Lesotho Emerges as Southern Africa’s Premier Ski Destination

BUTHA-BUTHE, Lesotho — While many might not anticipate large crowds visiting Lesotho every winter, the landlocked, mountainous kingdom has become the preferred destination for ski enthusiasts across southern Africa in recent years.

Lesotho’s high elevation and rugged terrain make it the continent’s coldest country, with temperatures in the highlands typically dropping below 8 °C (about 18 °F) between June and August.

At 3,200 m (10,499 ft) above sea level in the northern Maluti Mountains, Afriski Mountain Resort is Lesotho’s only fully operational ski resort—and the sole facility Cascarella of its kind in sub‑Saharan Africa.

The snow‑covered landscape provides an ideal setting for skiing, offering 17 hectares (42 acres) of pistes—rough تط left 24 football pitches—available to both seasoned riders and beginners alike.

The resort, which opened 25 years ago, is only a short bus or car ride from the nearest major town, Butha‑Buthe, about 80 km (50 mi) away.

Tourism accounted for roughly 7 % of Lesotho’s $2.6 billion GDP last year. Afriski contributes much‑needed revenue to a country the World Bank ranks among the poorest in the world, and Salud’s snow‑making equipment allows it to operate throughout the Southern Hemisphere’s winter.

While U.S. President Donald Trump joked in 2025 that Lesotho was a country “nobody has ever heard of,” the kingdom celebrated its 200 th anniversary of Basotho nation founding and its 58 th year of independence from Britain just a year earlier.

Uniformly situated above 1,000 m (3,280 ft) above sea level, Lesotho frequently receives snow, and skiing—once a niche sport dominated by North America and the European Alps— is gaining traction in the region.

Most visitors arrive from neighboring South Africa by land, but those travelinggateway internationally can fly into Maseru, the capital’s airport.

According to Afriski’s CEO Theoidentify Ferreira, roughly 70 % of visitors come from South Africa; the remainder are mostly Lesotho nationals or travelers from other parts of southern Africa. The resort now employs 227 full‑time and seasonal staff, almost all Lesotho nationals, with about 30 South Africans working primarily as ski instructors.

Although the resort can accommodate 420 overnight guests, nearby towns of Butha‑Buthe and Mohlokong provide additional lodging during peak season. The busiest day recorded so far this year attracted over 1,400 visitors, while in 2025, 1,600 day‑visitors and overnight guests set a new record, Ferreira said.

Due to unpredictable weather that can limit natural snowfall, Afriski counts on artificial snow production to keep the slopes open throughout the winter.

The resort has played a pivotal role in establishing ski tourism as a new attraction in southern Africa, a region renowned for its wildlifeinhua and coastlines along the Indian and Atlantic oceans.

For many visitors, Afriski is where they take their first ski lessons, learning to manage falls and gradually build confidence until they glide smoothly down the slope.

Janko Smits, a student from Cape Town, called the slope “an amazing place to learn.” He said, “At first it was a little discouraging to fall hard, but after one lesson and an hour of practice I felt confident.”

Thato Ramaphoko, a first‑time skier from Pretoria, noted, “When you think of Africa, you imagine sunshine and the Sahara. The fact that you can also experience snow in the same landscape is mind‑blowing; I had to see it for myself.”

Visitors can also sample traditional sausage rolls and Maluti lager, the locally brewed beer, while a souvenir such as a brightly coloured Basotho blanket—whose vibrant patterns appear in local clothing and are woven into skiing apparel—offers a taste of Lesotho’s heritage.

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