Welcome to the Zulu Kingdom, KwaZulu-Natal

Hang Gliding, Microlighting, Paragliding and Parachuting in KwaZulu-Natal

zoom A paragliders dream

Hang Gliding/Paragliding

Paragliding and Hangliding are the closest a human can come to flying – no engine noise and nothing below you as you soar along ridges or ride the thermals that allow you to gain precious height and stay in the air.

The Kingdom of the Zulu has more than 100 recognised gliding spots and some of the most beautiful terrain to fly over.

A number of clubs offer paragliding instruction, tandem flights with highly experienced instructors and cross- country trips with guides who know the local conditions.


Arthur's Seat
Central Drakensberg
This scenic site in the central Drakensberg is very popular with intermediate and advance pilots. Take-off to landing is about 500m and both are easily accessible. The Kelvin Grove campsite at the bottom is a great place to stay while flying here and gives you directions to the launch.

Bulwer
Bulwer has very dependable hang-and paragliding most of the year and has often been the site of competitions. Like most of the region it is very scenic. You can drive to the take off, which is about 300m above landing, but novices can use a lower take off site if they are prepared to walk to it. Landing is on the outskirts of town, making for easy pick-ups. The Getaway magazine has rated Bulwer as one of the top ten sites in South Africa for paragliding.

Dumbe Mountain, Paulpietersburg
Superb cross-country site with good thermals – on a good day you can fly over 100 kilometres.

Kloof Gorge
Just outside the city of Durban, this spectacular gorge provides ideal conditions. It's not a cross-country site but on a good day you can glide for hours. For more information please visit our 1000 Hills website or contact 1000 Hills Tourism.

The Hoek
Olivier's Hoek, in the northern Drakensberg.

Olivier's Hoek pass is a popular site with experienced pilots and students alike. The take off is close to Drifters Inn and is about 150 to 200m above landing site. Both launch and landing site is easily accessible by car. You can do a resident paragliding course at Isibongo Lodge and do your flights from here or Authur's Seat, also a spectacular flight. They will also give you information about the site, and the staff at Drifters Inn can direct you to the site.

Wild Sky Adventures
A KZN registered tourism establishment
Contact:Hans
Telephone:(039)832 0224 /0823953298
E-Mail: Hans.wildsky@pixie.co.za

zoom The 1000 Hills - a perfect setting for the microlight ethusiast Photo:1000 Hills Tourism

Microlighting

This is a fast growing sport in the Kingdom of the Zulu with many clubs offering instruction, scenic flights and cross-country trips. Popular spots include La Mercy and Ballito on the North Coast, Richards Bay, Cato Ridge (near Durban), Vryheid, Howick, Ladysmith, Port Edward, Winterton and in the Drakensberg.

For something different an operator based in Camperdown offers four-day trips to the Wild Coast in the Eastern Cape and two-day trips to the Drakensberg.

Microlighting along the coast is great fun especially when you can see dolphins and the occasional whale frolicking in the water.

The annual sardine migration that takes place along the South Coast every year in June provides microlighters with a unique spectacle of massive shoals being chased by packs of sharks and dolphin. This is a sight you cannot see anywhere else in the world.

Parachuting

Oribi Airport, Pietermaritzburg, is the top parachuting venue in the Kingdom of the Zulu.


Pietermaritzburg Parachute Club
Contact: Jerry Du Plessis
033 3866346/082859778
E-Mail: blueskies@futurenet.co.za
Web Address: www.users.lia- net/blueskies

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