African Ski Resort Celebrates First Snowfall of the Season

While South America, Australia, and New Zealand tend to draw the most attention regarding Southern Hemisphere skiing, another less-obvious locale is gearing up for the 2024 season: Afriski, Lesotho—one of a few ski areas on the African continent.

On June 2nd, Afriski welcomed its first major winter snowfall.

Located in the Maluti Mountains, Afriski relies on a mixture of natural and manmade snow to offer lift-served skiing between June and August. The ski area is built around one main slope, with some terrain park offerings to keep things interesting.

Après-ski fanatics have Afriski's Gondola Cafe, which serves drinks and live music at night, alongside a ceiling-mounted snowboard where revelers can strap in and take inverted shots. "There's a joke going around the mountain that under the floor of the bar is a pentagram that casts some sort of spell on you, making you unable to leave," wrote a snowsports seasonal worker in an article about their journey to Afriski.

When the snow melts, Afriski operates as a year-round resort, opening for a variety of summer activities, including hiking, mountain biking, and trail running.

But that's not where Afriski's collective head is right now, with the new snow and all. "This snowfall marks the beginning of what we anticipate to be a fantastic season," said Managing Director and acting CEO Theo Ferreira. Skiing—you'll find it in the darndest places.

Related: Colorado's Arapahoe Basin Extends Ski Season Again

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