Paragliding in South Africa

PParagliding is described as the skill of flying an inflatable wing craft. A basic four-day course teamed with the right mental attitude and basic physical requirements will prepare you for the thrill of your first paragliding session. 

Foreign pilots keen to taste South Africa's paragliding opportunities may obtain a temporary licence (valid for three months) and limited medical and CASEVAC insurance through the South African Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association. 

Although most of the country's nine provinces offer the sport, the relatively flat Karoo heartland is one of the best areas for long-distance paragliding.  

The towns of De Aar and Kuruman in Northern Cape province are the centres of Karoo paragliding. South African paragliding has generated more than 50% of world records in this sport, most of them established in the Karoo. 

Pilots are launched from the De Aar Aerodrome with a 'payout' winch fixed on the back of a vehicle, although even here a mountain launch is possible.  

Western Cape has more than 60 official paragliding launch-and-flight sites. 

Towards the north of KwaZulu-Natal along the Drakensberg Mountains you'll come across dauntless 'one-wings' riding thermals or taking the 'ridge lift', a wave of wind that blows up the escarpment. The rolling hills of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands are also a favoured spot for this rewarding leisure activity. 

BBut you don't have to be a fully fledged paragliding pilot to experience this thrill. You could also book a tandem flight with an experienced pilot. The most popular spots for tandem flights are Lion’s Head and Signal Hill in Cape Town and at Wilderness, further along the southern coast of Western Cape. Tandem flights are always weather-dependent and so cannot be guaranteed. 

TTravel tips & Planning  info 

Who to contact 

South African Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (SAHPA) 
Tel: +27 (0)74 152 2505 
Email: office@sahpa.co.za 

Best time to visit  

Paragliding is very weather-dependent, so even if you've booked a tandem flight it might not necessarily materialise. The windy, rainy season in Western Cape lasts from April to September, but those are also the months when the interior and eastern parts of the country experience warm, dry days and steady, but not generally excessive winds. 

What will it cost?  

Tandem glides usually start from around R900 per person. 

What to pack  

Paragliding head offices under the auspices of the South African Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association will advise on equipment hire and the correct gear. Paragliders fold up neatly into a back pack. 

Related Links 

• South African Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association (SAHPA)  
• Paragliding South Africa  
• Paragliding Adventures  

PPlanning a trip to South Africa? Meet Your South Africa guides, the people that know the country best! Read the Meet Your South Africa magazine here

__________________________________________________________________________________

For inspiration and insider tips, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. Tag #MeetSouthAfrica to share your pics with us, or subscribe to our newsletter for latest information, great holiday offers, prizes and consumer events across South Africa.