Snow is not a climatic condition that many of us normally associate with Africa, but despite this, several African nations see snow regularly each winter. The snow is often not deep enough for extreme sports like skiing and snowboarding; However, there are three countries on the African continent that have their own ski resorts. In the southern hemisphere winter (June – August), your best bet for some action on the piste is Tiffindell Ski Resort in South Africa, or Afriski Mountain Resort in Lesotho.
If you prefer to spend the December festive season on the slopes, your only option is the Atlas Mountains of Morocco.
A unique experience
Skiing in Morocco is nothing like skiing in the high-end resorts of Europe and North America. Depending on where you go, infrastructure is limited or non-existent, including ski rental points, ski lifts, and facilities for post-ski entertainment. To avoid disappointment, it is wise to be as self-sufficient as possible, from stocking up to bringing your own gear. However, if you come prepared, skiing in Morocco can also be very rewarding. The scenery is spectacular, the slopes are gloriously unpopulated, and the cost is a fraction of what you can expect to spend elsewhere.
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Most importantly, skiing in Morocco allows you to get off the beaten track and indulge in your sense of adventure. The novelty of being able to say that he has carved dust in Africa makes the effort to do so well worth it.
Oukaïmeden ski resort
The picturesque village of Oukaïmeden is located 49 miles / 78 kilometers south of Marrakech, in the heart of the High Atlas Mountains. The village stands at 8,530 feet / 2,600 meters, while the winter sports area clings to the edge of Jebel Attar Mountain and has a maximum elevation of 10,603 feet / 3,232 meters. A single chairlift takes you to the top, where six downhill runs await. Each one is made more challenging by the lack of track maintenance. There is also a nursery area, a ski school, a family tobogganing area, and a series of intermediate runs served by four skid lifts.
If the latter feels too conventional, you can always ride to the top of the slope on one of the resort’s donkeys.
The races are not well signposted, and locals take advantage of the tourist confusion by offering unofficial guide services. If you need help, it is best to hire an instructor from the ski school, as these guides rarely have any particular knowledge. There is a ski rental shop that offers outdated but useful equipment, while unofficial ski rental kiosks offer prehistoric equipment for a third of the price. Whichever option you choose, you will be amazed at how affordable it is to go skiing to Oukaïmeden.
A day of official gear rental costs around $ 18, while lift passes will cost you about $ 11.
Between races, you can buy traditional Moroccan street food from various locally owned stalls. There is a hotel and restaurant in Oukaïmeden called Hotel Chez Juju, although reports vary as to the quality of accommodation. Some prefer to take day trips from Marrakech or spend the night in one of the luxurious kasbahs located in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. Kasbah Tamadot and Kasbah Angour are great options, and both can arrange transportation to Oukaïmeden for you. Otherwise, round-trip taxi fares from Marrakech are about $ 45.
If you have a car, the journey from Marrakech to Oukaïmeden will take you around two hours.
Skiing near Ifrane
Although Oukaïmeden is the only true ski resort in Morocco, the village of Ifrane in the Middle Atlas is also known for its snowy winters and amazing slopes. Located 40 miles / 65 kilometers south of Fez and Meknes, Ifrane is a short taxi ride from the Michlifen ski resort, where a number of easy trails offer a fun day out for beginner and intermediate skiers. There is a ski lift in Michlifen, but it is also possible to walk to the top of the slopes. Bringing your own equipment is best if possible, although there are rental shops offering equipment in different states of repair at the ski resort and in Ifrane.
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Moroccan ski tours
For serious skiers, one of the best options is to join a ski tour like the one offered by Pathfinder Travels. Every year the company organizes an eight-day expedition to the High Atlas Mountains. You will base yourself at the Toukbal Refuge, located at the foot of the highest mountain in Morocco; and spend your days exploring the cross-country skiing opportunities offered by Jebel Toukbal and its surrounding peaks. With an average elevation of 13,120 feet / 4,000 meters, these mountains produce an endless supply of deep corridors and impressive open snowfields.
This trip is priced at € 1,480 per person.
The truly adventurous can also hit the slopes with Africa’s only heliski team, Heliski Marrakech. There are two packages to choose from. The first is a 3-day / 2-night excursion that includes up to four helicopter drops per day on slopes of the High Atlas that measure 11,480 feet / 3,500 meters or more in height. The second includes a heliski day and a half day in Oukaïmeden. Whichever package you choose, your meals and accommodation will be provided by the luxurious Kasbah Agounsane. Prices start at € 950 per person.
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