Winter Wonderland: Rare snowfalls across parts of South Africa
Updated 13:00, 09-Jul-2018
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To South Africa now. While the residents of Cape Town are happy the drought afflicting the city is finally over, they're now trying to deal with biting cold. In some areas, the landscape has been transformed into a rare winter wonderland. Rene del Carme has more.
Snowfalls are a rare weather phenomenon in South Africa, but the cold and rain of the past few days have left plenty of snow in some high-lying areas. It's icy cold here in Ceres and picture postcard beautiful.
HEIKE DE KOCK MANAGER, MATROOSBERG RESERVE "This is the best snow we've had in the last 10 years. It's a lot. It's low down. It's reachable with a normal vehicle. It's to the tar road. We haven't seen this much snow this low down since 2008, so we're very blessed with all the snow."
For many here, it's come at the right time, in the Winter School Holiday bringing much-needed water after a few devastatingly dry seasons.
"The snow's really beautiful. We don't see it that often. Especially here in Cape Town. And we have much more people, especially now with the school holidays. So, the kids are having fun."
"It's just a Winter Wonderland. And best of all is bring the little ones. seeing their faces, experiencing the snow for the first time. This is the first time we've had this much snow since 2008, because of the awful drought that we had. But now it's over. And I think we are even going to have more rain as well. This is just the beginning of our dams filling up."
"Unfortunately, we had that horrible drought. And then the Lord blessed us with so much snow and so much water and everything is just overflowing and bringing life back to Cape Town."
Many visitors travelled long distances to catch a glimpse of the snow. And it was clear that young and old were equally in awe of Mother Nature's icy works of art.
"Experiencing this, this is just like the most awesome feeling and experiencing the spectacular view that we have, this is like blessings raining down on us. Just, seeing how great creation is. And that it always comes thorough for you."
"It's really good to see the snow for my first time. And I'm just happy that it's here."
RENE DEL CARME CERES, SOUTH AFRICA "Locals say they hope to enjoy the spectacular sites of low-lying snow for the next few days. And the snow-capped mountain peaks, for at least the next few weeks."
Rene Del Carme, CGTN, in Ceres, near Cape Town, South Africa.