Chances are you read about the same resorts on a daily basis. Have you wondered about what skiing is like in other parts of the world? Let me help you by shedding light on some of the lesser-known resorts on Earth. Forget about The Rockies, The Alps, JaPow, or the East Coast. Let’s dive into skiing in South Africa. Yeah, you read that right.
Tiffindell Ski Resort is one of only two ski resorts in Southern Africa, the other is in nearby Lesotho (see Northern Africa skiing in Morocco). It was established in 1993 on the south-facing slope of Ben Macdhuhi. Let’s take a look at the stats of the resort:
- Top Elevation: 9,500 ft (2900 m)
- Base Elevation: 8,924 ft (2,720 m)
- Vertical Drop: 590 ft (180 m)
- Terrain Park(s): 1
- Snowmaking: 100%
- Typical Season: June 1-Late August
Honestly not too shabby if you ask me. Sounds like a mid-western size ski resort at a ridiculously high elevation (9,000+ ft!).
The resort’s Main Slope is approved by The International Ski Federation for Slalom and Giant Slalom courses according to Tiffindell’s site. The resort also offers on-mountain lodging, ski school, and rental equipment.
Resorts like Tiffindell embrace what skiing is about. They don’t get a lot of natural snow (average only a couple of inches per year), don’t have a significant vertical, or ideal conditions, but that doesn’t stop the South Africans from getting after it.
Next time you find yourself traveling to SA, pack the sticks or board, and check out Tiffindell.