Talking about the weather is daily ritual in Cape Town and reputations can be won or lost predicting what the next day will bring. That’s why seasoned paragliders usually say, “wait and see,” when asked where they will take off the next day.

The weather at 34º south can provide just about every season in one day, and with sea all around and winds flying straight off the ocean, this really is a latitude with attitude!

Table Mountain is the most noticeable launch pad, and is an uplifting experience; spiritually as well as thermally. It’s not an easy site, with a sheer drop off and strong updraft and shouldn’t be attempted without a knowledgeable local Para Guide.

The granite pinnacle of Lion’s Head is Cape Town’s most popular site for a gentle float over mountain slopes and sandy beaches, followed by a soft landing beside ‘La Med’ beach bar. Time the arrival for sundown and you can test the theory of the ‘Green Flash’. The moment the sun hits the water (in certain climatic conditions), a green flash is said to appear. It may take a lot of sunsets and sundowners to see it, but it does exist.

Don’t be like the group of Swiss bankers, who thought if they can fly in the Alps, how bad can Cape Town be? They ended up broken. The Cape is a difficult place to fly, but dangerous only if you ignore good advice. Let the experts take you up; Cape Town Tandem Paragliding charge R950 for a tandem flight off Lion’s Head.

Have you ever seen the Green Flash?