PUBLISHED ONJuly 26, 202610:00 AM
Lesotho — One may not expect thousands to flock each winter to Lesotho but for many ski enthusiasts from across southern Africa, the small, landlocked mountain kingdom has become the go-to place in recent years
Lesotho’s high elevation and mountainous terrain combine to make it the coldest country on the continent, with temperatures in the highlands typically plunging to minus eight deg C between June and August
The Afriski Mountain Resort, some 3,200 metres above sea level, nestled in the northern Maluti Mountains, is Lesotho’s single fully operational ski resort — and the only one in sub-Saharan Africa
The majestic snow-covered landscape is ideal for skiing, and both seasoned and new visitors enjoy the slopes that are spread over 17 hectares surrounding the resort — about the size of 24 standard football pitches.
The resort opened 25 years ago, a short bus or car ride from the nearest major town of Butha-Buthe, about 80 kilometres away
Last year, tourism contributed about seven per cent to Lesotho’s annual GDP of some US$2.6 billion (S$3.3 billion).
For its part, Afriski provides a chunk of needed cash in a country cited by the World Bank as one of the poorest in the world — and its artificial snow machines ensure it stays open throughout the Southern Hemisphere’s winter
Thousands come to a country Trump says no one’s heard of
US President Donald Trump may have joked in 2025 about Lesotho being a country that “nobody has ever heard of” but just a year earlier, the kingdom, bordered on all sides by South Africa and with a population of 2.3 million, celebrated 200 years of the founding of the Basotho nation and 58 years of independence from British rule
Located in its entirety at and over 1,000 metres above sea level, Lesotho sees a lot of snow — and skiing is growing in popularity here from a rare sport previously mainly associated with North America and the European Alps
Most people drive into Lesotho from neighbouring South Africa but international visitors can also fly in to the airport in Maseru, the country’s capital
Afriski’s CEO, Theo Ferreira, says almost 70 per cent of the visitors come from South Africa; the rest are mostly from Lesotho or elsewhere in southern Africa.
The resort now has 227 full-time and seasonal employees, nearly all Lesotho nationals, with about 30 South Africans, working mainly as skiing instructors, he said
While the resort has rooms for 420 overnight guests, the nearby Butha-Buthe and Mohlokong towns can offer extra accommodations in peak season.
The busiest day so far this year saw over 1,400 visitors while in 2025, the record was over 1,600 day visitors and those staying overnight or longer, Ferreira said
Because unreliable weather patterns can make natural snow scarce, the resort relies on artificial snow to make skiing possible all winter long
Lesotho’s snow may not be how you imagine Africa
The resort has played role in helping ski tourism emerge as another attraction in southern Africa, known for its wildlife and scenic coastlines along the Indian and Atlantic Oceans
For many visitors, Afriski is where they had their first ski lessons, braving falls and dusting themselves off before having another try, and another — until making that first, full glide down without falling
Janco Smits, a student from Cape Town, South Africa, describes it as “an amazing slope to learn on”
“At the start it was a little discouraging because you fall, and you fall hard,” he said. “But the people here, they gave me one lesson and after an hour, honestly, I felt confident.”
“When you think of the African continent, you don’t think of snow. You think about … the sun and the Sahara (Desert),” said Thato Ramaphoko, a first-timer at the resort from Pretoria, South Africa’s capital. “But that you can actually go to all that and also come here and it also snows at the same time, it is just mind-blowing, so I just had to see it for myself.”
Visitors at Afriski can also sample a taste of Lesotho in the form of traditional sausage rolls and Maluti Lager, the country’s proudly home-brewed beer
As for a souvenir to take home, try the colourful Basotho blanket, which comes in vibrant colours and patterns that also pop up in local garments and are creatively integrated into various skiing jackets and gear
LesothoAfricaWinter sportsTravel and leisure
