The Baths is a natural mineral hot spring near Citrusdal where the water comes out of the mountain at 43 °C — and has done, at about 105 000 litres an hour, since it was first written down in 1739. It sits on a citrus farm about 18 km south of town, two hours north of Cape Town.
| What it is | Natural mineral hot spring on a citrus farm |
|---|---|
| Water temperature | 43 °C (109 °F) |
| Flow rate | ~105 000 litres per hour |
| First recorded | 1739, in Dutch East India Company documents |
| Location | The Baths Road, ~18 km south of Citrusdal |
| From Cape Town | ~160 km (100 miles), about 2 hours up the N7 |
| Day visitors | Mainly overnight guests; limited day tickets on request only |
| Bookings | By phone: +27 22 921 2141 / +27 22 921 2174 |
How hot is the water?
The spring emerges from the mountain at a constant 43 °C (109 °F), flowing at roughly 105 000 litres every hour — the same today as three centuries ago. There is a hot pool and a cooler pool for when you have had enough of the heat, along with natural rock pools and private baths fed by the same mineral water.
Can you visit The Baths for the day?
This is the question most people get wrong, so it is worth being clear: The Baths is primarily for overnight guests, not a walk-in day spa. A limited number of day tickets may be available on request — you email reservations@thebaths.co.za the day before — but entry is not guaranteed. The reliable way to soak is to book a chalet, flat or campsite and stay over.
Don't arrive expecting to pay at a gate. If you want a day visit, arrange it by email first; otherwise book a night. The springs are on a working farm, and access is managed.
What is there to do besides the springs?
- Hot spring pool (43 °C)
- Cooler swimming pool
- Natural rock pools
- Private mineral baths
- Spa baths
- Tennis court
- Pool table
- Children's playground
- Hiking on the farm
Facilities per thebaths.co.za and SA-Venues.
Where can you stay at The Baths?
The springs sit within a self-catering resort with three kinds of accommodation, all with kitchens and braai areas:
| Chalets | 16 self-contained units |
|---|---|
| Flats | 19 self-contained units |
| Camping & caravan sites | 25 shaded sites with power and ablutions |
Unit counts from thebaths.co.za.
How do you book?
Bookings are made by telephone only on +27 22 921 2141 or +27 22 921 2174 (email enquiries welcome, but the booking itself is by phone). A few things worth knowing before you call:
- Weekends require both Friday and Saturday nights
- Long weekends require three to four nights
- Bookings open up to six months ahead
- Some units can be booked online; others by phone
Booking details per the operator, thebaths.co.za.
A spring older than the town
The San used this water for thousands of years before it appeared in a colonial ledger in 1739. Governor Rijk Tulbagh had proper bathhouses built here in 1763, and the Scottish McGregor family ran The Baths from 1903 until 2015. The town of Citrusdal itself only arrived in 1916 — a latecomer to its own hot spring.
Read the full history of CitrusdalCitrusdal hot springs — quick questions
How hot is the water at The Baths?
43 °C (109 °F), flowing at about 105 000 litres per hour. There is a hot pool and a cooler pool.
Can you go for the day?
Not usually — it is mainly for overnight guests. Limited day tickets are by email request the day before, and not guaranteed.
How far is it from Cape Town?
About 160 km (roughly two hours) north on the N7, then a short drive south of Citrusdal on The Baths Road.
Last updated July 2026 · sources cited throughout