Luckily, South Africa offers plenty of leisure activities to warm up both body and mind. Here are the top things to do this winter compiled from a top ten list by Hippo.co.za.
Have a snow experience
Snowfall hotspots in South Africa include the mountainous regions of Ceres in the Western Cape, Cathedral Peak in the Drakensberg and the Long Tom Pass in Mpumalanga. Take your camera and snap a few photos of the carpet of glistening snowflakes, or even build a snowman with the kids. If you're the more adventurous type, head over to the Tiffindell Ski Resort in the Southern Drakensberg for an authentic ski and snowboarding experience.
Get involved in charity
While some of us actually enjoy winter, spare a thought for the poor and homeless, as these are unfortunately, the people who find the cold season insufferable. Luckily, South Africa has hundreds of charity organisations tending to the needs of the less fortunate. Even if you don't have time to actively volunteer on a continuous basis, you can still help out by donating blankets to a night shelter, contributing a pot of homemade soup to a soup kitchen, or knit a couple of woollies for the folks living on the street corner.
Play more sports
During winter, it's so easy to fall into the habit of not getting exercise. Add to this the fact that it's a time when we're living mostly calorie-dense food such as stews, soups and hot chocolate – winter will not have rewarded us with a beach-ready physique comes spring. There's no better way to keep in good shape while having fun at the same time (not to mention warming up those frozen limbs) than playing your favourite sports, alternatively you could also try a new one out. Join a local rugby club or sign up for ice skating lessons if you live near an ice rink.
Enjoy nature
When rainy days give you a break, why not take some time out to enjoy the beauty of winter? The season may not have blossoms or butterflies, but a landscape of leave-stripped trees and puddles reflecting the rays of the sun are just as beautiful. If you're up for more than just a stroll in the park, get your hiking gear and hit South Africa's best winter hiking trails such as Olifants River Wilderness Trail and the Wild Coast Walk.
Attend a wine show
South Africa is one of the world's leading wine producing countries, so it's not surprising that we have a range of wine-related events throughout the year; from guided tours in the cellars of Stellenbosch and Franschoek to more extravagant wine tasting opportunities at annual festivals. Wine lovers can look forward in two events in August; the Mercury Wine Week that runs from 24-26 August 2016 at the Sun Coast Casino and the We Love Wine Festival at Cape Gate Shopping Centre on 26 and 27 August 2016 where producers will present the unique flavours of their wineyards.
Get citrus creative
Oranges, lemons, naartjies, grapefruit – winter offers citrus galore and while they're still cheap you can put them to plenty of uses besides eating raw and get your dose of Vitamin C. Cook homemade marmalade for your friends and family, make your own citrus cleaner, create citrus-infused vodka, or add them to your décor as citrus pomanders.
Shop in the clearance section
During the last weeks of winter, many clothing stores get their summer stock and surplus seasonal items such as coats, boots and beanies go on sale. It's never too early to get your wardrobe ready for the next winter besides having to endure a month or two of cold weather. Remember that your fitting options will be really limited, so don't be shy to ask around if a marked-down item is not available in your size. In most cases the store would be happy to import the clothing from another store.
Conclusion
Remember, that winter is also the high season for colds and flu, but that shouldn't stop you from having fun. With an affordable medical aid, you can help keep the winter bugs at bay make sure your loved ones family stays hale and hearty right through winter.