LEARN TO PARAGLIDE IN SOUTH AFRICA
Ready to learn how to paraglide?
Paragliding is one of the most accessible adventure sports in the world — and learning to fly solo is more achievable than most people think. Over a series of guided training days across some of South Africa's most spectacular flying sites, you'll progress from your very first steps on the ground to confident solo flights, earning a full IPPI 4 paragliding licence that's recognised internationally.
No experience needed. No fitness requirements. Just a genuine interest in learning to fly.
Whether you prefer a flexible local course in Cape Town — training two or three days a week around your schedule — or a fully guided 12 to 14 day adventure that takes you from the Garden Route to the Cape Peninsula, we have a course that fits your life.
Training Packages
All courses lead to the same result — a full IPPI 4 / SAHPA Basic Paragliding Licence, taught by SAHPA-certified instructors at world-class mountain foot launch sites across the Western Cape and Garden Route.
Cape Town Paragliding Licence Course
August & September 2026 · Cape Town region · 2–3 days per week
R25,500
The most flexible way to earn your paragliding licence. Train two to three days a week across the Cape Town region over several weeks, building your skills progressively. Fit your training around work and life — and still walk away with an internationally recognised licence.
What's included
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Full IPPI 4 / SAHPA Basic Licence
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35+ flights (solo + tandem)
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All school equipment
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Two-way radio coaching
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4-hour theory class & exam
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Transport to flying sites
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Student licence & manual
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14 training days total
Sites may include Sir Lowry's Pass, Porterville, Langebaan, Hermanus, Betty's Bay, and Piketberg — selected daily based on conditions. Accommodation and SAHPA licence registration (±R2,000) not included.
Introduction to paragliding course
Check it out, see if paragliding is for you and enjoy a new type of adventure for 4 days. Min 2 people required for course to be offerred.
Intro Course
4-Day Intro to Paragliding
Garden Route or Overberg · School equipment + accommodation included
R16,000
Not ready to commit to the full licence? In four days you'll go from your very first ground-handling session to solo flights off the mountain — with accommodation, meals, and all equipment included. A genuine introduction to the sport, not a tourist activity. If you continue, the R16,000 fee is deducted from your full course price.
What's included
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All paragliding equipment
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3 nights accommodation
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Daily breakfast & dinner
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Ground handling training
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Tandem instructional flight
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4–10 solo flights
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Radio instruction
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Transport to sites
R10,000 is deducted from the full licence course price if you decide to continue.
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Licence + Kit
Full Licence + Your Own Equipment
Garden Route + Cape Town · 12–14 days · Brand-new Sky Paragliders kit
R100,000
Kit retails ~R105,000
Same full licence course — but you leave with a complete brand-new paragliding kit made to your size and colour. The equipment alone retails for approximately R105,000, which means the course, instruction, and 35+ flights cost you almost nothing on top of the gear. Sky Safari is the official South African dealer for Sky Paragliders.
What's included
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Full IPPI 4 / SAHPA licence
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Sky Gaia 3 paraglider (EN-A)
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GII5 harness
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Sky System reserve parachute
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Charlie helmet
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35+ flights + radio coaching
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Theory classes & exam
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All site fees + licence reg.
Accommodation and meals not included. Book at least 8 weeks in advance for equipment manufacturing.
★ Recommended to foreign student pilots
Paragliding Training Tour — Fully Inclusive
Garden Route + Cape Town 12 - 14 days · Everything included
R120,000
€6,200
The complete package — nothing to arrange, nothing to worry about. Just show up and fly. You'll spend 12 -14 days travelling between two of South Africa's most spectacular flying regions, earn your full IPPI 4 licence, and leave with a brand-new paragliding kit. Accommodation, meals, airport transfers, and all site fees are taken care of. This is how paragliding was meant to be learned.
What's included
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Full IPPI 4 / SAHPA licence
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Brand-new Sky Paragliders kit
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35+ flights (solo + tandem)
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11+ nights accommodation
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Airport pick-up & all transport
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Daily breakfasts + 6 dinners
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All site fees + licence reg.
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Theory: weather, air law & more
The equipment alone retails for R105,000 — you're essentially getting the guided tour, accommodation, meals, and all instruction at a fraction of the cost. Book at least 8 weeks in advance.
Where You'll Fly
Where You'll Train
The tour starts in Wilderness on the Garden Route — widely regarded as the heart of South African paragliding. You'll fly here for 5 to 8 days, depending on conditions. From there, we move to Cape Town and fly a mix of inland thermals and stunning coastal cliffs.
Garden Route flying sites
✓ Map of Africa
✓ Kleinkrantz
✓ Sedgefield
✓ Paradise Ridge
Cape Town region flying sites
✓ Sir Lowry's Pass
✓ Porterville
✓ Langebaan
✓ Hermanus
✓ Betty's Bay
✓ Piketberg
The best flying site is selected each morning based on local wind and weather conditions, giving you the safest and most rewarding flights possible.
What to Expect
Your course begins with an introduction to your equipment and ground-handling practice. From there, you progress to supervised solo flights with full radio support, and tandem flights with your instructor to build technique and confidence.
Alongside your flying, you'll complete a 4-hour theory class covering:
✓ Weather and thermals
✓ Flight principles and air law
✓ Safety and emergency procedures
✓ Pilot mindset and decision-making
The course is guided by Handré, Sky Safari's Chief Instructor — a SAHPA-certified instructor with over 9,000 flights and years of experience as both a paragliding teacher and tour guide. The course starts and ends in Cape Town.
Licence Requirements
To qualify for your IPPI 4 paragliding licence, you'll need to meet the following requirements — all of which are achievable within the 12-day course:
Requirement Target
Total flights
35+ flights
High flights (over 100m)
Minimum 20 flights
Total airtime
4+ hours
Skills demonstrated
Take-offs, turns, landings, canopy control
Manoeuvres
S-turns, 360s, big ears
Theory exam
Written pass required
Who Is This Course For?
This course is designed for:
✓ Complete beginners — No prior flying experience needed
✓ Adventure travellers — Who want to return home with a recognised licence
✓ Aspiring pilots — Looking for a complete paragliding package with all equipment included
✓ Value-seekers — Travellers wanting an all-inclusive training and tour experience at the best possible price
No prior flying experience is required. If you can walk, you can paraglide.
What You Will Learn
Your training covers everything you need to become a safe, confident, and licensed paraglider pilot:
Equipment & Gear
Learn about wings, harnesses, reserve parachutes, helmets, and flight instruments. Understand how to set up, inspect, pack, and care for your paragliding equipment.
Weather & Site Selection
Choosing the right conditions is the first step to safe flying. You'll learn to read wind forecasts, understand thermals, and select suitable flying sites for the day.
Take-Off Preparation
Take-off is where focus matters most. You'll learn glider layout, topography assessment, and how to choose the best spot to launch safely every time.
Flight Planning
Plan your flight path, assess wind changes along your route, identify landing options, and know what to do when conditions shift unexpectedly.
Landing Techniques
Master approach angles, glide ratios, wind indicators, and safe landing area selection — essential skills for every flight.
Mountain Safety
Prepare properly for every flying day. We cover route planning, hydration, emergency procedures, wing packing, landowner access, and risk minimisation.
