Paragliding
Porterville: Pampoenfontein
Swartland, Western Cape
Today
Flyable2 stars — Flyable876m soarable · 13 km/h W
Best window this week
Tue 29 · 14h00 · 🔥 4 stars · 1,907m topsStudent safe
Soarable tops — 7-day
Reference lines show historical 75th and 95th percentile for Porterville: Pampoenfontein.
▸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) | Student |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 22Clear | 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) | Student |
| 08h | — | 511 | 22 E | 22 E | 22 E | 519 | 0.0 | 0% | 84% | 21.3 | 14.4 | 0 | 1014 | — |
| 11h | — | 1,294 | 22 N | 33 NNW | 28 NNW | 1934 | 2.0 | 0% | 96% | 28.1 | 16.4 | 0 | 1014 | — |
| 14h | — | 1,901 | 20 NW | 28 NNW | 31 NW | 2608 | 2.0 | 6% | 98% | 29.1 | 16.8 | 0 | 1013 | — |
| 17h | — | 511 | 20 SSW | 20 SSW | 11 SSW | 804 | 1.0 | 0% | 96% | 25.6 | 19.4 | 0 | 1012 | — |
| Wed 23Clear | 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) | Student |
| 08h | — | 511 | 2 N | 2 NNE | 4 N | 587 | 0.0 | 90% | 65% | 15 | 14 | 0 | 1019 | — |
| 11h | 🤔 | 686 | 11 WSW | 9 SW | 6 SSE | 870 | 1.0 | 79% | 86% | 19.2 | 15.4 | 0 | 1020 | ✓ |
| 14h | — | 808 | 19 SW | 17 SSW | 9 SSE | 1033 | 2.0 | 49% | 88% | 21.9 | 16.6 | 1 | 1018 | — |
| 17h | — | 511 | 20 SW | 24 SSW | 24 SSW | 950 | 1.0 | 39% | 64% | 21.7 | 17.3 | 1 | 1018 | — |
| Thu 24Clear | 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) | Student |
| 08h | — | 511 | 9 ESE | 7 ESE | 7 ESE | 519 | 0.0 | 0% | 59% | 17.4 | 15.2 | 0 | 1021 | — |
| 11h | — | 607 | 9 W | 2 WSW | 7 NE | 791 | 1.0 | 0% | 85% | 23 | 16.6 | 0 | 1020 | — |
| 14h | 👍 | 876 | 13 W | 7 W | 9 NNW | 1138 | 2.0 | 0% | 95% | 25.6 | 17.3 | 0 | 1018 | ✓ |
| 17h | 🤔 | 511 | 15 SW | 15 SW | 9 SW | 938 | 1.0 | 0% | 85% | 24.8 | 18.8 | 0 | 1017 | ✓ |
| Fri 25Clear | 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) | Student |
| 08h | — | 511 | 20 ESE | 20 ESE | 20 ESE | 519 | 0.0 | 0% | 10% | 19.5 | 12.4 | 0 | 1020 | — |
| 11h | — | 511 | 13 NNE | 24 NNE | 33 N | 890 | 1.0 | 0% | 52% | 25.3 | 14.2 | 0 | 1020 | — |
| 14h | — | 1,512 | 24 N | 41 N | 59 N | 2185 | 2.0 | 10% | 72% | 26.4 | 15.6 | 0 | 1017 | — |
| 17h | — | 511 | 19 NNE | 33 NNE | 39 NNE | 1333 | 1.0 | 0% | 74% | 24.9 | 16.3 | 0 | 1016 | — |
| Sat 26🌧 Rain | 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) | Student |
| 08h | — | 450 | 20 W | 20 W | 22 W | 661 | 1.0 | 100% | 5% | 12.5 | 11.6 | 1 | 1013 | — |
| 11h | — | 578 | 26 NW | 28 WNW | 28 WNW | 1171 | 1.0 | 100% | 26% | 14.1 | 10.9 | 4 | 1014 | — |
| 14h | — | 1,352 | 22 WNW | 24 WNW | 24 WSW | 1818 | 2.0 | 88% | 88% | 16.7 | 8.9 | 7 | 1013 | — |
| 17h | — | 985 | 22 WSW | 20 W | 19 WNW | 1643 | 1.0 | 100% | 83% | 16.2 | 7.7 | 4 | 1014 | — |
| Sun 27Clear | 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) | Student |
| 08h | — | 450 | 6 WSW | 6 WSW | 6 WSW | 530 | 0.0 | 100% | 19% | 13.1 | 12.9 | 0 | 1020 | — |
| 11h | — | 563 | 11 WSW | 7 SW | 7 SSE | 732 | 1.0 | 14% | 98% | 18.5 | 13.9 | 0 | 1019 | — |
| 14h | 👍 | 1,712 | 7 WSW | 7 ESE | 11 ESE | 2377 | 2.0 | 97% | 66% | 23.3 | 10.6 | 0 | 1017 | ✓ |
| 17h | — | 1,072 | 30 ESE | 28 E | 17 ENE | 1931 | 1.0 | 0% | 89% | 23.3 | 8.6 | 0 | 1017 | — |
| Mon 28Clear | 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) | Student |
| 08h | — | 450 | 59 ESE | 63 ESE | 70 ESE | 596 | 1.0 | 0% | 98% | 16.2 | 8 | 0 | — | — |
| 11h | — | 802 | 39 ESE | 37 E | 31 E | 1073 | 2.0 | 0% | 97% | 22.5 | 7.1 | 0 | — | — |
| 14h | — | 1,555 | 26 E | 22 E | 19 NE | 2069 | 2.0 | 0% | 96% | 25.1 | 6.8 | 0 | — | — |
| 17h | — | 450 | 39 ESE | 46 ESE | 44 E | 1099 | 1.0 | 0% | 90% | 24 | 6.2 | 0 | — | — |
| Tue 29Clear | 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) | Student |
| 08h | — | 218 | 31 E | 31 E | 41 E | 297 | 0.0 | 0% | 98% | 21.3 | 6.9 | 0 | — | — |
| 11h | — | 1,020 | 7 NNW | 7 NNE | 9 E | 1472 | 2.0 | 0% | 99% | 27.7 | 8.1 | 0 | — | — |
| 14h | 🔥 | 1,907 | 6 W | 2 WNW | 4 NNW | 2594 | 3.0 | 0% | 97% | 29.7 | 8.4 | 0 | — | ✓ |
| 17h | 👍 | 1,105 | 9 SSW | 6 SSW | 6 ESE | 2124 | 1.0 | 0% | 90% | 29.6 | 7.8 | 0 | — | ✓ |
An alternative Porterville launch, higher than Dasklip Pass and facing more directly into the prevailing thermic cross-wind — considered a safer option for cross-country flying, with strong, quick-cycling thermals right off launch.
Notice something outdated on this page? Let Ria know →Hazards & cautions
Experienced guidance is strongly recommended in summer. Midday thermals directly off launch can be intense; the rocks below launch are unforgiving, so maintain full glider control clear of the ridge before adjusting your harness. A ledge partly obscures the view on launch, making timing tricky in strong conditions — a launch assistant helps.
Launch & landing
Launch from the car park in straight wind, or from a netted ledge below (more suited to experienced pilots) — about 800m ASL with a 2900m ceiling. Land in the field beside the Grootelsbos forest square below launch.
Access
Continue past the Dasklip Pass launch and take the right turn uphill roughly 3km further on.
Flying conditions
Wind recommendation
W - SSW, thermic SE days
Flyable directions
SSW, SW, WSW, W
Wind speed range
0–18 km/h
Student site
Yes
Quick facts
- Grade
- Basic
- Region
- Swartland
- Distance from Cape Town
- 125 km (straight-line)
- Coordinates
- -32.9269°S, 19.0373°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