“Africa is, you know, you wouldn’t even actually think of it. I think that’s what actually amazes most people…Yes, it isn’t much, ‘he said, glancing over his shoulder at bare brown hills beyond a lone white slope.’ But people come here and have a whole lot of fun. For me, as a local, I don’t have to fly out: I’ve got a vacation right here.”
Africa is one of the most under-the-radar skiing destinations on the planet, as there are places to shred in South Africa, Morroco, and Lesotho. Reuters reported on how the season over Afriski Mountain Resort, which is situated in Lesotho. Lesotho is a micro country located inside South Africa and features the Drakensburg range, which is home to Afriski. Afriski has faced two problems this season: Covid-19 and dry weather. Covid-19 has ravaged South Africa and Lesotho, with over two million cases. This has resulted in virtually no visitation for the ski resort in 2020, and only half of the annual 17,000 visitors this year. The staff recently got vaccinated though, and skiers are still coming to the slopes and enjoying an activity rarely found in Africa. The mountain relies mostly on man-made snow, but it has recently seen some snowfall to help improve conditions. According to the most recent webcams though, that snow has melted, making them rely again on man-made snow.
Afriski Mountain Resort has six runs, numerous surface lifts, dining and base lodges, lodging facilities for overnight stays, a terrain park, tubing, and snowshoeing. In the summertime, the resort features mountain biking, hiking, cross-country scooters, a playground, abseiling, paintball, flyfishing, 4×4 trails, and motorbiking trails.
Image Credits: Skimap.org, Afriski Mountain Resort
