Stays & Spaces

Popular destinations around South Africa's hot springs

From the bushveld of Limpopo to the dry valleys of the Northern Cape, South Africa’s hot springs offer slower, more grounded travel destinations.

Photo: Devon Hawkins.

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South Africa’s hot springs sit at the crossroads of geology, history and travel, often found in rural towns or at the foot of mountain passes leading to valleys.

These mineral-rich waters have drawn people for centuries, and they still appeal today for how naturally these springs pair with surrounding destinations, turning a soak into part of a wider journey.

In Limpopo, the town of Bela-Bela lies just off the N1, around 110 kilometres north of Pretoria. Formerly known as Warmbaths, it grew around one of the country’s most accessible thermal springs, fed by natural fissures that deliver water at around 52 degrees Celsius.

The modern resort complex is a short drive from the Waterberg’s private reserves, making it easy to combine a weekend soak with game viewing in areas such as Mabalingwe. The bushveld here feels close and grounding, with thorn trees, red soil and warm air that lingers long after sunset.

Further north, near the Zimbabwean border, Tshipise springs sit in the far reaches of Limpopo, around 35 kilometres south of Musina. The water rises at approximately 58 degrees Celsius and has long been associated with therapeutic use.

This is a landscape of baobabs and wide horizons, with the Soutpansberg mountains creating a soft line to the south. Travellers often pair a stay here with visits to Mapungubwe National Park, roughly 90 kilometres away, where sandstone ridges and ancient history add depth to the journey.

In the Northern Cape, Riemvasmaak offers a very different experience. Tucked into a remote volcanic valley near the Orange River, the springs lie about 75 kilometres north-west of Kakamas on gravel roads that demand time and attention. The reward is a series of rock pools fed by thermal water, set against dark lava cliffs and desert silence.

Augrabies Falls National Park is just under an hour’s drive, allowing visitors to move between the raw power of the river and the stillness of the springs. Nights here are defined by stars and wind moving through dry grass.

The Western Cape’s relationship with hot springs feels gentler, shaped by winelands and mountain passes. In Citrusdal, around 200 kilometres north of Cape Town via the N7, The Baths sit in a citrus valley framed by the Cederberg mountains. The water emerges at roughly 43 degrees Celsius, and the setting encourages slow mornings and long afternoons.

Hiking trails, rock formations and San rock art sites lie within easy reach, grounding the experience in the region’s natural and cultural layers.

𝙵𝚘𝚛 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢 𝚜𝚞𝚋𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚘𝚛 𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠𝚜, 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚌𝚝 𝙼𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚊𝚗𝚊.

Further east, Montagu springs sit at the gateway to the Little Karoo, about 180 kilometres from Cape Town along Route 62. The town itself carries a sense of heritage, with Victorian buildings and tree-lined streets.

The springs are tucked against the Langeberg mountains, offering views that change colour with the light. Visitors often balance their time between the pools, local farms, and the dramatic rock formations of the nearby Cogmanskloof Pass.

In Mpumalanga, Badplaas, officially known as eManzana, lies close to the Swazi border, roughly 250 kilometres east of Johannesburg. The springs here are cooler than others, averaging around 34 degrees Celsius, which makes them well-suited to long, relaxed swims.

The area is within reach of the Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for some of the oldest exposed rock on earth. This adds a quiet geological gravity to an otherwise easygoing destination.

The Eastern Cape’s Aliwal North springs are located on the banks of the Orange River, just off the N6 between Bloemfontein and East London. The town has long been a stopover point, and the springs offer a welcome pause on long drives.

Water temperatures reach around 43 degrees Celsius, and the river setting introduces opportunities for rafting and fishing. The surrounding semi-arid landscape carries a sense of openness that contrasts with the intimacy of the pools.

Each spring fits into its landscape in a way that encourages travellers to slow down, notice details, and accept rest as part of the journey. For modern Western travellers, the appeal lies in this balance between movement and stillness, where a day on the road ends not with noise, but with warm water and the steady sense of having arrived exactly where you should be.