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Welcome to
Cloudbase Paragliding

At Cloudbase Paragliding we offer tandem flights, paragliding and powered paragliding tuition, licensing courses, accommodation, paragliding tours as well as equipment sales and rental.

We operate from our base in the picturesque coastal village of Wilderness, on the Garden Route that runs along the East Coast of South Africa. In season the high number of flyable days generate a lot of airtime, resulting in many happy pilots! There are also twenty-four flying sites – ranging from easy coastal soaring to cross-country thermal sites – within just an hour’s drive, making our location a popular spot for free flying enthusiasts from around the world.

Our nearest airport is located in George (20km to the northwest) although some of our guests fly into Port Elizabeth (365km to the east) or Cape Town (465km to the west). We are also just 45km to the east of the world-famous town of Knysna.

Tandem flights

To fly as a tandem passenger, no previous experienced is required – you just need to bring your sense of adventure, a pair of sturdy closed shoes, a long-sleeved top and some refreshments for afterwards. We mainly fly tandems from sites in Wilderness and Sedgefield. Bookings are essential.

Book your tandem flight today

About the school

The Cloudbase Paragliding school was established in 1995 and is registered with SAHPA (South African Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association). It is owned and run by full-time instructors Jan Minnaar (founder) and Khobi-Jane Bowden who apply their extensive local and internationally gained knowledge and experience to assist students in developing the skills required to fulfill their free flying dreams.

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The team

Enthusiasm and a passion for spreading the joy of free-flying, as well as ensuring the safety of our students are obvious requirements, however, we believe that our instructors all bring a little extra magic to our Cloudbase family.

Meet our team

6 reasons to join the
Cloudbase Paragliding School Alumni:

We are one of the longest established schools in South Africa (1994) with a high instructor to student ratio.

We are amongst the most experienced instructors and pilots in South Africa.

We have represented South Africa as Protea Team members at the World Championships in 1993, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2019.

We have perfect training sites to allow the right learning progression with great weather conditions to allow for completion of courses within 10/12 days.

We offer state-of-the-art certified gliders and harnesses for all levels.

All our equipment and training procedures comply with SAHPA’s operational and procedural regulations.

Parashop

Cloudbase Paragliding has a physical walk-in as well as an online shop where we offer our clients everything free-flying related: gliders, harnesses, reserves, accessories and clothing. We are appointed South African importers for world-class brands including ADVANCE, UP, NIVIUK, SUP’AIR, ICARO, OZONE, NAVITER, ALPHAPILOT, FLYTEC and CROSS COUNTRY.

If you’re in the area, pop in and have a chat, sit in a harness, check out the newest varios, or test fly a glider. We also offer glider repairs, glider maintenance service, annual checks, porosity testing as well as an overnight reserve re-pack service.

More info

Accommodation

Location. Location. Location! Cloudbase Paragliding is within easy access of the beautiful Wilderness Beach and enjoys a wonderful uninterrupted view of the Wilderness National Park Wetlands. We offer our fellow free-flyers and students accommodation in our home on an informal Bed & Breakfast basis and can comfortably accommodate fifteen people across six rooms.

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Tours

Cloudbase Paragliding has been offering tours since 1995 and we have custom-designed our itineraries to cater to many different tastes and personalities. We’d be delighted if you would join us on a paragliding adventure – be it local or international tour, or just a weekend away. We take all the logistical (accommodation, food, where to fly, weather briefings, transport) planning out of your hands so can just arrive and enjoy your flying vacation.

View available tours

Latest blogs

Cloudbase and Paragliding Wilderness

It’s that time of year already, December, and the holidays are upon us. It has been a good year for Cloudbase Paragliding Wilderness, we finally managed to have our 25th Smile You Scream Alpine Tour , and had amazing weather with some amazing flights and some very happy pilots with lots of personal bests. We […]

Gerickes Point Take Off Site to re-open

We are pleased to announce that the take off site at Gerickes Point is being re-opened. The Simbavati Group (www.simbavati.com) is now operating the property and has opened a beautiful lodge with a bistro, fine dining and accommodation called Fynbos-on-Sea. The use of the take-off is for recreational and visiting pilots only. Tandem flight experiences […]

Cloudbase in the top 10 Adventure Activities in South Africa

The top 10 Adventure Companies for 2022 Dear Cloudbase Paragliding Congratulations to the following 10 companies, firstly for surviving COVID and secondly for making the top 10! These companies are truly magnificent in many ways and can be extremely proud of their achievement.  A special big shout out to, Archery Adventures by Chris for being voted the best adventure […]

What people say

  • I learnt to paraglide with Jan back in 1998 and have been hooked on flying since. I tend to visit South Africa each winter ( in the northern hemisphere) and stay with Jan and Khobi where the friendliness and excellent guiding provide a very relaxed holiday. Jan is the one everyone calls for weather info, including other instructors / guides, but he always uses the safe option.
    Matt Church Scotland
  • Thank you for a fantastic flying holiday. Jan and Khobi at Cloudbase are great instructors, both were supportive and encouraging throughout my training. I really enjoyed the hospitality and especially the social side of staying at Cloudbase. Breakfast and the braai evenings are not to be missed.
    Wendy Kruger Cambridge
  • TOP school in SA. Have flown with over 20 years. And always seek their advice when back in SA. Both are super pilots instructors.
    Craig Bryne UK
  • I had an absolutely fabulous and professional experience throughout. Safety and training came first at all times. Great job Jan and Khobi.
    Dieter Can Rhyn-Behm Dubai
  • Really great experience, so much so we had to go back for another round! Staff were very friendly and professional. Highly recommended!
    Alison Lupton Smith South Africa
  • This was the best experience for us. We were made to feel so comfortable and relaxed and were even given a run down of how paragliding works. We will definitely be back!
    Paige Lindi Langton Port Elizabeth
  • Great paragliding tandems. Owners Jan & Khobi very professional, put safety first. Flying over Wilderness Beach a real treat. Stunning views.
    Philippe Bovay Chamonix
  • Fantastic instructors. They are always welcoming and love to teach. Jan's knowledge of the sport is something that is very rare to find in a pilot. Furthermore, his skill as a tandem pilot is extraordinary and is something most pilots dream of becoming. Not only is KJ an unbelievable pilot, she teaches students with such enthusiasm and care. They are a dynamic duo when it comes to paragliding. Highly recommended.
    Jordyn Butler USA