Basic

Paragliding
Groot Kanonkop

Overberg, Western Cape

Today

Not flyable

30 km/h NNW · not flyable

FlyableWind dirNo fogNo rain

Best window this week

Wed 30 · 17h00 · 🤔 1 stars · 563m tops

Soarable tops — 7-day

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

p75 1359mp95 1783m563mWed 301131mThu 1360mFri 21052mSat 3Sun 4Mon 5
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)
Wed 30ClearStarsTops (m)Sfc WindBL WindBL TopBL Ht (m)Thermal (m/s)BL Cloud %Sun %Temp (°C)Dewpt (°C)Rain (mm)Pres (hPa)
08h—36019 E19 E19 E3690.00%85%17.57.501020
11h—56313 NNE22 NNE24 N12981.00%97%25.49.601019
14h—1,44613 NNW22 NNE30 NE22622.00%98%27.610.401016
17h🤔5639 N9 N9 N5710.00%97%26.413.501014
Thu 1ClearStarsTops (m)Sfc WindBL WindBL TopBL Ht (m)Thermal (m/s)BL Cloud %Sun %Temp (°C)Dewpt (°C)Rain (mm)Pres (hPa)
08h—36022 NE28 NNE33 N5861.097%59%14.212.901018
11h—81430 NNE48 N69 N10412.018%87%18.613.501016
14h—1,13130 NNW50 NNW67 NNW15062.06%98%22.21501013
17h—73315 W17 WNW20 NW9641.050%97%17.313.101015
Fri 2ClearStarsTops (m)Sfc WindBL WindBL TopBL Ht (m)Thermal (m/s)BL Cloud %Sun %Temp (°C)Dewpt (°C)Rain (mm)Pres (hPa)
08h—3606 ENE6 ENE6 ENE3690.00%8%11.61101021
11h—3606 N6 N6 NW6151.0100%13%12.911.601021
14h—36011 SSW11 SSW7 SSW8381.0100%9%14.912.501019
17h—36022 SSW28 S24 S7771.058%30%14.611.101020
Sat 3ClearStarsTops (m)Sfc WindBL WindBL TopBL Ht (m)Thermal (m/s)BL Cloud %Sun %Temp (°C)Dewpt (°C)Rain (mm)Pres (hPa)
08h—54744 SE56 SE63 ESE9051.053%100%11.86.901024
11h—97948 ESE59 ESE65 ESE12562.051%99%157.901024
14h—1,05248 ESE57 ESE61 E13482.067%97%17.39.301023
17h—63757 ESE74 ESE87 E9161.041%89%14.48.901022
Sun 4ClearStarsTops (m)Sfc WindBL WindBL TopBL Ht (m)Thermal (m/s)BL Cloud %Sun %Temp (°C)Dewpt (°C)Rain (mm)Pres (hPa)
08h——11 E——————14.3—01022
11h——5 ENE——————21.7—01021
14h——3 S——————25—01018
17h——11 SSW——————22.6—01016
Mon 5ClearStarsTops (m)Sfc WindBL WindBL TopBL Ht (m)Thermal (m/s)BL Cloud %Sun %Temp (°C)Dewpt (°C)Rain (mm)Pres (hPa)
08h——6 NNW——————18.8—01014
11h——11 NW——————24.4—01013
14h——16 W——————26.1—01010
17h——9 W——————21.2—01010

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

Air School training site

Not used for Air School training

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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Want to train at a site like this?

See Beginner Course

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