Bela-Bela farms for sale: claim your piece of paradise

Bela-Bela is well known for its healing hot springs, sunny weather, and holiday resorts. However, this charming area holds more than meets the eye. It has a thriving agricultural market ripe with potential. Whether you want to cultivate crops, raise cattle or game, thrive in agritourism, or simply relax in the bushveld, Bela-Bela has farms for sale that present exciting opportunities. Under open skies and amidst the call of wildlife, you can build a career, open another revenue stream, or escape the hustle and bustle of city living.

Behind the property demand

According to Hino Van Graan, Farm Agent at Century 21 Bela Bela, the area's agricultural real estate has enjoyed sustained interest from buyers. "Bela-Bela falls under the Waterberg mountains which offers a rich source of water. This makes farms here sought-after as local farmers experience few (if any challenges) with providing water for their crop farming or livestock farming," he explains. "Bela-Bela's soil is also rich in minerals, giving crops a firm foundation to flourish. The area is known for producing the best peaches, citrus fruits, maize, wheat, peanuts, and sunflowers."

For aspiring game farmers, Bela-Bela boasts farms with a long list of wildlife. These can include the Big Five, impala, giraffe, eland, gemsbuck, blesbuck, springbuck, nyala, wildebeest, zebras, and giraffe for the quintessential African safari experience. The area also has truly stunning properties that reflect the beauty of the Waterberg area. With water streams, epic rock formations, and large trees, the area's farms are an ideal haven for nature lovers. 

What's trending in the local market

Van Graan says that with the heightened demand, Bela-Bela's agricultural scene is seeing some interesting developments. "The demand for cattle farming has picked up quite well because of the rising value for cattle at the moment. A few years back it was the game industry that was on the top but as the market changes the demand for certain agricultural properties also changes." 

As hunting has become popular since the COVID-19 lockdown period, Van Graan says the demand for these types of farms has also grown. A recent North-West University study found private wildlife hunting contributed over R15 billion to the South African economy. The study also revealed that 89% of international hunters had hunted in South Africa at least three times in the past ten years, with their preferred province being Limpopo. 

Bela-Bela farm features and pricing

On the property hunt, Van Graan says Bela-Bela provides a range of farm options that cater to all needs and tastes. "The farms here come with all kinds of terrains from grasslands, mountains, to rocky fields. In terms of size, smallholdings can be anything from 8 ha and above to 21 ha. Larger farms, generally used for game farming, can be from 318 ha and above. The cattle farms are usually sized from 200 ha and above and can take up to 1200 ha of space."

Buyers will find competitive pricing that will not hold back dreams of the rural life. Bela-Bela farms start at roughly R400,000 for a smallholding to R20,000,000 and above for a well-stocked game farm. Van Graan highlights options currently listed on Century 21 South Africa's website (pictured in the slide show above):

• 21 ha smallholding for sale in Bela-Bela: This delightful farm is perfect for weekend getaways or a small-scale operation. It has a boma for relaxing nights by the fire while rooibok and blesbok roam around.
   
• 318 ha farm for sale in Bela-Bela: This well-maintained game farm has four chalets. Each chalet has two beautiful bedrooms with a bathroom, open plan kitchen, and lounge that will impress guests or tourists.
   
• 426 ha farm for sale in Bela-Bela: This versatile farm is currently a crop and game farm but can also be used for a cattle farm. It has nine well-equipped boreholes and offers an additional water source from the Platrivier which flows through the property. 

Tips for buying a farm

While every farm purchase is different, Van Graan says there is some golden advice that applies to all buyers. "Be sure you know what you want to do on the farm," he says. "Then you will know what questions to ask the property practitioner or the seller of the property. For example, this could be how much water is available on the property if you need a source for crops or cattle.

"As crime can impact farm operations and the lifestyle you enjoy, remember to check if the area is situated in a safe area. You can also ask the farm's property practitioner for a map of the particular property to see how the farm is laid out.

"Finally, partner with a local area expert who has experience with agricultural properties. At Century 21 Bela Bela, for example, we have a fantastic reputation within the area. We look after both the seller and the buyer and are there every step through the entire process. Our real estate business lives by the motto: don't settle for average because average does sell," he shares.