Photographer snaps elephants and giraffes as safari animals shiver in snowy surroundings in South Africa

It’s not quite the backdrop you’d expect for pictures of giraffes, elephants and antelopes.

The animals were snapped in snowy surroundings after blizzards hit the South African savannahs.

Popular safari sights usually pictured in searing heat were captured in the snow in a game reserve in the Sneeuberg mountains by photographer Kitty Viljoen.

Game manager Kitty, 54, said: ‘We woke up to the snow, and it was a real treat to see the animals in these conditions – I am more used to seeing our elephants swim.

Sneeuberg translates to snow mountain while it occasionally gets dustings of the white stuff, the last heavy snowfall was reportedly in 2010.

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“The animals know the snow is coming and move to warm areas so we do see a behaviour change,” added Kitty.

She said they often try to find warm pockets and stay out of the wind, while small animals hide under shrubs and down holes.