December 22, 2024

Skiing in South Africa

sunset ski village

Ski resorts in South Africa attracts skiers and snowboarders from across the globe who want to try something new. Do you ever yearn to try something different? Go skiing and snowboarding from June to September? If so and you just can’t get enough of the white stuff, visit South Africa this year. Yes, I know that when you think about South Africa, it’s all about going on safari at the Kruger National Park, visiting Cape Town and seeing first hand Table Mountain, however, skiing adds another dimension!

There are three ski resorts in South Africa where you can enjoy 4.4 km of slopes which are served by 7 ski lifts. The ski resort of Tiffindell is ranked number one with 2.1 stars out of 5. It’s the largest ski resort in South Africa with 2.4 km of slopes available for your enjoyment. The highest ski resort in South Africa is Tiffindell with an altitude of 2,930 metres.

Best ski resorts of South Africa 

Tiffindell – is located in the Province of the Eastern Cape of South Africa, it’s one hour forty minutes to the village of Barkly East.

  • This ski and snowboarding resort has 2.4 km of slopes, served by 5 lifts.
  • Its elevations are between 2,700 and 2,930 m.
  • It has 0.6 km of beginner runs, 0.8 km of intermediate and 1 km for advanced skiers.
  • The ski season at Tiffindell lasts from early June until early September.

Tiffindell sits on the slope of Ben McDhui at 3001 m which is the highest pass in South Africa. There are 15 acres of excellent terrain and marked pistes for all levels of skier. There are good facilities such as cafes, bars and restaurants, ski clothing and equipment shops and a ski school. There is also accommodation here for those who want to make the most of their time on the slopes. However, if you want to visit daily, you can do that too. Tobogganing and sledging is also available for those who simply want to have fun.

Matroosberg – is located in the Province of the Western Cape of South Africa, it’s one hour eighteen minutes to the village of Worcester.

  • This ski and snowboarding resort has 2 km of slopes, served by 2 lifts.
  • Its elevations are between 1,794 and 2,132 m.
  • It has 1 km of beginner runs, 1 km of intermediate and no advanced slopes.
  • The ski season at Matroosberg lasts from early June until early September (depending on weather conditions).

This is a private ski club which was established in 1935 in the Hex River Mountains. The ski club and facilities are at an altitude of 2,005 m.

SnowFun – is a planned indoor ski area located in Cape Town, South Africa.

  • Once opened, Snowfun will be the world’s largest indoor ski resort, which will be in the heart of Cape Town.

South Africa is a wonderfully diverse country to visit. All the well-known sightseeing attractions are a must on your list of visits. This country has a long and varied history, its rich in minerals and mines and is the world leader with around 90% of platinum metals and about 41% of gold in the world. Its foreign visitors were 16.65 million in 2019 and the figures are expected to continue growing. It’s forecasted that by 2023 its foreign tourists will soar to 19.6 million annually.

Although the locals know about the ski resorts in South Africa, it’s not a common fact until now. Once this little gem gets out, it will become a magnet for avid skiers and snowboarders to get their fix!