There used to be a widely held belief by many that it rarely snows in Africa, so we compiled a detailed history of snow in Southern Africa. So let’s start the meandering down history lane all the way back in 1853… (please note this long article is now broken up into two pages – before and after 2010)
Snow history before 2010 can be found via the following link:
History of Snow from 2010 to 2020
June 2010
“Table Mountain turned into a snow-capped winter wonderland on Tuesday, June 15” said the news in 2010. It seems quite a few areas in the Western Cape received snow fall in 2010 including the Hottentots Holland mountains, Ceres, Matroosberg and Worcester.
June- August 2011
The central Drakensberg received quite a substantial amount of snow, as seen here at Cathedral Peak. Cathedral Peak was quoted as saying that this was the first snow in the camp itself since the 90’s. Snow in the Free State forced officials to close the major route between Villiers and Van Reenen’s Pass. Light snow fell over Johannesburg on a Monday afternoon.
July-August 2012
On the 14 July 2012 there were heavy snowfalls in the Karoo, N1 was closed on 14 and 15 July from Beaufort West – Richmond due to the snowfalls and the road from Three Sisters to Victoria West as well. The N1 was reopended on the 15th late afternoon. It snowed over all the provinces of South Africa on Tuesday, 07 August 2012. The people, and the media, went crazy. Not much work was achieved around the country on this day, what with office staff running outside to catch snowflakes and take photos.
August – September 2013
Late snow fall in August and September in the Western Cape and the KZN Drakensberg. Cape Town itself experienced hail that left the city bowl looking like a winter wonderland. There was even snow on Table Mountain once more.
April 2014
Not many people are aware that we actually received our first snow fall of the season on Matroosberg in April already of 2014. We have had some really great snow fall so far in the Western and Northern Cape and Mooi River KZN. We hope for even more so keep watching SnowReport for daily updates this winter season!
April 2015
First sighting of snow fell overnight and was spotted on April 5th at Tiffindell SKi Resort. Sneeuberg in the Eastern Cape as well as certain parts of Graaf Reinet and Afriski in Lesotho all experienced a little snow in April 2015. Sani Pass received a little snow on the 20th of April
May 2015
Snow at Sani Pass in in certain parts of Lesotho.
June 2015
In June, Snow was sighted in Lady Grey, Kokstad, Matatiele, Rhodes, Southern/Central Drakensberg, Lesotho, Ficksburg, Worcester, Sutherland and Swartberg.
KZN: Southern Drakensberg, Central Drakensberg E Cape: Naude’s Nek LesothoMaluti Mountains, Sani Pass.
November 2015
E Cape: Rhodes/Tiffindell Ski Resort W Cape: De Doorns, Matroosberg.
27 March 2016
W Cape: Matroosberg.
6 April 2016
Lesotho: Light snow over the Maluti Mountains and Mokhotlong area.
30 April 2016
Snow over the Eastern Cape mountains and all along the Drakensberg as well as across the mountain ranges of Lesotho. some flurries in the KZN midlands E Cape: Barkly East, Ugie, Lady Grey, Rhodes, Maclear, Matatiele, Kokstad. KZN: Underberg, Kokstad, Impendle, Himeville. Lesotho: Sani Pass top.
7 May 2016
Tiffindell ski resort received light flurries of snow as did regions of the Drakensberg and Lesotho. Lesotho: Maluti Mountains, Sani Pass Top. KZN: Certain peaks of the Southern Drakensberg.
Lesotho: Mokhotlong,Oxbow, Sani Pass Top, Moteng Pass. Free State: Phuthaditjhaba, Clarens, Golden Gate Highlands Park, Moolmanshoek, Memel. E Cape: Rhodes, Winterberg Mountains. KZN: Cathedral Peak, Northern Drakensberg Peaks.
20 June 2016
W Cape: Breedekloof Valley, Sneeuberg, Swartberg, Oudtshoorn, Ceres Mountains including Matroosberg.
1 July 2016
W Cape: Brandwacht Mountains, Matroosberg, Worcester Mountains, Witzenberg. N Cape: Sutherland.
2 July 2016
E Cape: Barkly Pass, Rhodes, Barkly East, Naudes Nek. N Cape: Sutherland. W Cape: Swartberg, Stellenbosch, Outeniqua Moutains, Villiersdorp, Hottentot Hollands Mountains, Wapadsberg, Perdekop Trail Franschoek. KZN: St Bernard’s Peak, Dargle, Impendle, Nottingham, Underberg.
6 July 2016
W Cape: Matroosberg, De Doorns, Cederberg, Hexriviervallei. N Cape: Karoo mountains, Sutherland. E Cape: Graaf Reinet.
16 July 2016
W Cape: Matroosberg
23 July 2016
W Cape: Matroosberg, Worcester mountains, Elandsberg, Swartberge. E Cape: Sneeuberg, Lootsberg Pass, Matatiele. Lesotho: Sani Pass top. KZN: St Bernard’s Peak, Nottingham Road, Curry’s Post, Bulwer Mountains, Kokstad, Impendle, Dargle.
24 July 2016
KZN: Balgowan, Bushman’s Nek, Rosetta, Nottingham Road, Lower Loteni, Champagne Castle, Dargle, Kamberg, Royal National Park, Swartberg E Cape: Ugie, Cedarville Lesotho: Maloti Mountains, Sani Pass Top. Free State: Reitz.
25 July 2016
KZN: Bulwer, Impendle, Mooi River, Northern Drakensberg, Monks Cowl, Himeville, Kokstad, Lower Loteni, Donnybrook, Swartberg, Bushman’s Nek E Cape: Sneeuberg, Elliot, Stormberg, Ugie, Barkly East, Rhodes, Qunu, Steynsburg, Queenstown. N Cape: Karoo. Lesotho: Thaba Tseka, Qacha’neck, Lesotho Highlands, Maluti Mountains. Free State: Golden Gate Highlands National Park, Phuthaditjhaba.
26 July 2016
KZN: Swartberg. Lesotho: Maluti Mountains, Mount Moorosi, Sani Pass Top.
27 July 2016
N Cape: Sutherland, Loxton, Noupoort, Colesberg. Free State: Bethlehem, Fouriesburg, Ficksburg. E Cape: Dordrecht, Barkly East, Naude’s Nek, Rhodes, Lady Grey. Lesotho: Semonkong, Maluti Mountains. KZN: Bannermans Pass, Central and Northern Drakensberg Mountains.
1 August 2016
Lesotho: Sani Pass Top. Free State: Phuthaditjhaba, Fouriesburg, Verkykerskop, between Memel and Harrismith, Clarens, Golden Gate Highlands National Park.
3 August 2016
W Cape: Swartberge. E Cape: Lady Grey, Rhodes, Naude’s Nek, Sneeuberg, Barkly East. Lesotho: Qacha’s nek.
16 August 2016
Lesotho: Maluti Mountains.
19 August 2016
Lesotho: Mohale Dam in the Maluti Mountains.
20 August 2016
Lesotho: Sani Pass Top. KZN: Drakensberg Gardens. N Cape: Sutherland light dusting. W Cape: Matroosberg. Swartberg Mountains, Ceres Mountains, Worcester Mountains. E Cape: Sneeuberg, Hogsback
17 September 2016
W Cape: Hex Rivier Mountains, Matroosberg. E Cape: Graaf Reinet. Lesotho: Sani Pass Top
High lying regions of Lesotho as well as the KZN Drakensberg
7 June 2017
N Cape and W Cape received a small amount of snow along with cold, rainy weather.
8 June 2017
A good amount of snow fell over many parts of Western Cape and isolated areas in Northern Cape and Eastern Cape
W Cape: Langeberg Mountains, Matroosberg, Ceres, Ashton, Robertson, Hexrivier, De Doorns, Ladismith, Lady Grey, Du Toit’s Peak, Tulbagh, Villiersdorp, Table Mountain, Franschhoek, Riviersonderend Mountains, Hexpas Touwsrivier, Somerset West, Hottentot Hollands Mountains, Witzenberg Mountains, Cederberg, Winterhoek, Bainskloof
N Cape: Roggeveld, Sutherland, Calvinia
E Cape: Tarkastad
23 June 2017
Dusting of snow over parts of the E Cape
E Cape: Wildebeestheok, Elliot, Ugie
28 June 2017
Lesotho: Letseng Diamond Mine, Maluti Mountains
1 July 2017
Some very unexpected snow dropped out of the sky over the Drakensberg and the Maluti Mountains in Lesotho
Lesotho: Maluti Mountains, Sani Pass KZN: Cathedral Peak Free State: Namahadi Pass
9 July 2017
A dusting of snow for the Western Cape over many of their mountain ranges.
Western Cape: Somerset West, Sneeukop, Hexrivier, Sir Lowry’s Pass, Bloukop Mountains, Langeberg, Swellendam, Franschoek, Robertson
14 July 2017
Light snow flurries spotted at Afriski in the Maluti mountains and also at Tiffindell Ski Resort near Rhodes, Eastern Cape
16 July 2017
More lovely snow in July with falls seen in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Northern Cape
Western Cape: Matroosberg, Drie Kuilen Nature Reserve, Somerset West, Swartberg Pass, Suurbraak Mountains, Drakenstein Mountains, Simonsberg, Langeberg, Riviersonderend, Calitzdorp, Jonkershoek, Winterhoek, Laingsburg, Worcester, Montagu, Kammanassie Mountains, Swellendam, Ladismith, Beaufort West, De Doorns, Klein Swartberg, Table Mountain, Du Toit’s Kloof, Karoo National Park, Witzenberg
Eastern Cape: Hogsback, , Lootsberg, Naude’s Berg Pass, Elliot, Cradock
Northern Cape: Sutherland, Nieu Bethesda
A little snow over the mountains of Lesotho
Lesotho: Maluti Mountains, Mahlasela Pass
22 March 2018
A little snow over the high passes of Lesotho was recorded, causing some chaos on the mountain passes
Lesotho:Kao and Tlaeng Pass
30 April 2018
Light flurries of snow spotted in the morning at Afriski Mountain Resort in the Maluti Mountains as well as on the Lesotho Black Mountain.
Lesotho: Maluti Mountains and Black Mountain
03 May 2018
Light flurries of snow spotted again over Afriski Mountain Resort in the Maluti Mountains
Lesotho: Maluti Mountains
12-13 May 2018
A nice cover of snow was experienced over certain parts of Eastern Lesotho the weekend of the 12-13 May. This included Sani Pass Top, the Maluti mountains and the Thaba Putsoa mountain range. The area of Tiffindell Ski resort also received snow near Rhodes, Eastern Cape as well as the mountains above Maclear.
Lesotho: Maluti Mountains, Thaba Putsoa, Sani Pass Top E Cape: Tiffindell Ski Resort, Maclear
14-15 May 2018
A nice cover of snow was experienced over certain parts of Eastern Lesotho Monday night into Tuesday. The majority of the snow was experienced over Sani Pass Top, the Thaba Putsoa mountain range, the KZN Southern Drakensberg and Black Mountain pass also received a covering of snow. The Maluti mountains around Afriski received a few flurries but nothing settled
Lesotho: Sani Pass top, Thaba Putsoa, Black Mountain KZN: Southern Drakensberg mountains.
14-15 June2018
A large cold front hit the Western Cape with heavy rains and localised flooding. Some snow was seen on the top of Matroosberg in Ceres, as well as the peaks of the Worcester mountains. Light snow was also to be found in the Eastern Cape around Tiffindell
Western Cape: Matroosberg, Worcester Eastern Cape: Tiffindell
1-3 July 2018
Various parts of South Africa were blanketed with snow at the beginning of July. Sutherland in the Northern Cape was a winter wonderland in white snow. Western Cape, Matroosberg reportedly received some of its heaviest snow in 10 years. Even Table Mountain experienced a few flurries. Various parts of Eastern Cape received a bit of snow, including Hogsback.
Western Cape: Matroosberg, Worcester, Franschoek, Table Mountain Eastern Cape: Hogsback, Barkly Pass, Nieu-Bethesda
13-15 July 2018
What an exciting few days of snow for South Africa! Snow started on the high reaches of Matroosberg midday on the 13th of July, although their was no low-level snow, a great many 4×4 enthusiasts were able to enjoy the snow higher up. The SnowReport Team made their way to Afriski Mountain Lodge in the Maluti mountains, Lesotho, where the received a good blanketing of snow overnight and into the morning of the 14th of July, with the cold freezing the lakes and dams. The snow was also spotted at Tiffindell in the Eastern Cape as well as in Sani Pass, Black mountain as well as along the KZN Drakensberg
Western Cape: Matroosberg Eastern Cape: Tiffindell Ski Resort, Rhodes, Lesotho: Afriski, Sani Pass Top, Maluti mountains KZN: Drakensberg Mountains
6-10 August 2018
Many days of snow across the country, including Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, KZN and Lesotho. Picturesque snowy landscapes photographed in the Bo Swaarmoed Pass region.
Western Cape: Matroosberg, Touws River, de Doorns, Swartberge, Bo Swaarmoed Pass, Worcester Northern Cape: Sutherland Eastern Cape: Sneeuberge, Rhodes, Barkly Pass, Tiffindell, Ugie, Hogsback, Naude’s Nek Pass Lesotho: Mokhotlong, Sani Pass, Semonkong, Mohale, Letseng KZN: Underberg, Bushmen’s Nek, Drakensberg Gardens, St Bernards Peak
17-18 August 2018
Western Cape And Northern Cape caught the tail-end of a cold front and saw a little snow on the high lying areas and mountain ranges. Lesotho and KZN also saw significant snow in certain parts.Western Cape: Hex Rivier, Hottentots Holland, Villiersdorp, Matroosberg, Franschoek, Worcester Northern Cape: Sutherland Eastern Cape: Sneeuberg, Rhodes, Barkly Pass, Tiffindell, Ugie, Hogsback, Naude’s Nek Pass Lesotho: Mokhotlong, Sani Pass, Letseng, Black Mountain KZN: Dargle Bushmen’s Nek, Drakensberg Gardens, St Bernard’s Peak Free State: Harrismith, Golden Gate National Park
25-26 August 2018
Disruptive snowfalls on some of the high-lying passes in the Western Cape. Also, rhinos and other African wildlife could be seen in snow-covered landscapes. Capetonians really enjoyed the lower-lying snow and although a few cell phones may have been lost while making snow angels at Matroosberg, fun was still had by all! Western Cape: Hex Rivier, Koo Valley, Ceres, Matroosberg, Worcester, Cederberg, Wolseley, Gydo Pass, Koue Bokkeveld, Touws Rivier, Theronsberg pass Northern Cape: Sutherland
18 September 2018
This significant 5-day snow event resulted in a short period of disruptive ground-level snowfall on the N9 and in the region near Uniondale in the Western Cape, and plenty of snow on the high-peaks in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Northern Cape, as well as predicted snow in Southern Namibia (while there were reported sightings we didn’t receive any photographs). The extensive ground-level snow around the Uniondale and Graaff-Reinet regions, as well as far up into the Northern Cape was not something we see every year and neither is such widespread snow coverage and neither is such a long snow event. We also saw a surprising amount of ground-level snow in the KZN Midlands, although it melted very quickly. Some of the amazing wildlife in the snow photographs and videos from this event hit the international news.
3-4 October 2018
Besides being a special event marked by the first SnowReportSA on-location video report being filmed after landing a helicopter on the escarpment in the central Drakensberg, we also saw very unusual snow coverage way up into Mpumalanga, with snow photos being posted from Carolina, Memel and Sabie. The event also saw eight highly motivated SnowReportSA followers joining us for the amazing 45 minute Drakensberg helicopter flights with absolutely perfect viewing conditions. The event saw snow falling from the Eastern Cape Drakensberg around Barkly Pass and Tiffindell Ski Resort, right through Lesotho and on the northern, central and Southern Drakensberg. We finally got to see some snow in the Golden Gate National Park. It was certainly one of the most exciting snow events of the year, with both Richard and Rob out reporting from different locations at the same time.
13-15 October 2018
A small snow event mainly around AfriSki and Letseng in Lesotho, but we also received some great photos from a group of experienced hikers took on a challenging trip in the Sentinel area in Royal Natal National Park. The Malutis also got some snow that was visible from near Clarens in the Free State. Despite it’s limited size, this event resulted in the largest snowflakes we’ve seen on video all season.
