Paragliding Flights, Lessons and Experiences in South Africa

Icarus Paragliding are a dedicated team of instructors and enthusiasts based in Cape Town, Western Cape, offering tandem flying experiences and paragliding courses to the masses. Lead by a number of pilots with years of experience under their belts, Icarus is a great company for first-time fliers and those who want to get a taste of paragliding. As with most Cape Town paragliding companies, the flights take-off from either Lion’s Head or Signal Hill, allowing you unparalleled views of Sea Point, Green Point Park, and Three Anchor Bay. You may be thinking ‘Icarus? Isn’t he the guy who flew too close to the sun and fell into the ocean?’, but don’t let the name put you off, these guys are professionals!

Check out their website for more details, or purchase an experience gift certificate here.

If you’re keen to have your tandem paragliding experience filmed or photographed, then Skywings Paragliding are the way to go. With launch sites on Signal Hill and Lion’s Head, Skywings self-proclaim to provide the “best pictures of your tandem paragliding experience”, and we can vouch for that – we were lucky enough to join them for a flight in February 2018 (check out our video!). The pilots are incredibly friendly and are well-equipped to deal with first-time nerves (who, me?), and will happily point out any number of interesting landmarks below. Once you’ve landed at Sea Point, they kindly drive you back up the mountain and offer recommendations on what to do in Cape Town and the surrounding areas. This was an informative sightseeing experience as much as an aerial adventure!

You can find Skywings Paragliding on their website, or purchase gift vouchers here.

Having been in operation for well over 20 years, Paraglide South Africa is one of the most established paragliding schools in the country. The company regularly launch from Lion’s Head and Signal Hill, as well as sites further away from Cape Town including Hermanus, Porterville, and Sir Lowry’s Pass – you can even book a transfer service for a mere R150! With no minimum age restriction, Paraglide South Africa is a great holiday activity idea for families who want to try something utterly unique and create memories to last a lifetime, all at a very reasonable price. For more advanced flyers, they also offer one, two or three week package tours, and a range of courses to suit a variety of skill levels. All in all, a very well-rounded organisation!

For booking enquiries of more information, head to the Paraglide South Africa website here.

Join South Africa's first female tandem paragliding instructor for an unforgettable experience near George, Western Cape, with Cloudbase Paragliding. Established in 1996, Cloudbase has been offering training courses, paragliding tours, and tandem flights ever since, with professional instructors who have won numerous awards in their field. Tandem flights take off from the Map of Africa, a scenic viewpoint in Hoekwil that boasts incredible views over the Indian Ocean, before soaring out to Dolphin’s Point and over the water – make sure you keep an eye out for whales! Paragliding in the Garden Route is an experience that everyone should, well, experience, and we can’t think of a better company to help make your dreams come true.

You can book flights and courses at the Cloudbase Paragliding website here.

With two launch sites at Map of Africa and Sedgefield, SA Paragliding is another top choice for paragliding experiences in the Garden Route. With tandem flights starting at only R750, they’re also a great option for those on a budget who want to try out the thrill of paragliding, but aren’t ready to fork out for a course or tour. If you’re looking for something in between, SA Paragliding offers a ‘Tandem Adventure Flight’ as well as the original ‘Tandem Experience’, which allows passengers the chance to take control of the glider under more thorough training and longer flight times – a fantastic gift for thrill seekers! Having only 7 years of instructing under its belt, SA Paragliding is one of the newer companies on the scene, but the testimonials more than make up for any lack of experience. Give them a go!

You can find their website here, where bookings and enquiries can be made online.

Our final choice for paragliding experiences in Western Cape is Fly Cape Town, a company offering tandem flights from Signal Hill and Lion’s Head. Fly Cape Town is owned and operated by a team of men who, between them, have racked up an incredible number of awards and accolades in the paragliding field. From nervous first-timers to acrophobes to young children, Fly Cape Town are guaranteed to put your mind at rest with their wealth of knowledge and expertise, ensuring you have the best possible time and keep returning time after time! Their experience is also great if you’re looking to further your paragliding career, with a number of courses and tours to get you on track.

See for yourself on their website here.

Air Ventures Paragliding School is one of the oldest training facilities in South Africa, and is closely affiliated with the Hawkwind Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club, an association for all professional paragliders. If you’re interested in getting your paragliding license then Air Ventures is most definitely the way to go; you’ll receive at least 35 supervised solo flights, plus lessons in meteorology and gliding regulations, all amongst the beautiful setting of Port Elizabeth and Maitland Beach. Their instructors have years of experience and are more than capable of training you to the highest standard, so you can fulfil your dream of solo flight. Not necessarily one for the tourists, but it still makes the list!

You can find the school and the club on their Facebook page here.

Wild Sky Paragliding is a family run organisation located in Bulwer, KwaZulu Natal. For over twenty years the school has been providing tandem flights, license training, and accommodation to those who travel far and wide to experience paragliding on Amahwaqa Mountain. After a long day of hiking in the Marutswa forest or taking to the skies in sight of Maloti-Drakensberg Park, backpackers like nothing more than retreating to the comfortable lodge located on site. With a fully-equipped kitchen and braai area outside, plus cabins with all the necessary amenities, this paragliding school really has it all. If that doesn’t sound like the ultimate paragliding getaway, then maybe their four friendly dogs will convince you to pack your bags and head for KwaZulu Natal immediately!

Book your tandem flights, courses, and accommodation on their website here.

Operating since 1999, Paragliding Adventures is the top paragliding school in Gauteng, with tandem flights, license training, and teambuilding activities all offered on site. Run by owner and SAHPA certified instructor Hendrik van Zyl, the company has gone from strength to strength as it leads the way in safety innovation and customer satisfaction. Paragliding Adventures uses a winch method to get passengers airborne, meaning it only takes a short run at the beginning to get up in the air. Did we also mention that tandem flights are only R500? That’s right, you can experience the thrill of paragliding for the same cost as a new pair of shoes. We know which we’d prefer…

Find out how you can book your wallet-friendly flight here.