Paragliding
Piekiniers Mast
Swartland, Western Cape
Today
Flyable2 stars — Flyable744m soarable · 12 km/h WSW
Best window this week
Mon 9 · 14h00 · 🔥 4 stars · 1,824m tops
Soarable tops — 7-day
Reference lines show historical 75th and 95th percentile for Piekiniers Mast.
▸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 | — | 416 | 15 NNE | 15 NNE | 15 NNE | 424 | 0.0 | 0% | 90% | 22.1 | 7.7 | 0 | 1019 |
| 11h | 👍 | 1,456 | 11 WSW | 6 NNW | 8 NNW | 1924 | 2.0 | 0% | 97% | 29.8 | 7.1 | 0 | 1018 |
| 14h | 🔥 | 1,824 | 14 SW | 7 SW | 8 N | 2375 | 3.0 | 0% | 100% | 32.1 | 8.1 | 0 | 1016 |
| 17h | — | 1,049 | 18 S | 19 S | 13 SW | 1660 | 2.0 | 0% | 100% | 30 | 10.1 | 0 | 1016 |
| 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 | — | 416 | 2 S | 2 S | 4 SSE | 469 | 0.0 | 0% | 92% | 20.1 | 4.4 | 0 | 1019 |
| 11h | 👍 | 744 | 12 WSW | 7 WNW | 10 NNW | 968 | 2.0 | 0% | 98% | 27.8 | 8.3 | 0 | 1018 |
| 14h | — | 1,244 | 14 SSW | 9 SW | 12 WNW | 1623 | 2.0 | 0% | 100% | 31 | 9.3 | 0 | 1016 |
| 17h | — | 882 | 19 SSW | 21 S | 16 SW | 1404 | 1.0 | 0% | 91% | 29.3 | 10.7 | 0 | 1015 |
| 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 | — | 416 | 7 S | 9 SSE | 11 SSE | 542 | 1.0 | 0% | 88% | 18.5 | 6.2 | 0 | 1018 |
| 11h | — | 934 | 15 SSW | 16 SSW | 18 SSW | 1202 | 2.0 | 0% | 97% | 24.2 | 11.5 | 0 | 1018 |
| 14h | — | 1,434 | 17 SSW | 19 SSW | 28 WSW | 1837 | 3.0 | 0% | 99% | 27.5 | 13.6 | 0 | 1016 |
| 17h | — | 1,270 | 24 SSW | 25 SSW | 22 WSW | 1756 | 2.0 | 7% | 98% | 25.9 | 15.6 | 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 | — | 416 | 8 SSE | 12 S | 14 S | 526 | 1.0 | 100% | 42% | 13.2 | 12.6 | 0 | 1018 |
| 11h | — | 951 | 13 SSW | 8 SSW | 4 NW | 1214 | 2.0 | 1% | 98% | 21.6 | 12.9 | 0 | 1017 |
| 14h | — | 1,487 | 15 SSW | 11 SW | 8 WNW | 1900 | 3.0 | 0% | 100% | 26.1 | 10.1 | 0 | 1014 |
| 17h | — | 1,241 | 20 SSW | 21 SSW | 7 S | 1730 | 2.0 | 0% | 100% | 24.8 | 11.2 | 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 | — | 595 | 11 SSE | 11 SSE | 11 SSE | 828 | 1.0 | 0% | 100% | 15.8 | 8.2 | 0 | 1019 |
| 11h | — | 1,116 | 14 SSW | 8 S | 5 ESE | 1386 | 2.0 | 0% | 100% | 20.7 | 8 | 0 | 1019 |
| 14h | — | 1,712 | 23 S | 20 S | 12 ESE | 2142 | 3.0 | 0% | 98% | 25.9 | 1.7 | 0 | 1016 |
| 17h | — | 1,080 | 41 SSW | 40 S | 27 S | 1440 | 2.0 | 0% | 90% | 25.5 | 3.7 | 0 | 1015 |
| 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 | — | 778 | 17 SE | 21 ESE | 29 ESE | 1109 | 1.0 | 0% | 100% | 21.7 | 4.3 | 0 | 1018 |
| 11h | — | 1,749 | 12 SSW | 7 SE | 18 ENE | 2205 | 3.0 | 0% | 100% | 25.3 | 1.3 | 0 | 1017 |
| 14h | — | 2,379 | 15 SSW | 8 SSE | 15 ENE | 2978 | 3.0 | 0% | 98% | 28.4 | -1.4 | 0 | 1014 |
| 17h | — | 2,226 | 22 S | 15 S | 13 E | 3000 | 2.0 | 0% | 90% | 29.2 | -1.7 | 0 | 1013 |
A low thermic site at the N7's Piekernierskloof Pass, at the northern end of the Porterville valley.
Notice something outdated on this page? Let Ria know →Hazards & cautions
Not suitable in southerly winds, which put the site in rotor; an alternative gum-tree launch nearby is the better option in that case.
Launch & landing
Launch from a gently sloped bowl of knee-high fynbos (reverse launch works best) — about 150m above the pass (500m ASL, 2900m ceiling). Land in the clear farmland below the pass.
Access
Via the N7 north of Piketberg, over the Piekernierskloof Pass; an alternative launch is reached via a farm track shortly after cresting the pass.
Flying conditions
Wind recommendation
NW-SW
Flyable directions
SW, WSW, W, WNW, NW
Wind speed range
0–18 km/h
Air School training site
Not used for Air School training
Quick facts
- Grade
- Basic
- Region
- Swartland
- Distance from Cape Town
- 154 km (straight-line)
- Coordinates
- -32.6073°S, 18.9317°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