Paragliding in Cape Town
In Cape Town, we paraglide mainly from Lions Head and Signal Hill. The paragliding launch site we use depends on the wind direction at the time. Sometimes we start flying from Signal Hill and then move across to Lions Head as the wind changes throughout the day.
Tandem paragliding flights vary in duration and it is not possible for us to guarantee a specific flight time due to the changeable nature of the wind and general weather conditions in Cape Town. We only fly in conditions that allow us to launch and land safely. Our tandem paragliding flight instructors are all highly experienced and love to fly. They will always make every effort to give you the longest (up to 30 minutes) and most enjoyable flight possible. In general flights in Cape Town can be anything from 5-30 minutes in duration.
Table Mountain National Parks do not allow commercial tandem paragliding flights from Table Mountain, although a few of our passengers have been lucky enough to fly across there with us when weather conditions have allowed. About Cape Town Tandem Paragliding
The company was started by Manu Wegmershaus in 2007 shortly after moving to Cape Town in 2005.
All our Tandem Flight Instructors (TFIs) are highly experienced and fully certified by the South African Association of Paragliding (SAHPA). Please see our pilot profiles below.
We offer instructional introductory tandem flights for anyone who would like to experience paragliding.
We take people of all ages and abilities.
We can fly people with all kinds of disabilities too!
Come Fly With Us!!
Manu Wegmershaus
Pilot/Owner
Flying since: 1994
SAHPA Licence Number: 13038
Nationality: South African
Manu Wegmershaus is the owner of Cape Town Tandem Paragliding. He was born in Germany and grew up in Zimbabwe. He started paragliding at the tender age of 14 and proceeded to become a paragliding junkie – eating, sleeping, breathing paragliding. Manu has taught with various schools around the world. He is married to the beautiful and illustrious Tiva, with whom he has 2 gorgeous boys.
Frikkie van Rheede
Pilot
Flying since: 2002
SAHPA Licence Number: 12619
Nationality: South African
Frikkie started paragliding in 2002 in the beautiful mountains of Bulwer in the Drakensberg. He has 2 awesome boys, a wife and 3 dogs to complete the family. For Frikkie, paragliding is about freedom and being one with the sky. “Life is too short to be boring.”
Mias de Klerk
Pilot
Flying since: 2002
SAHPA Licence Number: 11548
Nationality: South African
Mias is an absolute flying fanatic. Started free flying in 2002 and loved it right from the start. Mias is from the Lowveld in Mpumalanga where he has done most of his flying and instruction over the past 10 years. “Paragliding has become a BIG part of my life and sharing the experience with people is an absolute passion for me” says Mias. He believes paragliding has a special way of retaining a healthy perspective in life.
Pete Wallenda
Pilot
Flying since: 1988
SAHPA Licence Number: PG1009
Nationality: South African
Pete started flying in 1986 when paragliding was just starting off. Pete is the forefather of paragliding in South Africa and is well loved and respected in the paragliding world. Pete runs a paragliding school amongst other things. He is a bit technically challenged but you won’t find a better pilot or nicer guy!
Klemen Sovan
Pilot
Flying since: 1993
SAHPA Licence Number: 16136
Nationality: Slovenian
Klemen is an outdoor sports enthusiast. In winter he packs away his paragliders and goes skiing. At the first signs of spring he pulls out his paraglider, packs away his skis and takes to the skies. Klemen is one of the world’s top acro pilots. He competed for several years in aerobatic competitions. Klemen has been flying with Cape Town Tandem Paragliding since 2009. In Slovenia Klemen has his own paragliding school.
Sammi
Pilot
Flying since: 2009
SAHPA Licence Number: 13038
Nationality: Icelandic
Sammi started paragliding during the long summer days of Iceland in 2009 and was hooked from the start. Since then he has travelled the world for paragliding finally ending up in Cape Town during the South African summer and then scoots off back to the Icelandic summer for 6 months where he has his own Tandem Paragliding company. Sammi is a always happy and you’ll probably never catch him without a smile on his face.
Steve Burd
Pilot
Steve started paragliding in Cape Town in 1989, when a climbing friend was sponsored a paraglider. Since then, he regards the experience as truly amazing, having been privileged to fly throughout Southern Africa and Europe. He is married to his Swiss Miss, Carolina and together they share their passion, which includes tandem paragliding. Nature and free flight are experiences he loves to share with his fellow passengers, believing that “from the air looking down, one gets a better perspective”.
Carolina Burd-Rocchinotti
Pilot
Carolina, together with Peter Wallenda, started paragliding in 1987, and is a pioneer of the sport in South Africa. Being an instructor she has taught many people to fly. As a child she used to watch the hang gliders take off from high mountains in Switzerland and wished she could be one of them but was not allowed. When she became of age, she came to South Africa to live her dream. Married to Steve Burd they both share the passion of flying and have flown in many different countries. For Carolina, paragliding is about freedom and being in nature. ‘This is as close as you get to be a ‘Burd’ eeehee Bird!’
Michael Muldoon
Mike grew up in Durban and has been paragliding since 2005. He has spent 6 seasons in the Spanish Pyrenees, where he trains paragliding aerobatics with the World’s best. For the most part of the last decade he has been living in the French Alps and following the sun around the World with 3 seasons in Australia working as a tandem pilot. Somewhat of an athlete running out of years at the age of 33, Mike enjoys life in Cape Town, tries to eat super healthy, is a keen road cyclist and a former professional golf player and teacher. Working hard to settle and start a family with his fiancée, Amy, you’re in experienced hands in the sky. Be sure to ask for tricks at the end of your flight with this pilot.
Some Frequently Asked Questions
What is a paraglider?
A paraglider is a free-flying, foot-launched aircraft. The pilot sits in a harness suspended below a fabric wing, whose shape is formed by the pressure of air entering cell openings in the front. Paragliders are light and fold up fairly small, making them compact and portable.
What is paragliding?
Paragliding is a form of unpowered flight in which rising air is needed to keep the glider aloft. This rising air can come from two main sources:
1. when the sun heats features on the ground, columns of rising air known as thermals are generated
2. when wind encounters a ridge in the landscape, the air is forced upwards, providing ridge lift.
In mountainous environments, flying is mostly based around thermals, which can be used to stay aloft before heading for a landing field below the launch site. In hill environments, ridge lift is used for ridge soaring, and landing can be done either back at the launch site, or at a landing field at the bottom of the ridge. In either case, more experienced pilots can use thermals to go ‘cross country’.
Is paragliding dangerous?
Our tandem pilots have years of experience behind them and we use only the latest and safest paragliding equipment. Pilots make decisions based on their own safety as well as yours. Paragliding is not risk free – but then neither is driving a car.
Who can paraglide?
Anyone can fly! We can fly with disabled people too! If you have a disability of any kind but you would like to come paragliding, ask us! Chances are we can take you. We have a lot of experience flying people with all kinds of different disabilities.
Children under the age of 18 must be signed off by a parent or legal guardian.
If you have a medical condition that you think may affect your ability to come paragliding then please consult with your doctor beforehand.
You must weigh less than 120kg.
Who can fly a tandem paraglider?
Tandem paragliding for reward can only be done by SAHPA (South African Hang and Paragliding Association) approved Tandem Instructor Pilots. Professional tandem paragliding can only be done on the basis that the flight is an instructional flight and therefore the pilot must either be a certified paragliding instructor or an assistant instructor affiliated with an official paragliding school.
What is a tandem paragliding flight?
Tandem paragliding flights involve a passenger being securely strapped into a comfortable flying harness positioned in front of the pilot and connected to the pilot and the glider by spreader bars. A tandem paraglider is specially designed to carry two people and is nearly twice the size of a regular solo paraglider.
Are Take-offs and Landings Difficult?
Depending on how much wind there is, take-offs generally require just a few steps to get into the air. The less wind there is the more you will have to run. The most important thing to remember is DON’T SIT DOWN AND DON’T JUMP. Your pilot will make sure you are seated comfortable once you are flying.
How do I learn to do this cool sport by myself?
Ask us and we will set you up with the best paragliding schools around to complete either an introductory or full basic licence course.
Can I get photos of my awesome paragliding experience?
YES you can!
We use the awesome GoPro cameras mounted on a specially adapted extendable pole to take super cool action photos and video of you and the panorama from all sorts of crazy angles.
At the end of your flight you will be able to look through the photos and video and decide if you want to take them. If you do, your pilot will give you the SD card and you will be required to pay him directly.
Please note that Cape Town Tandem Paragliding WILL NOT be held responsible for any problems with your inflight photos and video. This is strictly between you and your pilot and you will need to deal directly with him for all photo and video related issues.
In-flight photography is an optional extra.
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