Basic

Paragliding
Groot Kanonkop

Overberg, Western Cape

Today

Not flyable

7 km/h E · not flyable

FlyableStudent safeWind dirNo fogNo rain

Best window this week

Wed 9 · 14h00 · 👍 2 stars · 908m tops

Soarable tops — 7-day

Reference lines show historical 75th and 95th percentile for Groot Kanonkop.

p75 1359mp95 1783m908mWed 9762mThu 101269mFri 11360mSat 121169mSun 13213mMon 14787mTue 151632mWed 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
08h36013 SE11 SE11 SE3690.00%79%16.91301020
11h7787 WNW11 NNW24 NNW10421.00%96%23.814.201019
14h👍90813 SW7 WSW19 NNW11782.00%98%2415.701017
17h56317 S19 S19 SSE6461.01%98%19.515.201017
Thu 10ClearStarsTops (m)Sfc WindBL WindBL TopBL Ht (m)Thermal (m/s)BL Cloud %Sun %Temp (°C)Dewpt (°C)Rain (mm)Pres (hPa)Student
08h3609 S9 S9 S3690.00%21%13.213.101020
11h68313 SW7 S6 ESE8661.041%70%17.613.601021
14h76219 SSW19 S11 SSE9671.014%72%18.513.201020
17h56317 S20 S20 S7001.030%39%15.111.801020
Fri 11ClearStarsTops (m)Sfc WindBL WindBL TopBL Ht (m)Thermal (m/s)BL Cloud %Sun %Temp (°C)Dewpt (°C)Rain (mm)Pres (hPa)Student
08h36041 ESE39 ESE39 ESE3690.00%61%14.111.701022
11h1,0457 ESE13 ESE7 SSE14452.00%96%21.39.901020
14h1,2697 E7 ESE6 N16792.00%97%22.61101017
17h56322 E20 E20 E5710.00%89%19.811.601017
Sat 12ClearStarsTops (m)Sfc WindBL WindBL TopBL Ht (m)Thermal (m/s)BL Cloud %Sun %Temp (°C)Dewpt (°C)Rain (mm)Pres (hPa)Student
08h36033 ESE33 ESE33 ESE3690.00%20%15.91201016
11h36043 ESE57 ESE67 ESE5140.00%37%18.613.801016
14h36044 ESE63 ESE67 ESE6781.00%53%19.714.601014
17h36048 ESE46 ESE46 ESE3690.012%23%17.61401013
Sun 13ClearStarsTops (m)Sfc WindBL WindBL TopBL Ht (m)Thermal (m/s)BL Cloud %Sun %Temp (°C)Dewpt (°C)Rain (mm)Pres (hPa)Student
08h2136 NE6 NE6 ENE2500.00%88%19.412.401014
11h81922 N24 N26 N11862.00%94%2512.901014
14h1,16933 NNW33 NNW30 NNW16522.00%85%26.99.201011
17h21320 NNW26 NNW35 NNW8721.00%66%23.39.911011
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
08h21320 NNW22 NNW30 NNW2940.066%25%13.611.9101013
11h21339 NNW50 NNW56 NNW10441.098%23%16.11101011
14h21341 NNW52 NNW57 NNW9491.0100%20%16.311.311010
17h21339 NW46 NNW52 NNW7001.0100%8%15.31211011
Tue 15ClearStarsTops (m)Sfc WindBL WindBL TopBL Ht (m)Thermal (m/s)BL Cloud %Sun %Temp (°C)Dewpt (°C)Rain (mm)Pres (hPa)Student
08h21331 NNW22 NNW24 NNW2230.082%10%13.812.80
11h55444 NW56 NW69 NW8092.0100%97%16.113.40
14h78750 NW63 NW74 NW10902.0100%96%17.112.50
17h21335 NW50 NW61 NW7600.0100%4%15.411.70
Wed 16ClearStarsTops (m)Sfc WindBL WindBL TopBL Ht (m)Thermal (m/s)BL Cloud %Sun %Temp (°C)Dewpt (°C)Rain (mm)Pres (hPa)Student
08h39419 SSE24 SSE30 SSE6011.00%90%10.34.50
11h1,55124 S28 SSE26 SSE20562.075%97%12.82.10
14h1,63224 S26 SSE24 SSE21403.062%97%13.82.20
17h1,09124 S28 SSE26 SSE17362.075%93%12.83.30

Simonsberg, a striking peak at the entrance to the Franschhoek valley overlooking its vineyards, reached via a steep, gated farm road that needs 4x4 or diff-lock in places.

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Hazards & cautions

Watch for berg-wind conditions with gusts, turbulence and sink; there's no viable emergency landing for a long distance from launch due to unbroken forest, so be certain of reaching the farmstead. A southeasterly wrapping around the mountain's southeast end can leave launch feeling sheltered while a shear layer waits just beyond the cliffs.

Launch & landing

Launch from the gently sloping, fynbos-covered crest southeast of the radio mast — about 700m above the valley (870m ASL, 2000m ceiling). Land on the open field at the Vlenterskloof farmstead (north) or in the fallow field bordered by vineyards and powerlines near the Dellheim farm complex (southwest).

Access

Reached via the N1 and R44 toward Franschhoek, then farm roads through Vlenterskloof. Access requires prior arrangement with the farm — confirm the current process with the site caretaker before relying on this route.

Background

Roughly 33km recorded to Gordon's Bay (Hamerton & Richards, July 2002).

Flying conditions

Wind recommendation

A steady and mild NE - N (winter), or SW

Flyable directions

N, NNE, NE, SW

Wind speed range

0–18 km/h

Student site

No

Quick facts

Grade
Basic
Region
Overberg
Distance from Cape Town
45 km (straight-line)
Coordinates
-33.8660°S, 18.9082°E
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