Tandem paragliding from Signal Hill

Tandem paragliding from Signal Hill is a passenger flight with a licensed pilot launching from the Signal Hill Road site, about 5 km from the centre of Cape Town in South Africa's Western Cape. The flight follows the hillside above Sea Point, Camps Bay and the Atlantic coastline, with Lion's Head and Table Mountain behind the take-off, and lands on the beach-side landing field near Sea Point. Typical time in the air is 30 to 45 minutes, with about two hours in total including the briefing and transfer. No previous experience is required: the pilot controls the wing, and passengers only need to run a few steps at launch, which is usually a gentle jog into the wind. Fitness requirements are modest, but operators set weight and age limits and may decline passengers with certain medical conditions. Helmets, harnesses and the wing are supplied, and passengers bring closed shoes, a warm jacket and sunglasses. Photos or video taken by the pilot are commonly sold separately, with prices of around R400 mentioned for some outfits. Para-Taxi and other licensed tandem pilots operate from Signal Hill, and Downhill Adventures also sells the flight. Pilots should hold a South African paragliding licence for commercial tandem flying, which visitors can ask to see. Before take-off the pilot checks wind speed and direction, explains the harness, launch and landing positions and the reserve parachute, and can abort at any point. Flights are weather dependent: strong south-easterly winds, common in summer afternoons, often cancel flying, and the best conditions tend to be early morning or evening. October to April is cited for more stable conditions, though flights run year-round when the wind allows. Prices are roughly R1,500 to R1,800 per person. Because cancellations are common, booking on the first day of a stay and keeping a spare day free is the usual advice.