Tiffindell
South Africa's only ski slope, high on Ben Macdhui
South Africa's only ski resort, a small real outdoor area high on Ben Macdhui in the Eastern Cape, skiing through the Southern-Hemisphere winter on largely machine-made snow.
- 2,696 m Base
- 2,918 m Top lift
- 222 m Vertical
- 3 Pistes mapped
- 6 Lifts
Best known for
Après & vibe
The resort's mountain lodge, with its bar and fireside, is the social heart after a day on the snow.
The snow centre
Tiffindell is South Africa's only ski resort, perched high on the south-facing slopes of Ben Macdhui, the Eastern Cape's highest mountain, near the village of Rhodes. It is a genuine outdoor mountain area rather than an artificial slope, but a small and remote one, relying heavily on snowmaking to hold a single main run through the brief Southern-Hemisphere winter. Because it sits below the equator, the season falls in the middle of the year, roughly June to August, when cold snaps and machine-made snow combine to open the slopes. The setting is wild high veld under big skies, and the appeal is as much the novelty and the mountain lodge atmosphere as the skiing itself. It suits the curious and families more than serious skiers, and the long drive up rough mountain passes is part of the adventure.
The slope
The gentle main run and tuition suit first-timers, who make up much of the crowd.
Limited terrain, enough for relaxed cruising on a good snow day.
Little to challenge stronger skiers.
Not an expert destination; the draw is the setting and the novelty.
Skiing on Ben Macdhui
Tiffindell sits high beneath Ben Macdhui, the highest peak in the Eastern Cape, giving South Africa its only lift-served snow slopes.
On the map
Legend
Run difficulty
- Novice
- Easy
- Intermediate
- Advanced / Expert
- Freeride / Extreme
- Unknown
Run types
- Downhill — groomed
- Downhill — ungroomed
- Downhill — gladed
- Nordic (groomed)
- Ski tour
- ☾Lit (night)
- △Not patrolled
- →One-way
- ❄Snowmaking
Lifts
- Operating
- Operating (private)
- Non-operating
- Lift station
Slope-gradient grading
Downhill / ski tour
- Flat<3°
- Easy3–14°
- Intermediate14–22°
- Advanced / Expert22–45°
- Freeride / Extreme>45°
Nordic
- Easy<6°
- Intermediate6–9°
- Advanced>9°
Aspect (sun exposure)
- N — least sun
- E — morning
- S — most sun
- W — afternoon
Legend after OpenSkiMap
Stay near Tiffindell
Stay at the resort's own mountain lodge, or in the historic village of Rhodes down the valley.
A base in town — the snow centre is a day trip, not a resort stay.
Self-catering flexibility for a family visit or a longer city break.
Handy if the centre is a stopover between flights.
Book access to Tiffindell
Snow sessions, lessons and slope passes for Tiffindell.
Online access tickets for Tiffindell will be bookable here shortly. In the meantime, book direct on the venue's own site.
How to get there
There is no nearby airport; most visitors fly to Johannesburg or East London and make a long drive up through the mountains.
The final approach is a rough, steep mountain pass best tackled in a suitable vehicle; the journey is part of the experience.
Best time: Best in the Southern-Hemisphere winter, roughly June to August.
Nearby resorts
Other resorts within reach.
Faces south-east © Graham Maclachlan / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) AfriSki
- Vertical
- 192 m
- Lifts
- 2
Ski Egypt
Snow Abu Dhabi
Ski Dubai
אתר סקי הר החרמון, Mount Hermon ski resort, Centro de esquí Monte Hermón
- Vertical
- 389 m
- Pistes (mapped)
- 16
- Lifts
- 10
Faces north-west © Elie plus / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) Zaarour Club
- Vertical
- 332 m
- Lifts
- 6
Getting to Tiffindell
Book an airport transfer up to the resort, or pick up a car at Maseru (MSU) — search and compare without leaving the page.
Ski data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), via OpenSkiMap & Skimap.org. Basemap © OpenFreeMap / OpenMapTiles. Editorial: mynext.holiday. Accommodation via Stay22; transfers via Kiwitaxi; car hire via Travelpayouts.