Tandem Paragliding Garden Route

Tandem Paragliding Garden Route

A bird’s eye view of the magnificent coastline and beyond.

This is an adventure sport that requires no fitness level while providing an adrenalin rush and sense of absolute peace all at the same time.

Generally, the advice would be that this activity is not suitable for people who have a fear of exposed heights! Queue music as my 14-year-old daughter and I both faced the fear and did it anyway! Everyone who knows me and in particular my trail running friends will vouch for my very real fear of exposed heights. My mantra has always been no matter how high, if I fall there has to be terra firma around me. 

 To be honest, Bella was way calmer than I was, she just seemed to be completely chilled and looking forward to as she said, jumping off a mountain. My husband and I needed a moment or ten to absorb that as you could imagine. We may or may not even tried to convince her if she didn’t jump it wouldn’t be a big deal at all.  Driving to the launch site I recalled words such as “much higher than Map of Africa” and looking at the tandem flyers high above us did make me question whether we or should I say I would do it.

We arrived at the launch and land site and the word that came to mind was super well organised. This is a well oiled machine run by passionate professionals genuinely invested in ensuring you have the best possible experience with safety top of mind.

There was an added sense of excitement as a marriage proposal was playing out ahead of us. The team were so fully invested in making this special so consider them if you’re in the area and wanting to do something extra special, you won’t be sorry.

Bella was the first to harness up and meet her pilot, to say she was a cool as a cucumber and so ready to do this would be an understatement. Watching her take off was such an amazing experience, I recalled feeling so proud and happy for her to be doing something so extraordinary. Next minute, I am kitted out, helmet on, clipped  to my pilot with an additional person in front of me to help us take off. I do recall looking over at my husband with an oh my word expression and giving him a very tentative thumb up just before take-off. Next thing we are ready to run to take off and in that second I felt no fear. It was amazing, I completely trusted my pilot, Andre, I was so in awe of the scenery, the quiet, being in the air with a few other people and knowing that they too are possibly for the first time having this incredible experience. We flew for around 15 minutes, that sounds a bit short but it gives you so much time to take it all in.

I have heard people calling tandem paragliding a adrenalin experience which I suppose it is but it is also so much more. I cant emphasise enough the sense of peace and serenity when your flying. You literally sit back and enjoy the experience whilst your pilot does all the work and gives you a memory card to download at the finish with videos taken throughout the flight. This is included in the cost.

Would I do it again, in a heartbeat, but you still won’t see me doing any exposed trail runs any time soon!

Some important information to note. There are three locations for the paragliding and this location is generally confirmed either the day before, or on the day itself. This depends entirely on the wind speed and direction. Locations include Wilderness, at the iconic Map of Africa View Point, Sedgefiled and Wilderness Beach Hotel. Regardless of location, you are guaranteed an incredible experience!

Flights usually take place between 10h00 and 16h00 in Summer and around 12h00 to 14h00 in winter.

Flights start at R1100. A media package can be purchased for an additional R350 per person. The team will upload the media directly to your phone.

Tandem Paragliding on the Garden Route, is by far, one of the best adventure experiences around and definitely a Top Garden Route Activity. If you are heading to Cape Town, don’t forget to check out the Cape Town Paragliding scene for another incredible adventure experience