| Description
Cape Town is one of the most spectacular
places in the world to paraglide. Lion's Head is the site
that we fly from most commonly because of its location and
the stunning views of Table Mountain and the Cape Town area.
However, there are many flying sites in the area including
Signal Hill, Sir Lowry's Pass (just past Somerset West), Franschoek
and Hermanus. Tandem paragliding instructional flights are
a great way of getting into paragliding or just experiencing
the joy of freeflight. Flights last anything from 10-30mins.
No Experience Required
As a tandem paragliding passenger you do not require any previous
knowledge of the paragliding at all. The pilot will brief
you on take off and landing shortly before the flight. It
is important that you listen to the instructions of the pilot
and to have total confidence in his abilities. Take offs are
easy (just a few steps usually)and landings are soft (most
often we land on large grassy fields with no obstacles or
dangers.
Transport
Pick-up and drop-off within the Cape Town
City Bowl is R50/person.
Transport charge for out of Cape Town paragliding trips are
R100/person.
What to wear
1. Closed shoes - hiking boots are the
best but running shoes are fine. No sandals, birkenstocks,
high heels - we will not be able to fly with you if you come
with unsuitable shoes.
2. Long pants
3. Long-sleeved top (something warm basically)
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Lions
Head
Altitude: Top site 450m (asl), ceiling at
1200m asl
Description: A consistent and beautiful site
to fly, offering a panorama of Camps Bay and the Twelve Apostles.
In the afternoon, Lion's Head heats up and generates a thermic,
upslope breeze. Best flying is from 3pm onwards during wind-shadow
conditions. Parking is on the back (CapeTown side) of Lion's
Head, then a stiff hike is required up the gravel road and
around to the front side. Because of the spire-shape of the
peak, the wind diverges around it, causing a strong increase
in wind speed at both takeoff sites when it is soarable. The
wind is usually crossed from the left (S) at the topsite and
very strong, and crossed from the right (NW) at the lower
site. Don't pioneer a new launch site somewhere else on the
mountain.
Wind : W-SW, thermic lee-side in SE
Launch: 'Lower launch' is reached after a
10 minute walk, where the path narrows from a jeep-track width
into a hiking track. It is a challenging launch through a
silver-leaf tree grove from a short net-covered runoff. Be
meticulous in your layout and pre-flight checks. This is where
to launch if it is soarable and SW. The 'Top site' is reached
after another 10 minutes of brisk walking (it is NOT on the
top of Lion's Head! It's below the cliffs on the NW side).
It is a rocky netted launchsite that is both steep and loose
underfoot. The wind is usually crossed from the left here,
making good ground-handling and committed launch techniques
essential for a safe get-away.
Sir Lowry's Pass
Altitude: 320m high (420m asl)
Airspace ceiling at 1200m asl. 2000m near Hanskop
Description: Soaring and thermic. A regular
site that offers soaring, thermalling and cross-country, with
superb views. The long mountain chain extends in a fairly
consistent ridge to the south. To the north of takeoff the
ridge rises to become towering mountain peaks, then curves
to form a semicircle. Thermals can be strong, taking you high
up and away from the earth, into the blue. Wind : NW - SW
Launch: Launch for competent pilots (very
good ground-handling skills) from the grassed slope below
the wall, where turbulence from the big rocks to the right
or left can make it risky. If you misjudge the wind, you are
likely to get blown back into the carpark. For an easier launch,
walk directly across the road from the entrance to the carpark,
and take the little footpath up the mountain, bearing left
until you ascend the final steep crest (10 minutes). You will
be high above the pass. There is a windstreamer tied to a
tall pole, and some netting on the ground. Have a good look
at the windspeed, you do not want to be blown over the back
of this mountain! For hang-gliders, lower launch is about
500m down the road, just below the railway line. Sir Lowry's
Pass flying past Hanskop
Landing: At the base of the pass, on the
S side of the road, before the pine trees is a bald spot.Anywhere
close by, in the low bushes is okay, but be careful not to
damage the sensitive fynbos. Be careful of the big set of
powerlines on final approach on the far side of the landing
spot, between it and the highway. Please do not land too close
to the road, as you may cause an accident. More experienced
pilots can land a little further on, at the second clearing
where the retrieval road turns off the base of the pass. Toplanding
is not recommended when the carpark is congested (summer season,
weekends, holidays). No toplanding for Basic Pilots. If the
air is thermic or the wind crossed, toplanding is very risky.
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