Winter is in full force in South Africa and 2018 has been particularly chilly by our standards.
On the negative side, that means soaring electricity bills and freezing fingers. On the plus side though, it also means that we might get to see some snow in select parts of our beautiful country! You’ll have to hurry up though, because once mid-August hits, the chances of snow decrease rapidly. Here’s where you can go for a last-minute night away in a place where building snowmen and having snowball fights are on the cards.
A nice easy drive for those of us who are based in Gauteng and would normally struggle to see snow, Dullstroom is one of the coldest places in the country. It’s the perfect place to embrace the cold and finally enjoy the winter, especially if a snow sighting is on the cards. Book a cute and cosy cottage with a view and a huge fireplace and settle in for the weekend. If it overlooks a dam or lake, even better! Dullstroom is magical in the snow, with an almost Scottish-highlands feel about it thanks to the rolling hills and in no small part, the incredible whisky bar.
South Africa’s highest mountain range is another classic winter getaway for snow-seekers. The snowcapped mountains always look stunning and if you get the promised snowfalls, you’ll find that the frozen lakes and dramatic peaks only add to the Christmassy atmosphere. You could go almost anywhere within the Drakensberg area but Underberg is always a good bet and if you do get lucky and wake up to a blanket of white outside your door, it’s one of the most charming places you’ll ever experience.
If you’re Cape Town based and want to (almost) guarantee snow, this is a good bet. It’s only a two hour drive and snow falls quite regularly in the winter. Plus the southern slopes have a good dusting of snow for quite some time after the actual snowfalls have stopped. Go for a weekend or just make a day trip.
A place that is famous mostly for being cold (ok, ok and for some stargazing too we suppose) is always going to up there in terms of snowy spots. Because this Northern Cape town boats particularly clear skies and freezing winters, snowfall is likely – and you’ll get some of the best panoramic, unobscured views in the country to boot. Starry skies and snowy mornings…what more could you want? Just make sure to break out the warmest clothes you have.
This Eastern Cape town is one of the most beautiful spots in the country. Located in the Amathole mountains, you’d be forgiven for thinking that you’d stepped into Lord of the Rings. Even the name sounds like it’s been picked straight out of a fantasy novel. The town receives snow fairly regularly over winter, and the mountains surrounding it almost always have a dusting of white powder on their peaks during the winter months. If you manage to catch the snowfall while you’re there, you’re in for a real treat.
