All activities / Paragliding / Cape Town
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Paragliding in Cape Town
South Africa's most geographically dramatic city, wedged between Table Mountain and two oceans: paragliding off Signal Hill, kite beaches up the coast, and the Cape Malay food heritage of the Bo-Kaap.
Why here
Signal Hill and Lion's Head provide urban launches with Table Mountain and the Atlantic as the backdrop. Flying in Cape Town means flying in one of the world's great natural amphitheaters, with the ocean on three sides and a 1,000m plateau defining the horizon. When the South Easter settles, ridge soaring above Camps Bay and Clifton is some of the most visually striking flying in the sport. The scene is small, technically demanding, and self-selecting: pilots who fly here know what they're doing, which keeps the sites from getting crowded.
Best months
The South Easter, known locally as the Cape Doctor, is the dominant wind and must be respected. It runs strongest in summer and can make flying impossible for days at a stretch. October, November, March, and April tend to be the most reliable windows, catching the shoulder of the summer wind pattern. Winter (June to August) is windier and wetter but not impossible. Visiting pilots should check in with the Cape Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club before flying any site.
Getting there & around
Cape Town International Airport (CPT) is well-connected globally. Signal Hill launch is 15 minutes from the city center. A hire car is useful for chasing conditions across different sites around the peninsula. Equipment hire is limited; most pilots bring their own gear. The Cape Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club is the right first contact for local site briefings and conditions.
Skill levels: intermediate, advanced
Schools & guides (2)
Cape Hope Paragliding
SchoolCape Hope Paragliding appears on the South African Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association's register of SACAA-approved schools under the Western Cape province and the City of Cape Town Metropole district, with Francois de Villiers as accountable manager. Its recorded disciplines are paragliding and tandem flight experience, and its approval certificate is SACAA/0058/DTO. The family-run operation flies tandem flights from Signal Hill and Lion's Head, landing at Sea Point or Clifton. Flights are R1700 per person with in-flight GoPro footage a further R400, and there is a 110 kg weight limit and a minimum age of 14.
Cape Town Tandem Paragliding
OutfitterA Cape Town-based paragliding operator offering tandem flights from Signal Hill and Lion's Head above the Atlantic Seaboard, with instructors approved by SAHPA (Southern African Hang gliding and Paragliding Association) and licensed by the SACAA. Signal Hill provides some of the most consistent year-round ridge soaring conditions in the southern hemisphere, with views of Table Mountain, the Twelve Apostles, and the city bowl. No experience required.
Also good for paragliding in October:
Torn between Cape Town and Pokhara for October?
A plan settles it for your skill and budget, same-day.