Glen Country Club - Lions Head

Lion's Head

Site Name: Lion's Head

Grade: Basic (With the first two flights Supervised)

Description: Lion's Head is a soaring site above the well known Clifton 4th Beach. Depending on the wind and thermals, you can jump across to Table Mountain and fly the Twelve Apostles. Ever further all the way to Kommetjie. You can also with enough height fly north and land on the Promenade. Most people just land at the Glen Paragliding club at the foot of Lion's head right against the ocean. You park at the back of Lions Head on Cape Town's side and be sure to have your SAN Parks Wild Card for flying inside the National Park.

Launch:

Lower Launch: is a 15 minute hike up the hill in a dirt road. You launch here for wind that is South West. You can also fly in a South East wind shadow.

Upper Launch: is a bit further up. It comes with a high risk warning and is generally recommended not to be used. On a day where the wind is West and the stars align, you can fly all the way to Kommetjie. Please watch the site briefing before even thinking of using the upper launch.

Wind:

West to South West. Thermic lee-side in a South Easter.

Landing:

Best landing: is on the grass sports field at the Glen Country Club.The field is rented by the Camps Bay High School from City Council, so there might be a match on at which point you can't land there. The Camps Bay High School field above the main road can be used as an alternative. During the summer season landing on the beaches (Camps Bay, Clifton, Glen) is NOT allowed. The lower slopes of Lion’s Head can be used to slope-land in an emergency.

Directions:

Drive up through Cape Town and take Kloof Nek road up to the pass between Lion’s Head and Table Mountain. Turn right to Signal Hill and continue until you get to the carpark to the right of the road. The path to the launch starts there.

Airspace:

Ceiling at 1200m ASL.

Caution:

Lion’s Head is a complex site. Be sure to watch the Site Briefing below before flying it.

If you are blown over the back, try to fly around the side as much as possible (not directly behind the peak). Turn and run for the end of Signal Hill or Green Point if possible.