Paragliding
Ou Kaapse Weg
Cape Town, Western Cape
Today
Not flyable
7 km/h SW · not flyable
Soarable tops — 7-day
Reference lines show historical 75th and 95th percentile for Ou Kaapse Weg.
▸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 | — | 211 | 3 NNW | 3 NNW | 3 NNW | 221 | 0.0 | 0% | 90% | 21.1 | 8.4 | 0 | 1018 |
| 11h | — | 1,201 | 6 N | 11 NW | 26 NW | 1587 | 2.0 | 0% | 98% | 27.1 | 5.9 | 0 | 1019 |
| 14h | — | 654 | 22 W | 28 W | 29 W | 814 | 2.0 | 0% | 100% | 24.7 | 7.6 | 0 | 1018 |
| 17h | — | 480 | 22 SW | 23 SW | 22 SW | 591 | 1.0 | 0% | 99% | 21.5 | 8.5 | 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 | — | 211 | 14 SSE | 19 SSE | 21 SE | 352 | 1.0 | 5% | 91% | 18.2 | 13.9 | 0 | 1019 |
| 11h | — | 774 | 10 ENE | 3 ESE | 8 SW | 996 | 2.0 | 0% | 95% | 24.5 | 6.5 | 0 | 1019 |
| 14h | — | 929 | 7 SW | 5 W | 14 W | 1167 | 2.0 | 0% | 97% | 24.9 | 11.4 | 0 | 1018 |
| 17h | — | 480 | 19 SW | 21 SW | 21 SW | 623 | 1.0 | 0% | 92% | 20.9 | 7.6 | 0 | 1018 |
| Wed 11Fog | 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 | — | 211 | 13 W | 18 W | 21 WSW | 508 | 1.0 | 60% | 91% | 18.3 | 15 | 0 | 1018 |
| 11h | — | 690 | 25 W | 33 W | 37 W | 842 | 2.0 | 94% | 74% | 18.2 | 15.5 | 0 | 1019 |
| 14h | — | 675 | 30 WSW | 38 WSW | 41 WSW | 865 | 2.0 | 97% | 48% | 17.1 | 15.3 | 0 | 1018 |
| 17h | — | 772 | 25 SW | 32 SW | 31 SW | 1006 | 2.0 | 82% | 97% | 17.6 | 14.2 | 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 | — | 532 | 24 SE | 35 SE | 32 SE | 926 | 1.0 | 88% | 91% | 16.3 | 12.6 | 0 | 1020 |
| 11h | — | 849 | 25 SE | 32 SE | 25 SE | 1133 | 2.0 | 67% | 98% | 18.6 | 12.6 | 0 | 1020 |
| 14h | — | 842 | 26 SSE | 29 SSE | 18 SE | 1116 | 2.0 | 9% | 98% | 19.5 | 12 | 0 | 1019 |
| 17h | — | 641 | 27 SSE | 37 SSE | 30 SSE | 930 | 2.0 | 30% | 99% | 17.7 | 11.6 | 0 | 1019 |
| 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 | — | 342 | 41 SE | 47 SE | 50 SE | 642 | 1.0 | 37% | 100% | 15.1 | 10.8 | 0 | 1021 |
| 11h | — | 430 | 41 SE | 47 SE | 48 SE | 701 | 1.0 | 0% | 100% | 17 | 10.2 | 0 | 1022 |
| 14h | — | 464 | 38 SSE | 43 SSE | 42 SE | 746 | 1.0 | 0% | 98% | 18.2 | 9.7 | 0 | 1021 |
| 17h | — | 374 | 45 SE | 51 SE | 53 SE | 646 | 1.0 | 8% | 90% | 16.7 | 11.2 | 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 | — | 247 | 58 ESE | 63 ESE | 68 ESE | 490 | 1.0 | 0% | 100% | 16.4 | 10 | 0 | 1020 |
| 11h | — | 383 | 47 SE | 51 SE | 54 ESE | 567 | 1.0 | 0% | 100% | 18.8 | 11.3 | 0 | 1020 |
| 14h | — | 364 | 52 SE | 57 SE | 59 ESE | 527 | 1.0 | 0% | 98% | 19.2 | 12.8 | 0 | 1019 |
| 17h | — | 310 | 58 SE | 64 SE | 73 SE | 468 | 1.0 | 18% | 90% | 17.9 | 13.4 | 0 | 1017 |
A small thermic site used mainly when nothing else nearby is flyable.
Notice something outdated on this page? Let Ria know →Table Mountain National Park requirements
Licence required: Advance Grade licence for paragliding (Basic-licence pilots only under supervision); B grade for hang gliding (no A-licence sign-offs) — some Silvermine launches require C grade.
Designated launch points: Silvermine South, Silvermine South-West (Trig Beacon), Silvermine West, Silvermine Fence-West, Silvermine Fire Break
Entry is via the Silvermine reserve boom gate on the north side of Ou Kaapse Weg — show your Activity Card and club membership card to park officials, and collect the boom key at the reservoir car park (a retrieve driver must return it afterward). Local pilots register by ID at the gate; guest pilots must be accompanied by a local pilot. A 4x4, or a high-clearance 2x4 with diff-lock, is needed for the access roads, with a recovery driver required — vehicles may not be left unattended, and a maximum of two vehicles is allowed at a time. Entry is only permitted up to one hour before the reserve's gate-closing time. No night flying, no damaging vegetation. (Per the Oct 2004 TMNP EMP — confirm current requirements with SAHPA/TMNP.)
Hazards & cautions
Berg-wind flying is unpredictable — give yourself margin for error, and don't fly if the wind is strong and gusty or if you notice pronounced mixing of warm and cold air; plan to land early if descending.
Launch & landing
Launch from the first gravel car park or the rocky scrub beside it (an alternative "Firebreak" launch inside Silvermine Nature Reserve is trickier, top-landing only). Height is about 100m (140m ASL, 1200m ceiling). Land in the fallow land on the right as the pass road straightens out, checking the ground first — the Firebreak option is top-landing only, as the golf estate below is private.
Access
Via the M5 south, then up Ou Kaapse Weg, parking in the gravel area before the Silvermine Nature Reserve entrance.
Flying conditions
Wind recommendation
NE (berg wind!)
Flyable directions
NE
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
- 17 km (straight-line)
- Coordinates
- -34.0799°S, 18.4112°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