Snow settled on the landscape makes the countryside look even more pleasing and picturesque when it has a thick white blanket covering it. For most people living in South Africa, snow is an alien phenomenon. For others, it is a reality of where they live at least for the winter months. I think most people however, have a deep-rooted fascination with snow. Who doesn’t love the idea of building snowmen, making snow angels or having snow fights with friends? So, if you’re in South Africa, where do you go to see the snow? Here are a few places we’ve discovered.
TIFFINDELL, EASTERN CAPE
Set in the highest Alpine region of South Africa, on the slope of Ben McDhui, lies the winter wonderland of Tiffindell Ski Resort. In winter it’s all about the snow and what Mother Nature doesn’t provide – they do. Here you can enjoy a unique experience, making snowmen, throwing snow balls or tobogganing – it’s the perfect family holiday for young and old.
The fully equipped winter snow resort has state of the art snowmaking and grooming equipment, ski lifts, a restaurant, ski shop and ski school offering three months of skiing and snowboarding during June, July and August. A snow fun-park with rails and jumps is erected on the middle island for the more adventurous ski and snowboard enthusiasts.
Tiffendell’s highly experienced instructors will teach you to ski or snowboard quickly and safely whether you’re aged six or sixty. Ski classes are held especially for children, who usually pick up the skills quicker than their parents.
The resort offers daily entertainment programmes for adults and children, which include a flame torch ski demonstration, fun competitions and other daily activities. They also have a games room and child minding facility with a range of daytime activities.
Accommodation choices include private chalets, family chalets and en suite luxury suites.
Location:
Tiffindell is located at 2,720 metres (8,920 feet) on the south facing slope of Ben Macdhui, the highest mountain in the Eastern Cape, with an elevation of 3,001 metres (9,846 feet). It is situated 24 kilometres above the town of Rhodes and about 212 kilometres east of Aliwal North.
GPS Coordinates: 30°39’11.7″S 27°55’33.6″E
For more information, call +27 (0)11 781 2620 or visit www.tiffindell.co.za.
AFRISKI, LESOTHO
Afriski Mountain Resort lies 3050 metres above sea-level in the Maluti Mountains of Lesotho. It’s the only ski resort in this small country and is located near the Lesotho and South Africa border. The four-and-a-half-hour drive from Johannesburg or Pretoria will take you on a scenic route via the steep, tarred Moteng and Mahlasela passes.
The resort offers a unique winter experience with a wide variety of accommodation options. Their self-catering mountain chalets are ideally suited for families.
There’s loads of games and entertainment for children at AfriSki. The Pudi Ski School offers kids from ages 3 to 14 a fun, supervised snow adventure. Special ski classes for kids are given in the Kids Ski Park for beginners as well as more advanced young skiers. The Pudi Club also offers a range of entertainment for children from age 2 to 7, and 8 to 12.
Kapoko Park is a freestyle zone with man-made obstacles for all levels of riders and skiers. If you can’t ski, you can also try bumboarding!
Afriski’s Sky restaurant is the highest restaurant in Africa at 3010 metres. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the restaurant offers warmth, great food and the perfect spot to spend time with friends and family.
Location:
Afriski is located just below Mahlasela Pass, in the Maluti Mountains, near the northern border of Lesotho and South Africa.
The Caledonspoort border is open from 6am – 10pm, seven days a week. The Ficksburg border post, approx. 50km away, is open 24 hours.
GPS Coordinates: 28°49′22″S 28°43′41″E
For more information, call 0861 AFRISKI / 237 4754 or visit www.afriski.net.
MATROOSBERG, WESTERN CAPE
Situated near Ceres, on the working farm Erfdeel, lies the Matroosberg Private Nature Reserve. From the mountain road (accessible only by 4×4) you can enjoy a beautiful panoramic view over the Warm and Koue Bokkevelde, and the Ceres Karoo.
Matroosberg Peak is the second highest in the Western Cape and the area is well known for its private ski-slope. After a good snowfall, the southern slopes remain snow-clad for quite some time.
Although the conditions aren’t always perfect, some experienced guests have had an amazing time practicing ice climbing. Alternatively, you may take your own snowboard and enjoy the amazing slopes of Matroosberg.
To get to the snow you need a 4×4. The trail has an average degree of difficulty and takes you up to 2240 metres above sea level. The turning point is at the Matroosberg Peak, the highest point in the Boland. The presence of snow turns a 4×4 drive into quite a unique experience and challenge. During high demand snow periods there are cut-off times for entering and exiting the trail, in order to have one-way traffic going up in the morning and coming down in the afternoon.
You can also reach the snow on quad bikes, and you’re welcome to bring your own. At Matroosberg they like to use quad bikes to explore the area, because quads create less of a disturbance of nature. Because it is more about nature than about the ride, it’s also advised to sometimes get off the quads and walk to viewpoints and scenic spots.
Matroosberg Nature Reserve offers a range of accommodation options. The fully equipped Goatherds house is over a 100 years old. Although restored to its original design, they have installed a hot water shower and flush toilet, but no electricity. Perfect for families, the house is far away from other guests and situated at the foot of the Matroosberg mountain.
Location:
Matroosberg is located 35km outside of Ceres, in the Western Cape.
GPS Coordinates: 33°19’50.6″S 19°36’26.6″E
For more information, call +27 (0)23 312 2282 or www.matroosberg.com.
CATHEDRAL PEAK, KZN
With an abundance of natural beauty and a rich collection of rock art (the last visible signs of the San Peoples), the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park is one of South Africa’s premier holiday destinations. Here you can enjoy stunning alpine views of green meadows and snow-capped mountain peaks.
Intrepid travellers (not advisable for small children) can hike all the way to the top of Cathedral Peak and enjoy walking through the snow. In good weather, the peak can be summited in one day from the popular Cathedral Peak Hotel.
Just 250 kilometers from Durban, this famous hotel is easily accessible to its visitors. Apart from being a great place to experience snow in the winter months, Cathedral Peak Hotel offers loads of adventure, including free guided walks and hikes suitable for the whole family.
Facilities also include heated outdoor swimming pools, table tennis, a games room, a children’s playground, jumping castle, heated paddling pool and trampoline.
Location:
Bordering the Maloti-Drakensberg Park, Cathedral Peak Hotel is 45.4 km from Winterton, in the Central Drakensberg.
GPS Coordinates: 28°56’49.4″S 29°12’22.9″E
For more information, call +27 (0)36 488 1888 or visit www.cathedralpeak.co.za.
GOLDEN GATE HIGHLANDS NATIONAL PARK, FREE STATE
Nestled in the rolling foothills of the Maluti Mountains, the Golden Gate Highlands National Park has thick snowfalls almost every winter. The park has fewer visitors during the winter season, making it an ideal destination for snow-hunters.
It’s easily accessible from Johannesburg and Bloemfontein, and there’s loads of accommodation in the park and in nearby Clarens. The Golden Gate Hotel is quite cosy and the Highlands Mountain Retreat offers warmth and luxury. Glen Reenen Rest Camp in the park is another option, which attracts few visitors in winter. You may even have the entire camp to yourself.
Nearby attractions include the Van Reenen family graveyard, the impressive Brandwag buttress rock formation, Cathedral Cave (a guided walk), Zuluhoek lookout point, Generaalskop viewpoint, Oribi basin and Drakensberg view.
Location:
Golden Gate Highlands National Park is located in Free State, near Clarens and the Lesotho border.
GPS Coordinates: 28°31’00.1″S 28°37’00.0″E
For more information, call +27 (0)58 255 1000 or visit www.sanparks.org/parks/golden_gate.
SUTHERLAND, WESTERN CAPE
Hailed as the coldest town in South Africa, the small Karoo town of Sutherland is famous for its warm hospitality, snowy winters and starlit nights.
Situated at an altitude of 1 450 metres above sea level, Sutherland’s temperatures drop well below zero at night – the town’s coldest recorded temperature is -16.4 degrees Celsius.
The area gets heavy snow several times each winter (mostly in July and August) and locals have turned this phenomenon into a unique attraction for tourists. Visitors are drawn to Sutherland’s warm-hearted hospitality while huddling around roaring log fires in their guest houses. Although there are some 30 B&Bs in the town, they get snapped up very quickly every time it snows.
Seeing the normally harsh landscape of the area covered in a blanket of snow, is a pleasant experience for hikers, bikers and 4×4 enthusiasts. A number of 4×4 routes have been established in the district, mostly on farms. Blesfontein Guestfarm has challenging 4×4 routes, hikes and mountain bike trails. Skurweberg Guestfarm also offers a 4×4 driving for all skill levels and enough to keep the whole family amused.
The Verlatenkloof pass normally fills up with snow first, as well as higher lying farms like Gunsfontein Guest Farm, Blesfontein Guest Farm, Sterboom Guest Farm and Skurweberg Guest Farm. These farms are further out of Sutherland. Verlatenkloof Guest Farm is situated in the pass so they usually experience the first snows that fall in the pass.
Be aware that when it snows a lot, the pass may become inaccessible, so check this out before you go.
Location:
Sutherland is located in the western Roggeveld Mountains in the Karoo of the Northern Cape province.
GPS Coordinates: 32°23’45.1″S 20°39’38.4″E (Sutherland Police Station)
For more information, call +27 (0)23 571 1442 or visit www.discoversutherland.co.za.