Lesotho, Africa’s coldest country thanks to its high mountain elevation, has become an unlikely winter tourism hotspot as thousands of visitors from southern Africa flock to its slopes each year. Its high-altitude Afriski Mountain Resort, sitting over 10,000 feet up in the Maluti Mountains, is sub-Saharan Africa’s only fully operational ski destination. It offers many visitors their first skiing experience, challenging stereotypes that Africa lacks snowy destinations. But since natural snowfall can be unpredictable, Afriski uses artificial snow machines to keep the slopes running throughout the season. Beyond the slopes, tourists can explore Basotho culture through local cuisine, Maluti Lager, and the kingdom’s iconic patterned blankets, making the destination an increasingly popular blend of adventure and cultural tourism.
AP