Industry News
Afriski Mountain Resort, Lesotho, one of only two ski resorts in Southern Africa, will open its 2025 winter season on Sunday, June 1, welcoming skiers and snowboarders back to the high-altitude slopes of the Drakensberg-Maluti Mountains. Perched at over 10,571 feet (3,222 meters), Afriski is located in the Kingdom of Lesotho and relies on a powerful snowmaking system to support its short but reliable ski season, which typically runs from early June through the end of August. Despite limited natural snowfall, consistent overnight temperatures below freezing and modern snow guns allow the resort to maintain a skiable base throughout the Southern Hemisphere winter.
Forecasts from OpenSnow indicate favorable conditions for snowmaking in the week ahead. Nighttime lows are expected to remain below freezing, and approximately 1 inch of natural snow is projected—enough to support Afriski’s early-season operations and get its main slope up and running. The resort features a 1-kilometer groomed run, a beginner slope, terrain park, and a small alpine-style village with lodging, restaurants, and après-ski activities.
Afriski remains the only active ski resort in Southern Africa this season. Its regional counterpart, Tiffindell Ski Resort in South Africa’s Eastern Cape, is currently listed for sale, casting doubt on whether it will open this year.
While Afriski is modest in size, it holds outsize significance in Africa’s winter tourism scene. It attracts a steady stream of visitors from neighboring South Africa and beyond, offering a rare opportunity to ski or snowboard on the continent. Johannesburg, South Africa, is located about 4.5 hours south of Afriski. Beyond snow sports, Afriski has built a lifestyle brand around winter in Africa, hosting mountain festivals, slope-side music events, and themed weekends.
As the 2025 season begins, Afriski once again demonstrates how determination, snowmaking technology, and a bit of mountain magic can deliver a winter playground in one of the most unlikely places on Earth.
