Paragliding
Gydo Pass
Boland, Western Cape
Today
Flyable2 stars — Flyable1797m soarable · 11 km/h S
Best window this week
Fri 13 · 11h00 · 🔥 4 stars · 2,033m tops
Soarable tops — 7-day
Reference lines show historical 75th and 95th percentile for Gydo Pass.
▸Detailed forecast table
| Time | Stars | Tops (m) | Sfc Wind | BL Wind | BL Top | BL Ht (m) | Thermal (m/s) | BL Cloud % | Sun % | Temp (°C) | Dewpt (°C) | Rain (mm) | Pres (hPa) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon 9Clear | Stars | Tops (m) | Sfc Wind | BL Wind | BL Top | BL Ht (m) | Thermal (m/s) | BL Cloud % | Sun % | Temp (°C) | Dewpt (°C) | Rain (mm) | Pres (hPa) |
| 08h | — | 994 | 22 NNE | 21 NNE | 21 NNE | 1003 | 0.0 | 0% | 89% | 18.4 | 4.2 | 0 | 1020 |
| 11h | — | 2,172 | 11 SW | 13 WNW | 14 WNW | 2697 | 3.0 | 0% | 98% | 27.4 | 4.3 | 0 | 1019 |
| 14h | — | 2,057 | 17 WSW | 13 W | 7 N | 2528 | 3.0 | 0% | 100% | 27.7 | 6.1 | 0 | 1018 |
| 17h | — | 1,623 | 14 WSW | 12 WSW | 3 SW | 2191 | 2.0 | 0% | 100% | 26.1 | 6.7 | 0 | 1018 |
| Tue 10Clear | Stars | Tops (m) | Sfc Wind | BL Wind | BL Top | BL Ht (m) | Thermal (m/s) | BL Cloud % | Sun % | Temp (°C) | Dewpt (°C) | Rain (mm) | Pres (hPa) |
| 08h | — | 994 | 14 NNE | 12 NNE | 12 NNE | 1002 | 0.0 | 0% | 92% | 19.5 | 5.3 | 0 | 1019 |
| 11h | 👍 | 1,797 | 11 S | 8 WNW | 18 NW | 2225 | 2.0 | 0% | 98% | 28.5 | 5.7 | 0 | 1018 |
| 14h | — | 1,694 | 20 W | 18 WNW | 10 WNW | 2071 | 2.0 | 0% | 100% | 28.9 | 7.1 | 0 | 1017 |
| 17h | — | 973 | 22 W | 28 W | 21 W | 1270 | 1.0 | 0% | 84% | 25.7 | 9.7 | 0 | 1016 |
| Wed 11Clear | Stars | Tops (m) | Sfc Wind | BL Wind | BL Top | BL Ht (m) | Thermal (m/s) | BL Cloud % | Sun % | Temp (°C) | Dewpt (°C) | Rain (mm) | Pres (hPa) |
| 08h | — | 994 | 7 W | 9 W | 10 WSW | 1166 | 1.0 | 0% | 92% | 18 | 6.8 | 0 | 1018 |
| 11h | — | 1,651 | 12 WSW | 18 W | 21 WSW | 1987 | 2.0 | 0% | 98% | 24.1 | 8.8 | 0 | 1018 |
| 14h | — | 1,706 | 17 WSW | 28 W | 29 W | 2044 | 3.0 | 0% | 98% | 24.6 | 11.1 | 0 | 1016 |
| 17h | — | 1,323 | 20 WSW | 31 W | 30 W | 1646 | 2.0 | 0% | 82% | 21.3 | 13.8 | 0 | 1016 |
| Thu 12Clear | Stars | Tops (m) | Sfc Wind | BL Wind | BL Top | BL Ht (m) | Thermal (m/s) | BL Cloud % | Sun % | Temp (°C) | Dewpt (°C) | Rain (mm) | Pres (hPa) |
| 08h | 👍 | 994 | 9 SE | 11 ESE | 12 E | 1324 | 1.0 | 44% | 92% | 14.2 | 10.3 | 0 | 1018 |
| 11h | 🔥 | 1,887 | 12 SSW | 5 WNW | 20 NW | 2250 | 3.0 | 0% | 98% | 20.4 | 9.4 | 0 | 1017 |
| 14h | — | 1,958 | 18 SW | 11 WSW | 16 NNW | 2325 | 3.0 | 0% | 100% | 22 | 8.6 | 0 | 1015 |
| 17h | — | 1,864 | 18 SW | 14 SW | 7 WNW | 2329 | 2.0 | 0% | 100% | 21 | 8.3 | 0 | 1014 |
| Fri 13Clear | Stars | Tops (m) | Sfc Wind | BL Wind | BL Top | BL Ht (m) | Thermal (m/s) | BL Cloud % | Sun % | Temp (°C) | Dewpt (°C) | Rain (mm) | Pres (hPa) |
| 08h | 👍 | 1,223 | 7 ESE | 9 ESE | 12 ESE | 1492 | 1.0 | 0% | 100% | 13.9 | 3.9 | 0 | 1019 |
| 11h | 🔥 | 2,033 | 15 S | 6 SSE | 7 E | 2370 | 3.0 | 0% | 100% | 18.3 | -1.6 | 0 | 1019 |
| 14h | — | 2,333 | 19 S | 11 S | 10 NE | 2742 | 3.0 | 0% | 98% | 20.4 | -4.1 | 0 | 1017 |
| 17h | — | 1,805 | 34 SSE | 32 SE | 23 ESE | 2167 | 2.0 | 0% | 90% | 19.3 | -0.9 | 0 | 1016 |
| Sat 14Clear | Stars | Tops (m) | Sfc Wind | BL Wind | BL Top | BL Ht (m) | Thermal (m/s) | BL Cloud % | Sun % | Temp (°C) | Dewpt (°C) | Rain (mm) | Pres (hPa) |
| 08h | — | 1,288 | 29 ENE | 31 ENE | 34 ENE | 1512 | 1.0 | 0% | 100% | 13.9 | -0.3 | 0 | 1020 |
| 11h | — | 2,140 | 16 ENE | 12 E | 10 SSE | 2508 | 3.0 | 0% | 100% | 19 | -3.2 | 0 | 1018 |
| 14h | — | 2,751 | 17 E | 9 E | 5 WSW | 3266 | 3.0 | 0% | 98% | 21.9 | -3.3 | 0 | 1016 |
| 17h | — | 1,701 | 35 SSE | 30 SE | 26 ESE | 2032 | 2.0 | 0% | 90% | 21.3 | -0.4 | 0 | 1014 |
A low pass tucked into the corner of the Ceres valley that can sometimes escape the southeasterly winds affecting the rest of the Cape; on good thermic days it's possible to climb out toward the higher Waboomberg peak, though it's a demanding climb. A strong westerly develops toward the desert on summer afternoons, making the site turbulent later in the day.
Notice something outdated on this page? Let Ria know →Hazards & cautions
Powerlines cross the landing area, and the site turns turbulent in a southwesterly.
Launch & landing
Launch from a wide, easy area reached via a farm track off the pass road (farm permission required) — about 200m above the valley (980m ASL, 2900m ceiling). Land at the farm near the base of the pass, beside the lower dam.
Access
Via the N1 to Worcester, the R43 to Ceres, then the road toward Prince Alfred's Hamlet and up the Gydo Pass.
Background
Roughly 40km recorded to Porterville (Yelland, Dec 1997).
Flying conditions
Wind recommendation
S - SE
Flyable directions
ESE, SE, SSE, S, SSW
Wind speed range
0–18 km/h
Air School training site
Not used for Air School training
Quick facts
- Grade
- Basic
- Region
- Boland
- Distance from Cape Town
- 113 km (straight-line)
- Coordinates
- -33.2367°S, 19.3244°E
Want to train at a site like this?
See Beginner CourseReady 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