Skiing in South Africa!?

[AllThingsAlpine]

I read recently (http://www.allthingsalpine.com/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=73) that South Africa has two ski resorts. I find that hard to believe. Has anyone ever heard the same thing, or even skied in South Africa? I'm visiting the country later this year and thought it might be quite interesting to to go for a ski!

[Tony Crocker]

Two informative references from that link:
http://mg.co.za/article/2012-07-05-how- ... tiffindell
http://mg.co.za/article/2012-07-12-tiff ... s-for-r55m
The resort operated from 1993-2007 and has been closed since. The new owners hopes to be up and running again in 2013 or 2014.

South Africa's climatology presents a challenge for skiing. The Drakensberg Mountains where Tiffendell is located near Lesotho have peaks over 11,000 feet but that part of the country has a summer wet and winter dry season. Thus snowmaking is needed. Cape Town's climate is summer dry and winter wet at the same latitude as L.A. but the highest mountains in that area are barely 6,000 feet, not high enough.

Winter is the ideal tourism season for the game preserves in southern Africa. So a day or two in the Drakensberg would take little extra effort in the context of a general tourism trip for those of us who want to check Africa off the list sometime.

[donktec]

Hi,
Bit late for a reply but can't help myself on this one!

There is a ski resort in Lesotho, not far over the border from South Africa.
Check out http://www.afriski.net/ for the resort homepage.
And some background here http://www.snowmenu.com/ski-resorts-africa/ski-lesotho-basotho-ski-resorts/

The mountains around Cape Town regularly get snowfalls in Winter, along with areas further East http://ewn.co.za/2012/07/13/Snowfall-in-the-WCape. If you are quick, get the toboggan out! Sometimes even Jo'berg will see a sprinkling, much less common though.

cheers,
Andy

[otisdelarosa]

I read recently (http://www.allthingsalpine.com/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=73) that South Africa has two ski resorts. I find that hard to believe. Has anyone ever heard the same thing, or even skied in South Africa? I'm visiting the country later this year and thought it might be quite interesting to to go for a ski!

Yes, you can ski in south africa. there's a place I know which is nice for skiing and snowboarding, also nice for family bonding, the Tiffindell Ski Resort situated in the Southern Drakensberg.