No Experience Required:
With Tandem Paragliding, as a passenger you require no previous knowledge of the sport at all. The pilot will brief you on take off and landing shortly before the flight. The only important thing to remember is to listen to the instructions of the pilot and to have total confidence in his experience.
Take offs are easy and Landings are soft and most often we land on large fields with no obstacles or dangers.
You Need:
A good state of health - Good walking shoes - 1 and a half hour of your time.
For Your memories:
Para-Pax is the only tandem paragliding company using a unique concept of
"In-flight Photography". Our pilots fly with a specially made 35mm camera mounted on a telescoping pole. Whilst in flight our pilots will use an entire 12 exposure film, capturing the most outrageous images of the passengers in the paragliding harness and the landscapes below.
Price of flight: R850.00
Optional extras: Photographs - R100.00
Pick up and drop off- R50.00 locally (Lion's Head and Signal Hill)
R100.00 - Other sites. We'll ferry you to and from the launch site.
Paragliding Sites in the Western Cape
Table Mountain ..1000m ..Advanced License.. SW, W, NE (Light SE). 15 -20 kms. Not for Tandem Paragliding. 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 the most saught-after flight by Paraglider pilots, it is not often flown due to the license requirements and rapidly changing wind directions. 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.
Lion's Head.... 350m ....Basic License.... SW, W, SE Wind shadow ..15 - 20kms. 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 violent but is often conducive to short X-Country flights to Table Mountain and down the Twelve Apostles to Hout Bay (8kms). Lion's Head is also unusual in that it is often flyable in a strong (SE). 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.
Signal Hill Bench ....250m ....Advanced License ....light NW, W....10 - 15kms. 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, 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. 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. It looks tame, but be warned!
Hermanus ...250m ....Basic License ....SE, S, SSW ....20- 25kms. Situated on the East coast 1 ½ hours from Cape Town, Hermanus is a pleasant and charming holiday town. In August/September Hermanus comes alive due to the migration of Southern Right Whales into Walker Bay. 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.
Porterville .350m ....Basic License ....SW, S, SWW ....Thermic XC .10 -25 kms. 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" were held here. The Dasklip Pass take off site is substantially large, Wind conditions and directions are often variable and thermic action is powerful, flying after 11.00 am in mid summer is for the experienced pilots only.
Sir Lowries Pass ...250m ....Basic License ....SW, W, ....15 - 20 kms. 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 or 172kms to Porterville. The view of the Peninsula and Gordon's Bay add to the experience.
Paragliding Cape Town
For many years, earthbound humans have looked up at us wanna be birds soaring high above the earth in our paragliders and wondered how, when and "what if I could fly" The drawback in the passed has been the lengthy paragliding training courses required before getting your feet properly off the ground.
Tandem Paragliding is the solution:
With an oversized, specially designed tandem glider and two harnesses, the sport now invites all who wish to explore the skies and soar the mountain tops, but don't want to learn to paraglide on their own. Worldwide, Tandem Paragliding attracts thousands of clients and is an incredible way to feel the exhilaration of "free-flight" in safe & experienced hands.
Tandem flights are easy and safe! You need no previous experience. Parapax will do all the flying while their passengers sit comfortably and enjoy the view.
Our professional pilots have flown thousands of tandem flights and will give you a short briefing before you are in the air. Flights last between 10-30 minutes depending on weather conditions. Take offs are easy and landings are soft.
Parapax Pilots use an entire 12 exposure film, capturing images of the passengers in the paragliding harness and the beautiful landscapes below.
Parapax also offer day tours which include a pick up and drop off service for your convenience. A light snack lunch and refreshments will be available as well as enjoying some champagne on landing.
