Snow Going

Finding the freeze this winter

Crazy how us Saffas have this mad obsession with snow…ok, we don’t get to see it that often, but that’s not to say the white magic doesn’t happen at some stage each winter. Let’s face it though, finding snow is all about luck and timing. While there’s no promise you’ll be waking up to a landscape that’s turned from parched Karoo scrub to winter wonderland over night, we can get you prepped for the possibility.

With snow hunting, planning is key. You don’t want to be idling last-minute up the N1 with three quarters of Cape Town because news is out that there might be snow on Matroosberg. No way, you want to be right in the thick of it, fire crackling, gluehwein simmering and the kids getting their first taste of frostbite while building their snow man.

So, here are our three simple steps to (possible) snow getaway bliss:

Step one: Choose your dates, choose your getaway. What’s the gaurantee of snow? you may ask. Well, speaking from experience, we booked the same spot on the same dates, three years running and hey presto, we got snow each year. Might be vlook, but do your weather research, you just never know.

Step two, log fire or bust: This one’s important, a winter getaway without an open fire just isn’t going to cut the mustard. Sitting round that oil heater adjusting the temperature is a bit like jogging around your garden during lockdown. It works, but it ain’t much fun.

Step three, almost as important as step two: Washing up gloves and plastic bags. Don’t for a minute think that those VTec 2000 Snow Clutcher gloves from Woolies are going to stop your fingers from going numb after you’ve made the first two snowballs for the kids. Unless you’ve spent a small fortune on some skiing gear from Switzerland, you’ll need to “maak a plan”. Whip those washing-up gloves over your woolen mitts, tie some Checkers bags over your shoes and you’ll keep both gloves and shoes dry and toasty! 

Now, if our top tips on winter getaways (with the slight chance of seeing some snow) aren’t enough to get you packing the hot water bottles and heading off into the great unknown, then nothing will be. So go on, get out there into the big freeze, you never know, it might just SNOW!

ps. Pack a carrot, every snowman deserves a decent nose.