We meet at the Lions Head parking area at the start of the Lions Head walk.
You reach this by turning up Signal Hill Drive from Kloof Nek (opposite the cable car road).
Drive up Signal Hill Drive for 300m. You should see some large gum trees and cars parked along the side of the road. Park here!
On the opposite side of the road is a small National Parks hut.
You will also see the dirt track going up Lions Head with a metal boom at the start of it.
Wait for us at the wooden hut.

We have a large metallic blue Toyota Condor with a black roof rack.
The car has Cape Town Tandem Paragliding all over it and is hard to miss.

Lion's Head

a preview from the Fresh Air Site Guide © Greg Hamerton
Grading : BASIC + 4 guided flights (Hang-gliders : C)
GPS : +- S33º56’18” E18º23’14”
Altitude : Top site 450m (asl), ceiling at 1200m asl
Description : Home of the Glen Paragliding Club, a consistent and beautiful site to fly, offering a panorama of Camps Bay and the Twelve Apostles. In the afternoon, Lion's Head heats up and generates a thermic, upslope breeze. Best flying is from 3pm onwards during wind-shadow conditions. Parking is on the back (CapeTown side) of Lion's Head, then a stiff hike is required up the gravel road and around to the front side. Because of the spire-shape of the peak, the wind diverges around it, causing a strong increase in wind speed at both takeoff sites when it is soarable. The wind is usually crossed from the left (S) at the topsite and very strong, and crossed from the right (NW) at the lower site. Don't pioneer a new launch site somewhere else on the mountain.
Wind : W-SW, thermic lee-side in SE
Launch : 'Lower launch' is reached after a 10 minute walk, where the path narrows from a jeep-track width into a hiking track. It is a challenging launch through a silver-leaf tree grove from a short net-covered runoff. Be meticulous in your layout and pre-flight checks. This is where to launch if it is soarable and SW. The 'Top site' is reached after another 10 minutes of brisk walking (it is NOT on the top of Lion's Head! It's below the cliffs on the NW side). It is a rocky netted launchsite that is both steep and loose underfoot. The wind is usually crossed from the left here, making good ground-handling and committed launch techniques essential for a safe get-away.

Sir Lowry's Pass

(a preview from the Fresh Air Site Guide © Greg Hamerton)
Grading: BASIC + 4 guided flights (Hang-gliders : B)
GPS : +- S34º08’55” E18º55’39”
Altitude : 320m high (420m asl)
Airspace ceiling at 1200m asl. 2000m near Hanskop
Description : Soaring and thermic. A regular site that offers soaring, thermalling and cross-country, with superb views. The long mountain chain extends in a fairly consistent ridge to the south. To the north of takeoff the ridge rises to become towering mountain peaks, then curves to form a semicircle. Thermals can be strong, taking you high up and away from the earth, into the blue. Wind : NW - SW
Launch : Launch for competent pilots (very good ground-handling skills) from the grassed slope below the wall, where turbulence from the big rocks to the right or left can make it risky. If you misjudge the wind, you are likely to get blown back into the carpark. For an easier launch, walk directly across the road from the entrance to the carpark, and take the little footpath up the mountain, bearing left until you ascend the final steep crest (10 minutes). You will be high above the pass. There is a windstreamer tied to a tall pole, and some netting on the ground. Have a good look at the windspeed, you do not want to be blown over the back of this mountain! For hang-gliders, lower launch is about 500m down the road, just below the railway line. Sir Lowry's Pass flying past Hanskop
Landing : At the base of the pass, on the S side of the road, before the pine trees is a bald spot.Anywhere close by, in the low bushes is okay, but be careful not to damage the sensitive fynbos. Be careful of the big set of powerlines on final approach on the far side of the landing spot, between it and the highway. Please do not land too close to the road, as you may cause an accident. More experienced pilots can land a little further on, at the second clearing where the retrieval road turns off the base of the pass. Toplanding is not recommended when the carpark is congested (summer season, weekends, holidays). No toplanding for Basic Pilots. If the air is thermic or the wind crossed, toplanding is very risky.
Directions : N2 towards Caledon, at the top of the Sir Lowry's Pass, turn right into the viewsite. Beware of baboons (keep food out of sight and windows closed).

(a preview from the Fresh Air Site Guide © Greg Hamerton)
Grading : BASIC (Hang-gliders : A - no students)
GPS : +- S34º24.113' E18º14.576'
Altitude : 235m asl, with airspace ceiling at 2300m
Airspace ceiling at 1200m asl. 2000m near Hanskop
Description : Soaring and thermic. A long ridge shaped like a breaking wave provides consistent flying conditions. Ridge-lift with a healthy sprinkling of thermals makes for some interesting flying. Hermanus is generally a relaxing place to fly, although sometimes the thermals and wind-shears can be quite strong. In springtime you may see the whales in the bay. smooth glides out to sea interspersed with regular thermals, beach landings and elevator launches
Wind : SSW - SE (SW only beyond mast, dodgy) Launch : Clearly defined area on the right of the scenic road, with windsocks and benches for spectators. Please confine your launch to the area demarcated by the yellow rocks (this private land forms part of Meerlust Estate). Or W of the radio tower, landing on the soccer field across the main road, but the air is usually very unpleasant in a SW
Landing : Out and to the right, on the left-most of the school fields, avoiding the cricket pitches (strip of hard grass in the centre of the field). The rugby fields closer to the ridge are okay, though beware of wind-shear as you approach the protected lower layers. An emergency landing field is slightly to the left below takeoff, a long, open plot between the houses. It's possible to slope-land at the base of the ridge, but be careful of the low powerlines. The field beside the graveyard is easy to negotiate. Topland behind the fence, behind the launch-site. Please do not land anywhere in front of the road, as this sensitive area is easily eroded and should have as little traffic as possible on it. landing at the school is often difficult.Topland or land on Grotto Beach.