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Best snow destinations in Africa

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Atlas Mountains
Majestic peaks echo ancient desert horizons
8.5
Oukaïmeden is about 80 kilometres south-southeast of Marrakech in the Atlas Mountains. Its skiing area lies between 2,600 and 3,200 metres, which gives skiers a vertical range of 600 metres. Six ski lifts serve the slopes across that range. The resort is close to Toubkal mountain.
Highlights:
  • 🐫 Ride a camel across the Atlas desert plateau
  • ✨ Stargaze from Toubkal Base Camp overnight
  • 🏔️ Hike Oukaimeden's alpine trails at sunrise
Lesotho
Mountain kingdom in the sky
6.1
Afriski in the Maluti Mountains has a top elevation of 3,222 metres. It is the only ski resort in this country and one of only two in Sub-Saharan Africa. It has six trails totalling 1.7 kilometres. The drive from Johannesburg or Pretoria takes about 4.5 hours.
Highlights:
  • 🏞️ Discover Thaba Bosiu, the birthplace of the Basotho nation
  • 🐎 Ride a Basotho pony through mountain villages and valleys
  • 💦 Visit the majestic Maletsunyane Falls in Semonkong
Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park
Barrier of spears touching sky
7.7
The high ground of the Drakensberg is cool and wet and receives snowfall. The Sotho name Maloti means barrier of up-pointed spears. Thabana Ntlenyana reaches 3,482 metres on the border with Lesotho. UNESCO listed the park in 2000 and it holds 35,000 to 40,000 San rock art works.
Highlights:
  • 🦅 Spot eland and bearded vultures soaring above valleys
  • 🖼️ Explore ancient San rock art at Giants Castle Reserve
  • 🥾 Hike the Giants Cup Trail through breathtaking mountain scenery
Mount Kilimanjaro
Africa's Roof, World's Highest Freestanding Volcano
Hans Meyer and Ludwig Purtscheller first reached the summit in 1889. Uhuru Peak is 5,895 metres high. Kibo is the tallest of three volcanic cones. The mountain has an ice cap and glaciers such as Credner, Furtwängler and Rebmann. Almost 85 percent of the ice cover disappeared between 1912 and 2011.
Highlights:
  • 🌅 Watch sunrise over the Serengeti plains from above the clouds
  • 🥾 Hike through rainforest and alpine desert zones on the ascent
  • 🏔️ Climb to Uhuru Peak, the summit of Africa’s highest mountain
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