South Africa’s one and only ski resort closes down
South Africa’s only ski resort, Tiffindell in the Drakensberg has closed its’ doors and is now for sale. Here are the details…
Drakensberg ski resort up for sale
It’s sad news for snow-seekers and skiing-enthusiasts, as the popular ski resort in southern Drakensberg has shut its’ doors.
According to Travel News, the Tiffindell website and Chris Stevens Real Estate, which is acting on behalf of the property, said that the resort closed due to the pandemic and is now for sale.
“Tiffindell is not just a ski resort. It is a glorious mountain retreat. Skiing and snowboarding in winter; great hikes, 4×4 tracks, fishing and more in summer. Unfortunately, Tiffindell was closed due to COVID, and is now for sale” a notice on the ski resorts’ website reads.
The harsh lockdown restrictions forced the Eastern Cape ski resort to close during 2020 and 2021, and in 2023, restrictions were not lifted in time for Tiffindell to prepare for the ski season.
“The resort lost three years of the snow crowd. The ski season is also limited to just three months – from June to August,” Chris Stevens, CEO of Chris Stevens Real Estate said.
“Like many businesses, unfortunately, that was the death of Tiffindell,” Stevens added.
Another reason for the unfortunate shut down is the increasingly inconsistent snowfall experienced each year. Although Tiffindell was equipped with snowmaking machines, the resort found that they would need to run the machines all night to increase the snow on the slopes when it was too little to ski, which was a further expense.
“You never quite know, whether you’re going to get good or bad snow. There is always snow, it is just not necessarily really good snow. Sometimes, the snow starts early, sometimes it runs late,” Stevens said as per Travel News.
About Tiffindell
Tiffindell was opened in 1993 by avid skiers and passionate snow lovers. The resort has snow, ski lifts, a restaurant, ski shop and a ski school which offered three months of skiing and snowboarding during June, July and August in the South African winter every year.
Even if you don’t ski or have no plans to, the resorts offers snow activities for all, young and old.
Tiffindell was even voted number 19 in CNN Travel’s ‘World’s Best Ski Runs’ in 2014.