Sport

Paragliding
Bains Kloof

Winelands, Western Cape

Today

Not flyable

19 km/h E · not flyable

FlyableStudent safeWind dirNo fogNo rain

Best window this week

Wed 9 · 14h00 · 👍 2 stars · 1,302m tops

Soarable tops — 7-day

Reference lines show historical 75th and 95th percentile for Bains Kloof.

p75 1524mp95 1961m1302mWed 91072mThu 101200mFri 11520mSat 121257mSun 13286mMon 14286mTue 151863mWed 16
p75 — typical flyable dayp95 — exceptional dayBar height = soarable tops (hwcrit)
Detailed forecast table
TimeStarsTops (m)Sfc WindBL WindBL TopBL Ht (m)Thermal (m/s)BL Cloud %Sun %Temp (°C)Dewpt (°C)Rain (mm)Pres (hPa)Student
Wed 9ClearStarsTops (m)Sfc WindBL WindBL TopBL Ht (m)Thermal (m/s)BL Cloud %Sun %Temp (°C)Dewpt (°C)Rain (mm)Pres (hPa)Student
08h52019 ENE19 ENE19 ENE5280.00%79%18.811.801019
11h8969 N22 NNW37 NNW11972.00%96%26.211.601019
14h👍1,3027 WNW19 NW41 NNW17032.00%98%28.113.601017
17h🤔48913 SW11 WSW9 W9831.00%98%25.215.701016
Thu 10ClearStarsTops (m)Sfc WindBL WindBL TopBL Ht (m)Thermal (m/s)BL Cloud %Sun %Temp (°C)Dewpt (°C)Rain (mm)Pres (hPa)Student
08h52015 E13 E13 E5280.00%76%14.512.301020
11h7299 SSW2 WSW4 NNE9572.027%68%19.414.101021
14h👍1,0729 SW6 SW9 WNW14262.00%67%22.21301020
17h🤔4899 SW13 SW11 SSW8261.00%34%19.613.501019
Fri 11ClearStarsTops (m)Sfc WindBL WindBL TopBL Ht (m)Thermal (m/s)BL Cloud %Sun %Temp (°C)Dewpt (°C)Rain (mm)Pres (hPa)Student
08h52046 ESE44 ESE44 ESE5280.00%66%14.210.701022
11h93724 E11 E4 S12452.00%96%22.29.401020
14h1,20019 E11 ESE7 NNW15602.00%97%24.69.701018
17h48930 E37 E43 E5591.00%90%21.212.101017
Sat 12ClearStarsTops (m)Sfc WindBL WindBL TopBL Ht (m)Thermal (m/s)BL Cloud %Sun %Temp (°C)Dewpt (°C)Rain (mm)Pres (hPa)Student
08h52048 ESE46 ESE46 ESE5280.04%24%15.411.601016
11h52050 ESE67 ESE72 ESE6781.00%76%18.812.801016
14h52054 ESE74 ESE80 ESE7461.00%56%19.813.201013
17h52052 E50 E50 E5280.010%18%17.513.801013
Sun 13🌧 RainStarsTops (m)Sfc WindBL WindBL TopBL Ht (m)Thermal (m/s)BL Cloud %Sun %Temp (°C)Dewpt (°C)Rain (mm)Pres (hPa)Student
08h28639 E28 E35 E3140.00%87%20.612.501014
11h72022 NNW22 NNW24 N10212.00%94%23.712.811014
14h1,25724 NNW22 NNW20 NW17712.00%78%269.811011
17h28617 NNW19 NNW19 NNW8381.00%54%22.610.111011
Mon 14🌧 RainStarsTops (m)Sfc WindBL WindBL TopBL Ht (m)Thermal (m/s)BL Cloud %Sun %Temp (°C)Dewpt (°C)Rain (mm)Pres (hPa)Student
08h28617 NW19 NW22 NW3560.079%8%1311.8111013
11h28633 NNW43 NNW46 NNW9411.0100%18%1510.711012
14h28641 NW52 NW59 NW9381.098%15%15.511.111011
17h28635 NW26 NW30 NW3070.027%5%1511.711011
Tue 15ClearStarsTops (m)Sfc WindBL WindBL TopBL Ht (m)Thermal (m/s)BL Cloud %Sun %Temp (°C)Dewpt (°C)Rain (mm)Pres (hPa)Student
08h28635 NNW28 NNW35 NNW3220.0100%4%12.812.20
11h28641 NNW50 NNW56 NW6030.0100%8%14.612.80
14h28643 NW35 NW43 NW3170.026%9%15.512.10
17h28639 NW59 NW70 NW15520.0100%9%14.611.80
Wed 16ClearStarsTops (m)Sfc WindBL WindBL TopBL Ht (m)Thermal (m/s)BL Cloud %Sun %Temp (°C)Dewpt (°C)Rain (mm)Pres (hPa)Student
08h34513 SE26 SSE35 SSE7720.03%20%95.80
11h1,36415 SSE20 SSE19 SSE19812.0100%66%13.430
14h1,86317 SSE20 SSE19 SSE25093.027%97%15.41.40
17h81019 SSE22 SSE19 SSE16561.00%93%14.71.60

A thermic pass site with cross-country potential north toward Porterville, launching above a steep-sided valley.

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Hazards & cautions

Wind strengthens quickly and becomes dangerous in the confined valley and complex terrain — fly only in light westerlies.

Launch & landing

Launch from the rocky, lightly bushed area just below the view-site car park at the top of the pass, or from an alternative site inside the Boland Hiking Reserve above the pass; timing into a thermal cycle matters. At roughly 300m above the valley (600m ASL, 2300m ceiling), land on the sloping ground west of takeoff across the river course — expect lee-side sink in a westerly.

Access

Via the N1 toward Paarl, then the R44 to Wellington; drive through town and exit east on the road up to Bain's Kloof Pass.

Background

Longest recorded flight from this launch: roughly 118km north to Rhenosterhoek (Greg Hamerton, Nov 1999).

Flying conditions

Wind recommendation

Light W - SW

Flyable directions

SW, WSW, W, WNW, NW

Wind speed range

0–18 km/h

Student site

No

Quick facts

Grade
Sport
Region
Winelands
Distance from Cape Town
71 km (straight-line)
Coordinates
-33.6228°S, 19.0967°E
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Want to train at a site like this?

See Beginner Course

Ready to fly?

Your first solo flight is three sessions away. The beginner course is available year-round — gear, sites, and SAHPA registration all included.

Or call +27 78 095 8136