Best time to go to Drakensberg for snow?

[Saltex]

So I haven't been on leave or on a holiday for 5 years now,only have Sundays off Anyway, anyone know when is the best time to go for snow and maybe decent places to stay, preferable like a wooden cottage type of thing,max I would spend for a night be R1000.

 

[Beachless]

Rhodes is quite nice, the best snow is normally to the end of the season but its a bit unpredictable.

 

[Sinbad]

Winter.

 

[bwana]

Winter.

When it's snowing.

 

[Saltex]

Jip pretty much the responses I was expecting

No but really please

 

[Nether]

Your looking at end June beginning July (mostly in July), but I've only been below (south) of Lesotho frequently, and its not even in the mountains.

The snow is thick and and beautiful.

P.S it doesnt last very long though about 3 weeks.

Another way to know is when the weather bureau goes bonkers with snow warnings.

 

[jboyx989]

When you say snow, do you mean a) snow high on the mountains or b) snow on the ground you can play in?

If a), Snow normally starts falling on the peaks from late April, however the sun is still pretty warm at this time so it melts in a few days. Snow falling June-August can last for weeks in the shady parts of the mountains, however it can be erratic, if there arent any cold fronts there can be no snow at all. Last chance for snow is normally around October in a normal year.

If b) You really cant plan this type of thing in advance. Snow might only fall at "resort level" once or twice a year at best, and unless its a very heavy snowfall, it might not even last a day or two. Note that the Southern Berg has a much higher incidence of ground snow due to higher elevation and being further South. The heaviest snow usually falls between End July and Mid September.

Last year there was extremely heavy snow in August, and it managed to last about a week even at lower elevations.

I took this pic from just outside Drakensberg Gardens Hotel

 

[Saltex]

When you say snow, do you mean a) snow high on the mountains or b) snow on the ground you can play in?

If a), Snow normally starts falling on the peaks from late April, however the sun is still pretty warm at this time so it melts in a few days. Snow falling June-August can last for weeks in the shady parts of the mountains, however it can be erratic, if there arent any cold fronts there can be no snow at all. Last chance for snow is normally around October in a normal year.

If b) You really cant plan this type of thing in advance. Snow might only fall at "resort level" once or twice a year at best, and unless its a very heavy snowfall, it might not even last a day or two. Note that the Southern Berg has a much higher incidence of ground snow due to higher elevation and being further South. The heaviest snow usually falls between End July and Mid September.

Last year there was extremely heavy snow in August, and it managed to last about a week even at lower elevations.

I took this pic from just outside Drakensberg Gardens Hotel

View attachment 36196

That looks awesome!

 

[lived666]

Jip pretty much the responses I was expecting

No but really please

but really, winter when its snowing, or you could go now and avoid the traffic and the road blocks, but could be a long wait

 

[ponder]

Jun/Jul and then there also usually a cold snap that hits in August towards the end.

 

[Saltex]

ya winter time ofc.

 

[intel8080]

ya winter time ofc.

I feel sooo sorry for you. Did not have a holiday in 5 years and when you do get one can only afford a place up to 1000 rand OMG am I not fortunate . . . I'll be in very deep snow in 2 weeks time and will stay there till March. Down here the best snow we had was last year in Lesotho just before we left for Mozambique. It was during the last week of July.

 

[ponder]

I feel sooo sorry for you. Did not have a holiday in 5 years and when you do get one can only afford a place up to 1000 rand OMG am I not fortunate . . . I'll be in very deep snow in 2 weeks time and will stay there till March.

:wtf:

 

[Saltex]

I feel sooo sorry for you. Did not have a holiday in 5 years and when you do get one can only afford a place up to 1000 rand OMG am I not fortunate . . . I'll be in very deep snow in 2 weeks time and will stay there till March. Down here the best snow we had was last year in Lesotho just before we left for Mozambique. It was during the last week of July.

Its not about the money, I don't see much point in spending so much on a place just to basically sleep, and then to basically kind of forget about that little chocolate they left for me on my pillow etc, I have better things to spend money on that I can actually physically keep, that is just how I see holidays tbh, I just wanna go for the scenery etc.

 

[Alan]

Yeah looks great but once you're in it bleh

Well at least the sludge that passes for snow in the berg....

 

[Freshy-ZN]

PM me when you are looking for snow in the Southern Berg and Ill give you a live update.

Currently there isnt any but if you like rain.......

 

[Freshy-ZN]

If you come right now you will see loads!

 

[ichigo]

If you come right now you will see loads!

Which part of the berg going next week to cathedral peak area?

 

[Freshy-ZN]

At the moment it's all over but higher up. Was a good dump last night and I think still is dumping. Waiting for th clouds to open up a bit so I can see.