Our top 6 winter road trips
It’s unbearably cold this winter and South Africans are going crazy over the snow. We give you some of the best places to take a road trip for an adventure in the snow!
1. Matroosberg
This lovely mountain can be found full of snowfall in the winter. The Matroosberge is about 30 kms from Ceres and 173 kms from Cape Town. As the home of the Ski Club of SA, you’re sure to find some snow there. The nature reserve is open to day visitors, but they do have accommodation for people who want to stay overnight and make a weekend trip of it. The Matroosberg Private Nature Reserve and the slopes are accessible by 4×4 only, but people with normal cars can also drive to the bottom of the mountain and walk or hike their way up!
2. Long Tom Pass
At over 2 000 metres high, this pass is one of the highest tarred roads in our country. Snow isn’t always guaranteed, but because it’s so easily accessible it is a favourite destination for the tourists of Mpumalanga. The Long Tom Pass is a mere 65 kms from Nelspruit, so drivers can be sure to be there in an hour and 20 minutes.
3. Drakensberg Cathedral Peak
If you feel up for some hiking (in snow), then this one is for you. It’s a good 3 hour long drive from Durban, just next to the border of Lesotho. The weather here can be bright and clear for days after a snowfall, and experienced hikers shouldn’t have a problem.
4. Sani Pass
Also bordering Lesotho, you’ll find the Sani Pass. If you feel like a snowy 4×4 trip, the Sani Pass is the place to go. This road is a tricky one, therefore we only suggest experienced 4×4 drivers take on the challenge.
5. Afriski in Lesotho
If you venture beyond the border, you will find the most amazing place- the Afriski Mountain Resort. There you can ski like you are in the French Alps. You can even see snow and ski right through June and July.
6. Sutherland
This is where the normally harsh Karoo landscape turns into that of a wintry wonderland. One would expect that as Sutherland lays claim to the coldest winters in the country. This little Karoo town is a 4 hour drive from Beaufort West and also just over 4 hours from Cape Town.