South Africa’s Tiffindell Ski Resort has been struggling for years after COVID-19 restrictions and inconsistent snowfall have caused a decrease in sales. While the resort has snowmaking equipment available, the cost of operating the snow cannons is no longer sustainable. The resort was unable to recover its economic situation and will not open its gates for skiers and snowboarders. The Resort was closed in 2020 and 2021 because of COVID restrictions. Last year, the ski resort could not open because the restrictions did not end in time for the resort to be able to prepare for the upcoming ski season. The ski area placed 19th on CNN’s 2014 list of the 100 best ski runs worldwide. Tiffindell was established in 1993.
Webcam photo of the slopes at Tiffindell on June 11, 2024. Photo Credit: Tiffindell
Tiffindell is one of seven ski areas in Africa. The ski area is usually open from June through August and has 1.5 miles of skiing, 0.6 miles of which are equipped with snowmaking operations. It also has a snow park for freestyle skiers and snowboarders and each year hosts the African Skiing National Championship. In 2014, Tiffindell even hosted an international FIS race. Tiffindell is situated at an altitude of 8,923 feet, just below Ben McDhui (9,845 feet), the highest peak in the whole Cape Province. The Resort is located in the Drakensberg Mountains.
The resort does not limit its experience to just skiing or snowboarding. In the summer, tourists can partake in different activities, like driving 4×4 vehicles and motorcycles on the iconic “Ben 10 Eco Challenge.” During this challenge, drivers must conquer ten different high-altitude mountain passes near the resort within seven days. Visitors can also enjoy hiking as well as some of the best fly fishing in South Africa. A 250-bed lodge is also part of the resort.
Hopefully, a new operator for the resort can be found. If not, South African ski enthusiasts will have to drive to the Afriski Resort in Lesotho. Afriski is located eight hours by car from Tiffindell at the northern border of Lesotho. Afriski is significantly smaller than Tiffindell and only offers a 0.6-mile-long slope. However, it also has a terrain park, and its peak is 10,571 feet above sea level.
Tiffindell Ski Resort is a fully equipped winter snow resort with state-of-the-art snowmaking and grooming equipment, ski lifts, a ski shop, and a ski school. The resort sale is being handled by Chris Stevens, a real estate agent and supporter of the resort. “Tiffindell is not just a ski resort. It is a glorious mountain retreat,” Stevens said in an official statement. The Price for the resort remains unknown, but a low price is likely to guarantee a fast sale.
The Ski Season in the Southern Hemisphere usually starts in May/June depending on the location and altitude of the ski resorts. While the ski season in South America is one of the snowiest in 30 years already, resorts in New Zealand and Australia are struggling with low snow and high temperatures.
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