And now for something completely different "Ex Africa semper aliquid novi", Pliny the Elder is quoted as saying - Always something new out of Africa.
But snow in Africa is not new, and skiing has been enjoyed for centuries.
Granted, there may not be the quantities experienced in the northern hemisphere, but it is definitely something completely different.
You can be skiing in the morning, and lying on aforementioned golden beach before sunset.
Now how is that for a new experience? Tiffendell Ski Resort Tiffendell is a Ski Resort in Rhodes, a quaint little hamlet in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.
Tucked right against the mountainous Kingdom of Lesotho (did you know that Lesotho has the highest average height of any country on this planet?) in the Southern Drakensberg mountain range, Tiffendell gets cold in winter - very cold.
Which is good for skiing, of course.
The Resort comes complete with luxury internally-heated chalets, ski instructors, equipment hire, ski-lifts, white slopes - and the obligatory après-ski, in a pub that rocks at night.
You could very well be in Europe, if it wasn't for the twice-aforementioned beaches just down the road.
The season is not long, and is weather dependent (of course), with a typical season kicking off in late May and running for a good three months.
Natural snow is supplemented by man-made, with state of the art machines taking advantage of sub-zero nights to coat the slopes with fresh, virgin snow for the following day.
Take a look for yourself But don't take our word for it.
Visit the Tiffendell WEBCAM and see for yourself.
And skiing is not all that can be done in the area.
Rhodes itself is a treasure trove of exploration opportunities - or try your hand at hiking, horse riding, or fishing for the abundant wild trout in the streams in the area.
So if you thought that Africa was for safaris, golf and beaches, try something different next holiday, and up your brag quotient with a serious travel trophy - "I went skiing in Africa".