Paragliding
Kirstenbosch
Cape Town, Western Cape
Today
Flyable2 stars — Flyable874m soarable · 11 km/h SE
Best window this week
Tue 10 · 11h00 · 👍 2 stars · 874m tops
Soarable tops — 7-day
Reference lines show historical 75th and 95th percentile for Kirstenbosch.
▸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 | — | 348 | 4 NNW | 4 NNW | 4 NNW | 356 | 0.0 | 0% | 89% | 22.7 | 6.5 | 0 | 1019 |
| 11h | — | 1,341 | 8 W | 14 NW | 24 NW | 1699 | 2.0 | 0% | 98% | 26 | 5.3 | 0 | 1018 |
| 14h | — | 993 | 17 WNW | 25 WNW | 30 WNW | 1217 | 2.0 | 0% | 100% | 25 | 5.6 | 0 | 1018 |
| 17h | — | 768 | 10 WSW | 10 W | 11 WNW | 988 | 1.0 | 0% | 97% | 22.9 | 6 | 0 | 1019 |
| 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 | — | 348 | 13 SSE | 17 SSE | 19 SSE | 445 | 1.0 | 0% | 91% | 18.5 | 11.5 | 0 | 1019 |
| 11h | 👍 | 874 | 11 SE | 3 SE | 7 W | 1061 | 2.0 | 0% | 96% | 23.9 | 6.5 | 0 | 1019 |
| 14h | — | 1,160 | 12 SSE | 3 SW | 15 WNW | 1419 | 2.0 | 0% | 97% | 24.9 | 11 | 0 | 1018 |
| 17h | — | 756 | 10 SSE | 6 S | 9 SW | 986 | 1.0 | 0% | 87% | 21.4 | 8.4 | 0 | 1018 |
| 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 | — | 352 | 11 WSW | 16 WSW | 19 WSW | 648 | 1.0 | 34% | 92% | 18.8 | 14.3 | 0 | 1018 |
| 11h | — | 1,005 | 17 WNW | 24 W | 31 W | 1194 | 2.0 | 52% | 98% | 19.6 | 14.7 | 0 | 1019 |
| 14h | — | 923 | 23 WSW | 31 W | 36 W | 1091 | 2.0 | 99% | 75% | 17.7 | 14.9 | 0 | 1018 |
| 17h | — | 894 | 20 SSW | 24 SW | 24 SW | 1086 | 2.0 | 90% | 98% | 16.4 | 13.4 | 0 | 1018 |
| 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 | — | 495 | 23 SE | 38 SE | 38 SE | 892 | 1.0 | 98% | 45% | 14.8 | 12.1 | 0 | 1020 |
| 11h | — | 967 | 22 SE | 32 SE | 21 SE | 1224 | 3.0 | 37% | 98% | 18.9 | 11.7 | 0 | 1020 |
| 14h | — | 996 | 22 SSE | 30 SSE | 20 SE | 1252 | 3.0 | 0% | 98% | 19.9 | 11.2 | 0 | 1018 |
| 17h | — | 706 | 26 SSE | 39 SSE | 32 SSE | 937 | 2.0 | 22% | 99% | 17.2 | 10.9 | 0 | 1018 |
| 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 | — | 46 | 13 WSW | 14 SW | 11 SW | 108 | 0.0 | 0% | 100% | 16.1 | 11.8 | 0 | 1021 |
| 11h | — | 46 | 19 SW | 19 SW | 18 SW | 119 | 0.0 | 0% | 100% | 17.1 | 12 | 0 | 1021 |
| 14h | — | 46 | 32 SSW | 32 S | 36 SSE | 227 | 0.0 | 0% | 98% | 17.8 | 12 | 0 | 1020 |
| 17h | — | 46 | 41 SSE | 52 SSE | 55 SE | 283 | 0.0 | 0% | 90% | 17.9 | 11.9 | 0 | 1020 |
| 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 | — | 46 | 58 SE | 67 SE | 66 SE | 296 | 0.0 | 0% | 100% | 18.3 | 10.1 | 0 | 1020 |
| 11h | — | 46 | 50 SE | 51 SE | 47 SE | 272 | 0.0 | 0% | 100% | 19.6 | 11.6 | 0 | 1019 |
| 14h | — | 46 | 60 SE | 60 SE | 56 SE | 259 | 0.0 | 0% | 98% | 20.1 | 12.8 | 0 | 1018 |
| 17h | — | 46 | 68 SE | 71 SE | 65 SE | 261 | 0.0 | 0% | 90% | 19.3 | 13.3 | 0 | 1017 |
A soaring site on Table Mountain's forested eastern cliffs above Kirstenbosch, with views across the Cape Flats to the Hottentots Holland range — best flown in the morning, after a long walk up.
Notice something outdated on this page? Let Ria know →Table Mountain National Park requirements
Licence required: Falls under the same Table Mountain launch licence requirement as the other TM launches (Sport licence, 200 flights), though access here is separately permit-controlled.
This launch needs its own access permit from SANParks (via the relevant Section Ranger) on top of the general TM card/SAHPA membership requirement — contact SANParks/TMNP directly for the current permit process. Usage hours are tied to bookings at the nearby Hoerikwaggo overnight hut. No night flying, no damaging vegetation. (Per the Oct 2004 TMNP EMP — confirm current requirements with SAHPA/TMNP.)
Hazards & cautions
Airflow here is deceptive and depends heavily on local knowledge — the slope can feel light even when the southeasterly is blowing hard higher up.
Launch & landing
Launch on the upper slope behind two stone houses off the Constantia Nek road, in a fynbos field — about 850m ASL with a 1200m ceiling. Land in the grass field above the Kirstenbosch upper gate.
Access
Up Constantia Nek Road, then a narrow tar road into the reserve, followed by a walk up the gravel road to the summit.
Flying conditions
Wind recommendation
light ESE (check wind on top!)
Flyable directions
NE, ENE, E, ESE, SE
Wind speed range
0–18 km/h
Air School training site
Not used for Air School training
Quick facts
- Grade
- Sport
- Region
- Cape Town
- Distance from Cape Town
- 8 km (straight-line)
- Coordinates
- -33.9917°S, 18.4159°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