Bela Bela

horseback safari in Mabalingwe Nature Reserve

This was the second time in a couple of months that I was on horseback. Vince on the other hand had not been astride a horse in more than twenty years!

Even so, after our horseback safari in Mabalingwe Nature Reserve on Saturday, I went along with Vince to take the waters in Bela Bela, the hot springs resort town nearby. After all, I had just journeyed for more than 22 hours on three planes from the USA to Johannesburg a mere two days before. I deserved a soak too!

the source of the geothermic hot springs in Bela Bela

Bela Bela is the town in Limpopo which derives its name from the geothermic hot springs around which the town was built. The strong mineral springs flow at a rate of 22,000 liters of water per hour at a temperature of 52 °C.

When the Tswana first moved into the area in the 1800s, they discovered the hot springs. The springs' source was discovered by the Voortrekkers in 1887. The town has changed its name five times since then, from Het Bad to Hartingsburg to Warm Baths, then again to Warmbad (Afrikaaans) / Warmbaths (English) and in 2002 to Bela Bela (pronounced Biela-Biela), the Shangaan name for "water that boils."

The Hydro Spa

And right in the center of Bela Bela is Warmbaths, a Forever Resort. Along with full accommodations, wedding and conference facilities, the resort also allows day visitors into its Hydro Spa and Recreation Center. Hydro indoor pools, facials, mineral body treatments, massages, saunas and private or couples mineral tubs.

mineral cocktail of Bela Bela

Vince and I took a "Healing Water Journey" complete with a Sauna session, a Dead Sea Salt Tub, a Dead Sea Mud Cocoon Body Treatment, and a Swedish Full Body Massage

It sure felt good after a morning - plus 22 hours in my case - in the saddle!