Most people do not associate southern Africa with skiing, but a resort in Lesotho’s Maluti Mountains is changing that perception. According to africanews.com, the country’s high elevation and mountainous terrain make it the coldest on the continent, with temperatures in the highlands dropping to minus 8 degrees Celsius between June and August.

Located at 3,200 meters above sea level, Afriski offers skiing, snowboarding, and other winter activities that would otherwise require a trip to Europe. ‘When you think of the African continent, you don’t think about snow, you think about like the sun and…the Sahara,’ said Thato Ramaphoko, a first-time visitor from Pretoria, South Africa. ‘But like you can go to all that and also come here and it snows at the same time. It’s just mind blowing,’ he added.

Janco Smits, a student from Cape Town, described Afriski as ‘an amazing slope to learn on.’ He noted that while he has skied in Europe, the vibe at Afriski is ‘way better,’ calling it a privilege to have such a facility in the region.

Lesotho sits entirely above 1,000 meters and receives significant snowfall due to its mountainous geography. To supplement natural snow, Afriski uses artificial snow machines to ensure operations throughout the winter. As the only ski resort in sub-Saharan Africa, it plays a key role in Lesotho’s tourism sector, which contributes about 7 percent of the country’s annual GDP.

Resort CEO Theo Ferreira told africanews.com that roughly 70 percent of visitors come from neighboring South Africa, with the remainder from Lesotho and other regional countries. The resort employs 227 full-time and seasonal workers, nearly all Lesotho nationals, with about 30 South Africans working mainly as ski instructors.

Ferreira added that the busiest day so far in 2026 saw over 1,400 visitors, while the 2025 record exceeded 1,600 day visitors and overnight guests. Afriski continues to attract winter sports enthusiasts seeking an alternative to traditional destinations.