Flying sites

The first step to find a flying site is to ask around at your flying club, other pilots, or in the various social media groups for the area.

Books and online resources

The following books, apps, and websites might also be handy:

• Paragliding map (also on iOS / Android)
• Greg Hamerton - Fresh Air (still the most comprehensive resource of South African paragliding sites, even if it hasn't been updated since 2006; ask your club or instructor if a paperback or digital copy is doing the rounds)
• SAHPA site guide (some useful information, especially for the Western Cape's main sites, including a page specifically for Table Mountain National Park)
• Paragliding.Earth
• Oliver Guenay - Best Flying Sites of the Alps (ebook / PDF / paperback)

Also below the Western Cape Windrose for sites that are flyable from different wind directions on the When to fly page.

Rating-specific sites

Note that some launch sites may be on private land where you'll need to get prior permission from the landowners, for others you may need advanced certification (like a Sports Licence / IPPI 5 for Signal Hill in Cape Town), others may be completely illegal to launch from (such as unapproved launches from national parks), others you need a minimum number/hours of flying and a sign-off by an authorised pilot (such as Lion's Head). Ask around.

Also, very important for foreign pilots visiting South Africa: you will need a SAHPA Foreign Pilot Permit to fly anywhere, otherwise you'll be in breach of the laws of the SA Civil Aviation Authority. Local pilots will need an up-to-date local permit.

Airspace

Once you're in the air, there are very important rules that you should be aware of at many sites. I created a separate article for this: airspace.