About Bela Bela
Bela Bela is internationally known for its mineral
waters. The spring water flows strongly at 22000 liters per
hour and reaches temperatures of 52°C. Rich in minerals such
as calcium carbonate and sodium chloride as well as
other salts which are very beneficial for the treatment of
rheumatic ailments.
The first farm established where the town now stands was named Het Bad. The recreational opportunities of Het Bad was first recognized in 1873 by President Burger of the Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek who proposed that the ZAR purchase the farm. At first this was declined, but when the President offered to do the purchase out of his own pocket, the ZAR agreed ans purchased the farm, and Hartingsburg was born.
The British annexed the place during the Anglo-Boer war and named it Warm Baths. The blockhouse erected to protect the Pietersburg railway line can still be viewed today.
In 1920 Warm Baths was reploclaimed as a township but it
only had a
magesterial district of its own in 1950.
Village Town status was allocated to Warm Baths in 1920 and Town Council status in 1960. In 2002 the official name was changed from Warm baths to Bela Bela, meaning the pot that boils and in the same year the old Northern province was changed to Limpopo Province.
The landmark ruins of Buyskop just outside Warmbaths are evidence that sandstone from this area was removed and used in the construction of the Union Buildings in Pretoria. There are also historical graves dating from the Great Trek.
resort is still the focal point of local tourism and is
considered to be one of the most modern of it's kind in the
world.
