Afriski resort in Lesotho is tucked into South Africa's Drakensburg range.Jerome Delay/AP
- Lesotho is home to Africa's only ski resort, The Associated Press reported.
- Holidaymakers are taking to the Afriski resort during winter in the southern hemisphere.
While vacation makers pass the sunscreen and look to get out of the heat this summer, holidaymakers in an African kingdom are clipping on their skis and sipping on mulled wine.
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Lesotho has become a major skiing hotspot in Africa. As it is 1,000 meters (3,280 ft) above sea level, it's regularly exposed to the elements.
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Afriski in Lesotho's Maluti Mountains is Africa's only ski resort south of the equator, where it is currently winter.
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Most snow falls between May and September, with temperatures going as low as 21°F this week.
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The resort is responsible for a significant amount of the 1 million tourists coming in each year, mainly from surrounding South Africa.
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"I've never seen snow in my life," South African tourist Kafi Mojapelo told The Associated Press. "So, this is a great experience."
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Afriski is a huge driver of Lesotho's tourist economy, while most of its employees are from the local area, per The Guardian.
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But the resort faced challenges during the COVID-19 lockdowns, with The Guardian reporting last year that locals were being offered incentives to visit Afriski in place of its usual influx of tourists.
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The resort hosts Kapoko Snow Park, Africa's only freestyle snow park, per The AP.
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The park hosts a Winter Whip Slopestyle snowboard and ski competition, where competitors including 13-year-old Sekholo Ramonotsi competed.
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And when skiers and snowboarders get thirsty for the famous après-ski, they can avail of the Sky restaurant and Gondola cafe, where happy hour starts at 10 a.m.
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