List of Hot Springs in ZAF
Map of Hot Springs in ZAF
Guide to South Africa’s Natural Hot Springs
If you can read this (because you speak or understand English), traveling to South Africa’s many hot springs should be relatively easy. The good news is that hot springs tourism in South Africa is both affordable (in comparison to mineral bathing spas in other countries) and widespread.
No matter what area you’re visiting, you should have easy-to-reach hot springs options for therapy or relaxation. The country is rather large, so we’ll break down the springs into three categories: springs in the north, south, and on the east coast.
South Africa’s Northern Hot Springs
Located right next to the Nylsvley Nature Reserve, where 79 species of mammal can be seen by visitors, is the Elephant Springs Hotel and Apartments. The hotel benefits from its proximity to the springs at Bela-Bela. Here you can rent cabanas, which have three bedrooms, or more traditional hotel rooms. There is an onsite restaurant and room service.
To the east of Elephant Springs Hotel and Apartments is another hot springs-focused hotel, Falcon Glen Hot Springs Resort. Natural warm water pools dot the grounds, and the resort is conveniently located near quite a few tourist must-sees. These include the Sudwala Caves, the Lydenburg Museum, and the Dullstroom Birds of Prey Centre. Despite its location, several guests have said that the resort itself is deeply peaceful and serene.
Other hot springs in the north include:
- Merry Pebbles Resort
- Gooderson Natal Spa Hot Springs & Leisure Resort
- Makutsi Safari Springs
- Eye of Kuruman
- Riemvasmaak Hot Springs
- Tshipisi
- Klein Kariba
Hot Springs on the East Coast
In the middle of the Thukela River, on a small, rocky island, a hot spring bubbles up. This is called the KwaShushu Hotsprings, and some have referred to it as one of South Africa’s, “best kept secrets.” Despite the island’s off the beaten path location, there are several pools lined in concrete for interested bathers.
Nearby is Thangami Safari Spa, which you can stay at or simply explore for the day. Thangami recommends checking out the grounds on foot or with a 4×4, and spotlights their mineral-rich “mud fountains” and thermal springs. The onsite spa offers an earth clay wrap that utilizes mud scraped from the mineral springs, which locals believe have healing properties.
South Africa’s Southern Hot Springs
Just north of Piketberg lies South Africa’s most well known hot springs. It’s called The Baths Natural Hot Springs, and the springs are located on a resort that also serves as a citrus farm. You can rent rooms at The Baths or entire chalets. There’s pretty much nothing a vacationer could want that The Baths resort doesn’t offer. There’s a tennis court, an onsite restaurant, mineral springs fed rock pools, and a playground for the youngest visitors.
To the east of The Baths Natural Hot Springs is Calitzdorp Spa which is an interesting mix of RV park and spa. Pets are not allowed to camp with guests due to the large populations of wild cats and monkeys. The spring water can reach 50°C or 122°F, making the water quite warm. Calitzdorp is located in the middle of South Africa’s wine country, and local farms offer guests tours of fruit picking and wine tasting.
Other southern-region hot springs include:
- Warmwaterberg Spa
- Avalon Springs
- The Caledon Hotel and Spa
- ATKV Goudini Spa
- Mineral Springs Farm
Visit South Africa
Visit this coastal country at the tip of the African continent for good food, great views, and the variety of mineral bathing experiences on offer. The largest cities are very similar to being in the west while diverse cultures aren’t too far if you’re interested in exploring.