●Peak season: Nov–Mar●Currency: South African Rand (ZAR)●Airport code: CPT●Table Mountain cableway is weather-dependent●Book Robben Island ferries in advance●Wear a jacket — the ‘Cape Doctor’ wind is real
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Paragliding off Lion's Head & Signal Hill

Cape Town is regularly ranked among the world's best paragliding destinations, and tandem flights off Lion's Head or Signal Hill — landing on Camps Bay beach — are one of the more memorable ways to see the city.

Updated 8 August 2026 · Part of the Do guide

How it works

Tandem paragliding pairs you with a qualified, licensed pilot for a flight that typically launches from Lion's Head or Signal Hill and glides down toward Camps Bay beach, taking in views over the Atlantic Seaboard, the Twelve Apostles and the city from the air. No experience or training is required — you're harnessed to the pilot, who handles takeoff, flight and landing.

Weather dependency

Flights are entirely dependent on wind direction and strength — operators fly when conditions are right rather than to a fixed schedule, which means flights can be cancelled or rescheduled at short notice. If paragliding is a must-do, avoid booking it for your only free slot on the trip.

What to expect

Flights typically last 15–30 minutes depending on conditions, launched from a run-up start off the mountainside. It's a genuinely different way to see the coastline compared to hiking or driving, and most operators include photos or video of the flight.

Local tip: Book through an established, licensed operator — paragliding is unregulated enough in casual bookings that it's worth checking credentials rather than picking the first tout you meet at the top of Lion's Head or Signal Hill.