Paragliding
Franschhoek

A scenic thermic and soaring site above the Franschhoek vineyards. The best days are typically ahead of a weak cold front, with a light northwesterly that builds through the day, often peaking in early afternoon before easing toward evening.

Hazards & cautions

Avoid launching directly in front of the upper car park — traffic and unpredictable turbulence there make it unsafe. The pass sits at the end of a long valley and is only flyable in light wind due to the channelling effect of the valley sides; pilots have been blown into rotor over the back here, so watch ground signals (cloud, smoke, water, trees, other pilots) and move further into the valley as you climb. Expect a strong wind gradient with altitude, and avoid top-landing once the wind picks up — the launch area is a strong venturi.

Launch & landing

Launch just over the crest of the pass from a car park on the left of the road, following the fence line into the reserve — roughly 400m above the valley (760m ASL, 2000m ceiling). Land on open ground right of the base of the pass, or in the tree-studded fields south and west of the main T-junction in town; avoid the restaurant at the pass base and the area around the Monument itself.

Access

Via the N1 toward Paarl, the R44 to Franschhoek, and through town to the base of the pass toward Villiersdorp — the landing field is on the left as the road starts to climb.

Background

Recorded cross-country flights include roughly 20km east (Hamerton, 2002) and roughly 25km west (Petr Leja, 2002).

Flying conditions