Flying Sites in the Western Cape, South Africa

Table Mountain -  The Front Face  – GPS: -33° 57′ 31.35″, +18° 24′ 20.78″

Height: 1000m
Licence required: Advanced
Wind Direction: SW, W, NE (Light SE). 15 -20 kms
Comments: Note that this is NOT used for Tandem Paragliding (it’s not allowed)!

Table Mountain is of course the highest launch site in Cape Town, with stunning views of the city and Western seaboard beaches. This site is one to be reckoned with. Although Table Mountain is a most sought-after flights in Cape Town by local and foreign Paraglider pilots, it is not often flown due to the license requirements and rapidly changing wind directions – and is NOT used for tandem flights under any circumstance.

Western City Bowl

Upper Cable Station

Upper Station & Lion's Head

Those pilots with an advanced license are able to launch from either one of the three launch sites. The Gully(W), overlooking Clifton & Camps Bay, The Front Face (NW), overlooking the city center and Maclear’s Beacon (Light SE), facing the southern suburbs and Constantia.

It’s not to be flown by foreign pilots unless accompanied by a professional local guide.

Lion’s Head – Meeting place GPS:   -33° 56′ 11.41″, +18° 23′ 42.04″

Height: 380m – 450m height difference (2 takeoffs)
Licence required: Basic License
Wind Direction: S to W, light SE Wind shadow (0 – 20km/h windspeed).

Lion's Head - City Side

Lion's Head - Atlantic Side

Lion's Head take-off

Our “house” mountain and the most used takeoffs in south Africa!
This popular site is perhaps the most frequently flown site in the Cape Peninsula during summer, Lion’s Head works in a (SW) sea breeze. By Midday the thermic action can be relatively strong but is rarely conducive to short X-Country flights to Table Mountain and down the Twelve Apostles over Camps Bay Beach to Hout Bay (10kms).

Lion’s Head is also unusual in that it is often flyable in a strong (SE wind). Yes ! Strong….The bulk shape of Table Mountain creates a huge wind shadow easily visible on the ocean, with an often gentle (SW) curling back up the take off site. Beware of the encroaching wind line. Take off sites marked in red, landing fields marked in yellow.

An 8 – 20 min walk is required to reach one of the two takeoff sites (upper takeoff for lighter winds). We always meet our clients at the parking place before walking up together.

Signal Hill – Buttress and Bench – GPS:   -33° 55′ 3.44″, +18° 24′ 8.25″

Height: 300m – 340m
Licence required: Advanced
Wind Direction: light NNW to  WSW (5 – 25km/h)

2 takeoff sites – one at the very end of signal hill drive (buttress) and around 1 km short of the end (the bench, where you see pine trees and a small, steep gravel road veering off signal hill into a parking gravel parkinglot).

With a light to moderate (NW) or (W), Signal Hill may be a site you won’t forget. Overlooking Sea Point and Green Point Common (and of course our mighty Toilet bowl stadium), the soaring experience is well worth attempting. If the direction is more (W), crossings to Lion’s Head, Table Mountain and The Twelve Apostles are within reach of most experienced pilots. Patience is often required. The site is graded as advanced, due to the nature of the rapidly changing weather conditions and the fact that there is no immediate landing area below the ridge. If one sinks out you need to either slope land or attempt to glide to Green Point Fields. Top landing is possible in the right conditions at “signal’s”.

Toward Table Mountain

From Signal Hill to Stadium

Takeoff Signal Hill

Lionshead and signalhill are excellent, scenic places to fly, but we need the right wind direction and strengths to fly them.

When flying these 2 sites, and unless we clearly specify otherwise, we ALWAYS meet at the Lions Head parking lot, 300m up Signal Hill road, opposite Tafelberg road and near Table Mountain. Its right near the Kloofnek circle (at the saddle between lionshead and tablemountain). Easy to find and a 5- 10 minute drive from Table mountain’ s lower cablecar,  Camps bay / Clifton and the City of Capetown.

Out – of –town flying Sites:

Hermanus – GPS:   -34° 24′ 7.09″, +19° 14′ 33.84″

Height: 220m
Licence required: Basic
Wind Direction: SE, S, SSW (10- 25kms)

Situated on the East coast 1 hours from Cape Town, Hermanus is a pleasant and charming holiday town. In August/September and until January, Hermanus comes alive due to the migration of Southern Right Whales into Walker Bay.

Hermanus

Hermanus

Hermanus Take-off

A 10 minute scenic drive will transport you to the top of Rotary Way where the Take off site is. Fresh sea breezes often contribute to smooth ridge soaring along the 8km ridge. Hermanus can and often does become thermic, this site has seen many moderate X-Country distances. A great and very consistent site for amazing flying.

Porterville – GPS:   -32° 54′ 17.91″, +19° 2′ 17.16″

Height: 550m
License required: Basic
Wind Direction: SW, S, SWW (Thermic XC, 5 -25 km/h)

This is South Africa’ s premier paragliding site! The best! For longer flights, thermic and wonderfully scenic. In terms of Hard Core, this is the site you want to fly if you are interested in doing long distances! Most of the South African Paragliding & Hang-gliding championships and the “All African Cup” are held here. The Dasklip Pass take off site is a good, large takeoff site. Wind conditions and directions are often variable and thermic action can be strong, flying after 1 pm in mid summer is for experienced pilots only. The 1 ½ hour drive to get here is beautiful and really worthwhile. A brilliant day out Tandem Paragliding.

Porterville

Porterville Soarers

Porterville Take-off

Every client that we take here loves their experience!
Our longest flight with a passenger is 110km in a straight line flown by Stef in 2006 (4 ½ hours in the air!)

Sir Lowries Pass  – GPS:   -34° 8′ 56.87″, +18° 55′ 39.91″

Height: 400m
License required: Basic License
Wind Direction: SSW to NW (10 – 25 km/h)

Sir Lowries Pass is a flying site that is just as popular as Lion’s Head. Also working in a (SW) and having a long mountain range to follow make it a site for the pilot who likes a challenge. Previous X-Country records have been in excess of 240kms to past Porterville. The view of the Peninsula and Gordon’s Bay add to the experience.
An easy and beautiful place to fly.

Sir Lowrie's Pass

Sir Lowrie's Pass

Sir Lowrie's Pass

Franschhoek – GPS:   -33° 54′ 12.16″, +19° 9′ 26.96″

Height: 320m

License required: Basic License
Wind Direction: SW to NW (5 – 25 km/h)

Another gorgeous flying site that works best in the winter months, but can work all-year round. Effortless soaring and wonderful views of the winelands ,make Franschhoek a pure pleasure to fly. 80 km (40mins) from Cape town.

Paarl Rock – GPS:   -33° 44′ 42.03″, +18° 56′ 58.55″

Height: 280m
License required: Advanced License
Wind Direction: NNE to E to SSW (5 – 25 km/h)

Paarl Rock

Paarl Rock

Paarl Rock

An excellent alternative to flying in Cape town when the SE wind is strong in town and we don’t have a wind shadow that’s formed. 2 Takeoffs from the massive granite outcrops that make Paarl a dream to fly!

Macassar Beach – GPS:   -34° 4′ 21.05″, +18° 38′ 45.39″

Height: 5 – 50m
License required: Basic License
Wind Direction: SE to SW (18 – 28 km/h)

Called macassar beach, but actually in the Wolfgat nature reserve, this unique and stunning flying site. It’s the place where seagulls fly on your wingtip, you see the dolphins at your feet and you couldn’t feel closer to nature! Starting right from the beach we soar long, progressively higher dunes. False bay at its best!

Macassar Beach

Macassar Beach

Further flying sites:

These flying sites we use in our training and on tour. Want to learn to paraglide? We will show you how here. Courses from 2 days to 2 weeks and you have a basic licence!

400km – 550km from Cape town (4- 5hours drive away) these ridges and dunes are excellent for easy soaring and Cross Country flights. It really is an amazing area.

Kleinkranz Dunes – GPS:   -34° 0′ 22.04″, +22° 39′ 33.94″

Height: 20 – 60m
License required: Basic
Wind Direction: SE to SSW (5- 25 km/h)

Where you get to feel like superman for the 1^st time! Small training flights and as the wind increases you can fly to the end of Paradise ridge, 12kms to the end…. and back!

Holiday Inn (Beach hotel) – GPS:  -33° 59′ 57.99″, +22° 36′ 50.06″

Height: 50m
License required: Basic
Wind Direction: S to SW (15- 25 km/h)

Leisure flying is the name of the game, not a very high site but certainly loads of ridge hugging fun above sea and sand. The (SW) winds can keep you entertained for hours. The lovely grass takeoff makes for a fun, effortless site. Warning: a Venturi due to the effect of the 2 hotels, so watch out for strong wind conditions and rather land on the beach when wind strengths are over 28kph.

Garden Route (Map of Africa) – GPS:   -33° 59′ 36.82″, +22° 33′ 35.17″

Height: 180m
License required: Basic
Wind Direction: SE, SSE (10 – 25km/h)

“The Map” as it’s commonly known, is the premier soaring and training site on the Garden Route, sitting 200m above the waves and sweeping coastline, is something that has to be undertaken at least once in your life. Flights from ‘The Map” to Holiday Inn and beyond to Swartvlei are often achieved.

Garden Route (Sedgefield)  – GPS:   -34° 0′ 21.27″, +22° 47′ 37.35″

Height: 170m
License required: Basic
Wind Direction: SE, SSE (10 – 25km/h)

The premier thermic site on the Garden Route, cross country potential and an excellent top landing and “stay-all-day” site. Watch out for stronger thermals and do NOT fly upto the 1^st house on the right hand side of takeoff. Turn well before. Enormous views from here!

Garden Route

Garden Route

Garden Route