The Cape Hope Paragliding team is made up of South Africa's most experienced and passionate tandem paragliding pilots, based in Cape Town. Led by Francois de Villiers — the #1 ranked paragliding pilot in South Africa — our team brings together decades of combined flying experience, world-championship credentials, and an unwavering commitment to safety, professionalism, and unforgettable experiences in the sky above Cape Town.
Francois de Villiers JNR founded Cape Hope Paragliding with a clear mission: to offer the safest, most memorable, and most professional tandem paragliding experience in South Africa. Since beginning his flying career in 2007 and going full-time in 2016, Francois has accumulated thousands of hours in the air over Cape Town's most iconic sites — Signal Hill, Lion's Head, and the Cape Peninsula. In 2019, he helped manage the South African Paragliding Team at the FAI World Championships in Macedonia, and in early 2025 he competed at the World Championships in Brazil, flying against the best pilots in the world.
Every member of the Cape Hope Paragliding team holds current SAHPA (South African Hang and Paragliding Association) tandem pilot ratings and undergoes regular training and assessment to maintain the highest standards of flying competence and passenger safety. Our pilots are deeply familiar with Cape Town's unique microclimates and wind conditions — knowledge that comes not from textbooks, but from years of flying the same mountains day in and day out.
Beyond their technical skills, what sets the Cape Hope Paragliding team apart is their passion for sharing the magic of flight. Whether you're a first-time flyer experiencing the sensation of soaring above Cape Town for the very first time, or a seasoned adventurer returning for another run, our pilots ensure you feel safe, informed, and genuinely thrilled throughout every flight. We brief every passenger thoroughly before take-off, communicate clearly throughout the flight, and land smoothly every time.
Cape Town is one of the world's premier paragliding destinations, and the Cape Hope Paragliding team is proud to be part of its story. From the rolling thermals of Signal Hill to the dramatic ridgeline of Lion's Head, our pilots know every launch site, every wind shift, and every landing zone intimately. When you fly with the Cape Hope Paragliding team, you're not just getting a flight — you're getting the expertise of pilots who live and breathe Cape Town's skies.
