DESCRIPTION

Great site. Really cooks in the summer and good for training in winter. Very consistent conditions. You can get really high and it is not hard to do 100km+ with the Olifants River mountain range alone running for more than 70km south to north. House thermal is just past the ravine to the right, where the one south facing rock face is. Below that halfway out to the plains in a rocky bump called 'rescue' - early often your the best low save chance.

ACTIVITIES

- paragliding
- flatland
- hanggliding
- thermals
- xc

weather

Thermals can become very strong; and turbulent near the ridge, so fly very actively. Late afternoon SW-winds often prevent launching - fly early, gusts over 40 km/h are not uncommon later. Beware of dust devils, that develop many days in the plains. When they come too close to the road under the launch - extra care, they do also appear on launch sometimes then. Check for rotor and wind from the back even though it is rare. Just drive past the launch on the road to the small Beaverlac junction to check the wind. There is a streamer on a tree and it's 1 minute away by car.

access

Take the N1 from Cape Town to Piketburg. Just before Piketberg take the R44 to Porterville for 25km. When you get to the T-junction at the end of that road turn left (right takes you into Porterville). After about 3km take a right onto a rough dirt road signposted to Dasklip Pass. Follow that for about 9km until you get to a fork (the turkey-patch) and bear right and up the mountain, a long winding tar road which you should take nice and easy (speed limit: 40 km/h). You will see a hang glider ramp near the top on your left. The paragliding launch is above that. Park on the up-slope side, facing Porterville.

regulation

Ceiling 4000m (amsl) See the site rules at the launch site. Flatland flights to the west might require permission (ask at the Flyers' Lodge) No commercial tandems, SAHPA (guest) membership, site fee (see above) more info: http://www.eternitypress.com/freshair/porterville.htm