Afriski Africa's Alpine Gem Draws Tourists

Afriski Mountain Resort in Lesotho’s Maluti Mountains is the continent’s only fully operational ski destination in sub‑Saharan Africa, relying on high altitude and extensive artificial snowmaking to sustain a 17‑hectare, roughly 1‑kilometer groomed run that draws thousands of visitors, mainly from South Africa, and supports tens of thousands in regional tourism spending and hundreds of jobs. Yet the resort faces climate and resource pressures, including drought and the energy-intensive snowmaking needed to keep slopes open, highlighting the fragile balance between its economic impact and environmental challenges in a warming Southern Hemisphere.