Snow hunting SA While snow may not be one of South Africas main tourism selling points, only gracing us with its presence on the odd occasion and in the most remote of outposts, it sure does know how to draw a local crowd. With the help of Kevin Rae, chief forecaster for South African Weather Services, weve put together a few tips to keep tabs on this unpredictable weather occurrence, as well as a list of the snowfall hotspots around the country. West to East Snowfall in South Africa generally seems to follow an anti-clockwise progression, moving from west to east. Typically, the first events will take place in the Western Cape and spread out from there, finally reaching the Drakensberg region, Kevin explains. Best time to expect snow Kevin points out that even though the solstice may have come and gone, we havent seen the back of winter just yet. While snowfall events could happen as early as April, July is widely considered to be mid-winter, and therefore also a prime time for snow. So is August. He added that events have been known to take place as late as September or October, and once even on New Years day! Favourable conditions The possibility of snow falling in a certain area depends on the altitude at which temperatures fall below zero. During mid-winter this would normally happen at around 6000 feet, therefore mountain ranges and areas at this altitude would be likely to receive some snow. However, if the winter system is more intense, freezing point could happen at lower altitudes. A good example of this happening would be when Table Mountain, or even the Outeniqua mountains in George experience snowfall. Snow searching SA Western Cape Picture: Matroosberg. From Outdoorphoto.co.za Matroosberg, Ceres When snow falls in the Western Cape, Matroosberg peak, the second highest in the province, is always first on the list of places to go. Located about 30 km from the town of Ceres, its a breathtakingly beautiful 3-hour drive from Cape Town, however, you will need a 4x4 vehicle to navigate the slopes. Cederberg While snow in the Cederberg may typically not be deep and powdery enough for skiing or snowboarding, bundling up in your warmest gear and setting out on one of the many hiking trails in the Cederberg Wilderness Area to take a closer look is a great for an exhilarating winter activity. Take a look at Cape Natures website for accommodation and hiking details. Franschhoek pass In the midst of winter, the magical winelands scenery in the Stellenbosch/Franschhoek area is often made even more magical by light dustings of snow on the surrounding mountaintops. While it mostly requires admiration from a far, more accessible areas such as the Franschhoek pass and Jonkershoek mountain trails have enjoyed sprinklings in recent years. Not sure how you will know if this happens? If you dont quite trust word of mouth, keep your eyes peeled and ears open for snow warnings released by weather services. Eastern Cape Picture: Hogsback. From saweatherobserver.blogspot Rhodes South Africas one and only ski resort sadly closed down sometime last year, and is currently awaiting a revamp, but that doesnt mean its not snowing! Heading to Rhodes Village in the Eastern Cape on a really icy day, youll be almost sure to find some glorious snow to play around in. Rhodes is located 342km from East London and 330km from Bloemfontein. Hogsback The magical, Lord of the Rings type village of Hogsback receives snow once or twice every winter, and the surrounding mountains even more often. Book a weekend stay in one of the towns cozy B&Bs to make sure you get a full fix of white wonderland! Hogsback is 264km from Port Elizabeth and 138km from East London. Graaff-Reinet While the town itself may not receive snow during the average winter, the nearby Lootsberg pass that connects Graaff-Reinet and Middelburg on the R57 is a common recipient. Other Eastern Cape passes that may be affected by snowfalls during winter months include Penhoek pass near Sterkstroom between Queenstown and Aliwal North, the Barkly Pass near Elliot, Prince Alfreds Pass between Avontuur and Knysna, the Swartberg Pass and the Nico Malan Pass between Port Beaufort and Queenstown. Free State Picture: Golden Gate Highlands National Park. From Sanparks.org Golden Gate Highlands National Park If youre seeking a little taste of Switzerland on home soil, head to Golden Gate Highlands National Park in the Free State during mid-winter. Temperatures may drop as low as -15 degrees celsius, making it a prime location for deep and luxurious snowfall. The park offers a selection of accommodation including camping, chalets close to the entrance and gorgeous log cabins higher up in the mountains. Add to your European experience by visiting the quaint little town of Clarens close by. Van Reenen Known as the gateway to the Northern Drakensberg, Van Reenen practically straddles the border between the Free State and KZN. Furthermore, at only a quick three hour drive from both Johannesburg and Durban, its a convenient and central location for both sea-side and city dwellers to experience some winter fun. Mpumalanga Picture: Dullstroom. From fosaf.org.za Long Tom Pass With its top point reaching a whopping 2,150m above sea level, the Long Tom Pass between Pilgrims Rest and Lydenburgh is one of the highest tarred roads in South Africa. Although snowfall usually tends to be rather light, the pass is highly accessible to even the most average of vehicles, making it a favourite snow-viewing spot. Be sure to visit Hops Hollow microbrewery at the top of the pass to sample some of their original beers, such as The Diggers Draught and Blacksmiths Brew. Dullstroom Probably most famous for fly-fishing, the picturesque town of Dullstroom is one of South Africas quintessential country breakaway spots. Located 2,077m above sea level, it tends to get pretty chilly during winter months, practically making snow an annual occurrence. In between snowball fights and building snowmen, be sure to explore the wide variety of shops, restaurants and do a whisky tasting at Wild About Whisky. KwaZulu-Natal Picture: Sani Pass. From The Witness Underberg Similarly to Dullstroom, Underberg is probably best known as a fly-fishing hotspot with its 160km of river and 60 plus dams. Located in the Southern Drakensberg it forms part of the Sani Saunter, which may not be as well known as the Midlands Meander, but offers the same sort of outdoor and artsy experience. While snow isnt an annual guarantee in the town, the surrounding mountains are sure to receive at least a dusting during favourable conditions. Sani Pass Connecting KwaZulu-Natal with Mokhotlong in Lesotho, Sani Pass is a notoriously dangerous road that should only be attempted with 4x4 and lots of reliable equipment - especially if your mission is to see some snow. If you have all of this in place, then what are you waiting for? It is sure to be an experience of a lifetime!
Posted on: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 14:05:46 +0000
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