town's main attraction, the fact that it's surrounded by wildlife reserves and game farms also brings many visitors to this scenic town.
Hotels in Bela-Bela
There are only a few big hotels in Bela-Bela, but there are plenty of accommodation choices in this spa town. These options are mostly in the form of small boutique hotels, cottages and guest lodges. The degree of luxury they offer may vary, but you can be assured you'd be staying in a cosy, classy room if you choose one of these options. As Bela-Bela is a spa resort relying on its hot springs, you can expect hotels here to have amenities related to the hot springs. These include spring-fed outdoor pools, baths and full-service spas. Some of the hotels in the area also offer a range of family-friendly facilities and services.
Where to stay
The town of Bela-Bela is part of the larger Bela-Bela local municipality. Many of the hotels located in the Bela-Bela municipality are clustered within the town itself, which serves as the municipality's administrative and commercial centre. The area around the
Mabalingwe Nature Reserve also has a cluster of lodges and boutique hotels. The reserve is 38 kilometres to the west of Bela-Bela town and a popular spot among wildlife and birdwatching enthusiasts. The neighbouring town of Modimolle also has a number of lodging options. Primarily a farming community, Modimolle attracts nature lovers due to its proximity to wildlife reserves.
Things to see
Bela-Bela contains and is surrounded by nature reserves. The closest to the town centre is Hetbad Nature Reserve. This parkland is a favourite picnic and hiking spot for both locals and tourists. The lakes in this reserve appear serene and inviting, but they aren't recommended for swimming. To the west of Bela-Bela town is the 12,000-hectare Mabalingwe Nature Reserve. The reserve is home to at least 40 species of wildlife, including lions, leopards, elephants, giraffes and hippos. You can also find more than 200 species of birds here. If you're not into wild cats and big game, you can always visit The Rhino Museum. This museum aims to protect the dwindling rhino populations in Africa and educate the public of the need to protect them. And if you feel like playing golf while viewing wildlife, you can tee off at
Elements Golf Estate.
How to get to Bela-Bela
From Pretoria, you can simply drive to Bela-Bela. Bela-Bela is some 107 kilometres north of Pretoria on the N1 highway. The drive will only take you an hour and a half. If you're flying to Bela-Bela, your best option is to book a flight to
OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. You can then hire a car at the airport and drive north to Bela-Bela on the N1. The driving distance between Bela-Bela and Johannesburg is 177 kilometres, which takes about 2 and a half hours to cover. You can also use your rented car to get around Bela-Bela.
