Cold blast brings rare snow sighting
GRAAFF-REINET — The view-site in the Camdeboo National Park near Graaff-reinet overlooking the Valley of Desolation was covered in snow on Sunday morning, July 16.
Snow was also photographed at the Toposcope enroute to the Valley of Desolation.
This is a rare sight indeed and provided a few locals and tourists who ventured up the Valley Road with an experience they won’t soon forget.
The site is situated approximately 1480m above sea level and was last blanketed by snow seven years ago. As the Valley Road was closed to the public for safety reasons during 2010’s snowfall, few people witnessed it.
At about 10.30am on Sunday morning, Charles and Nancy Kingwill along with their grandson Joshua went for a drive in the rain up to the Valley of Desolation.
It was already snowing when they reached the parking area at the Toposcope, with the flakes already lying 25mm thick on the road.
The Kingwills decided not to venture any further in fear of ice on the road, but on their way down, about a 100m from the parking area, they stopped long enough to take a picture of little Joshua enjoying the snow.
Hanno Sparrius, his wife Sylandré and their daughter Mienke were also one of the few who headed to the Valley on Sunday morning - the family even managed to build a snowman on the viewing deck at the Valley’s parking area.