Lions Head (Cape Town)

Lion's Head is Cape Town's iconic paragliding site: a 403 m spire-shaped peak overlooking Camps Bay and the Twelve Apostles ridgeline running south toward Cape Point. It is the home of the Glen Paragliding Club and, on the right day, offers XC lines all the way across to Table Mountain and down the Apostles. The site is a wind-shadow soaring venue: best flying is from 3 pm onwards on south and southwest flow. Because of the peak's spire shape the wind diverges around it, causing a strong venturi at both launches when the ridge is soarable. This is a Nature Reserve — pioneering a new launch is not permitted; hang-gliders need Nature Conservation permission to drive up. The ceiling is 1,200 m ASL. Cape's weather changes fast: watch the water for white lines and stay alert for squalls. Break-ins in the car park are known — a drop-off is recommended if possible.

Launch & conditions

The Lower Launch is 10 minutes' walk in, reached through a silver-leaf tree grove, off a short net-covered run-off — the launch for soarable SW days. The Top site is another 10 minutes further, below the cliffs on the NW side (not literally the top of Lion's Head). Both are steep, rocky and loose underfoot beneath a green safety net. Wind is usually crossed from the left at the top and from the right (NW) at the lower launch, so a committed launch technique is essential. Begin your soaring with very short tacks to establish the venturi limits on each side of the peak; penetration into wind gets difficult beyond either launch.

Getting there & local rules

From Cape Town, take Kloof Nek road up to the pass between Lion's Head and Table Mountain. At the circle, turn right toward Signal Hill and continue until the road levels out; park in the gravel car park on the right. The path to launch starts on the left as you reach the car park. Landing is on a grassy cricket field next to La Med café at the Glen Country Club. During summer, the Municipality asks pilots to avoid landing on Camps Bay, Clifton and Glen beaches. The Camps Bay High School field is an alternative if empty. If blown over the back, try to fly around the side (not directly behind the peak) and run for the end of Signal Hill.

Local rules & hazards

The airspace ceiling here is 1200m ASL. Cape weather shifts fast, so watch the water for approaching squall lines. Both launches sit in a strong venturi that can make pushing upwind difficult and hazardous, and offshore berg-wind (NE) days bring unstable air with sharp shear, violent lift and sink.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Lions Head (Cape Town), read the wind and thermals for the site itself, confirm the day's rules with the local club, and remember the standing rule — when in doubt, don't launch. In the free OutDare app you can open Lions Head (Cape Town) with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.