Does It Snow in Africa? Snowiest Places and Average Amounts

When westerners think of Africa, we imagine a place that’s always hot, whether it’s the dry, scorching heat of the Sahara Desert or the humid heat of the Congo Rainforest. But does it snow in Africa? Amazingly, out of 54 African countries, 10 of them experience periods of snowfall! Here are the African countries that receive snow and how much snowfall they usually get.

1. Namibia

Granted, there hasn’t been snowfall in Namibia since early June, 2011, but it did happen. This was in Spreetshoogte Pass in Namib-Naukluft Park, which lies in the western part of the country in the Namib Desert. The snowfall lasted from around 11 a.m. until afternoon, and the temperatures sunk to a record low of 28.7 degrees Fahrenheit and never went above 41 degrees F.

2. Ethiopia

The Simien Mountains of Ethiopia are one of the few places in Equatorial Africa that receive snowfall every year. The highest peaks include the 14,872-foot Ras Dejen, the 14,534-foot Bwahit, and the 14,501-foot high Silki, all of which were formed from a shield volcano. The annual snowfall is about 5 inches.

3. South Africa

You’ll find snow during the winters on the Cape and Drakensberg, with the western and northern parts of the Cape having the most accumulation. As with Namibia, the snow comes around June and lasts till August. Accumulations are only about 1.18 inches.

4. Algeria

Algeria is in the northern part of the continent, with the Mediterranean Sea in the north and the Sahara Desert in the south. Because of this, Algeria has a continental climate, a Mediterranean climate, and a desert climate. The places that get the most snow are the provinces of Setif and Batna. Setif Province is on the Mediterranean Sea, and Batna is close by. They both have Mediterranean climates. Setif gets about 16 inches of snow a year, while Batna gets about 6.54 inches.

5. Lesotho

The climate of Lesotho is surprisingly cool, as the country ranges from 4,593 to 11,424 feet above sea level. Indeed, it snows all year in the capital city of Maseru, though the total accumulation is only about half an inch. Because Lesotho is south of the equator, its winter lasts from June till August, with low temperatures around 32 degrees F and high temperatures reaching 60.8 to 66 degrees F.

6. Morocco

Like Algeria, Morocco is in the northern part of the continent and borders not just the Mediterranean Sea but the Atlantic Ocean. Because of this, it has several climate zones. Some of these zones receive snowfall in the winter, which lasts from December to February. Indeed, the town of Ifrane is known for its skiing resort. Other places known for their snowfall are Oukaimeden, Imlil, and Midelt. The average snowfall is about 2 inches.

7. Kenya

The one place that gets an appreciable amount of snow in this country is Mount Kenya, which has at least three ski resorts. It rains and snows on this 17,057-foot extinct volcano from March to December, and snow falls on the mountain starting at about 14,800 feet. December is the snowiest month on the mountain, but over the past few years the amount of snowfall has been less than 2 inches. The last significant amount of snow fell on March 26, 2023, with an accumulation of 2.8 inches.

8. Uganda

If you’re looking for snow in Uganda, you’ll find it in the Rwenzori Mountains, right on the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. These mountains not only get snow, but lots of rain, and the annual precipitation averages as much 98 inches. The mountains have an alpine climate and the tallest peaks, Mount Baker, Mount Speke, and Mount Stanley have permanent snowcaps and glaciers. However, climatologists believe the snow and ice will disappear over the next 30 years. These peaks are also called the Mountains of the Moon.

9. Tanzania

Tanzania is the home of Mount Kilimanjaro, and it’s the only place in the country where it snows. At 19,341 feet this mountain is the tallest in Africa. It’s so tall that it has five climate zones and the temperature at the summit can sink to as low as -20 degrees F. There’s no set time when Kilimanjaro experiences snowfall, but it’s most likely to happen at the beginning of December, with other significant snowfalls happening from July till September. The annual accumulation of snow and graupel is 9.8 to 19.7 inches a year.

10. Tunisia

Like Algeria, Tunisia borders the Mediterranean Sea and the Sahara. Because of this, the northern and southern parts of this small country have different climates. Because it’s north of the equator, Tunisia experiences snowfall from December into February, especially in its central and northern areas. Snow also falls on its highest mountains, including Jebel ech Chambi in the country’s west central region. Still, snowfall in Tunisia is sparse compared to other places. A January 2023 snowfall around Ain Drahem, a mountain city in the northwest, resulted in an accumulation of about 0.79 of an inch.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © TristanBalme/Shutterstock.com