Signal Hill Bench
📍 Western Cape , City of Cape Town · Nearest city: Cape Town (2 km)
50 XC score / 100 · takeoff at 295 m · 📍 View on map
Coordinates and external links
-33.92140, 18.39760Forecast next days
Updated: 2026-04-19 16:22 UTC · Source: Open-Meteo · Thermal window 10:00–18:00 local time
No recomendable para volar, base de cúmulos ~634 m, viento fuerte (28 km/h).
base ~634m · wind 28 km/h · precip 0.4mmNo recomendable para volar, base de cúmulos ~459 m, viento 23 km/h, precipitación 4.9 mm.
base ~459m · wind 23 km/h · precip 4.9mmNo recomendable para volar, base de cúmulos ~844 m, viento fuerte (31 km/h).
base ~844m · wind 31 km/hComposite flyability score (CAPE + LI + wind + precip + low clouds). Cross-check with local pilots before flying.
Takeoff orientations
Green = good orientation · Yellow = possible · Gray = not suitable
Why this site has thermal potential
| Factor | Value | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Hotspot density (5 km) | 3 | Medium |
| Avg thermal probability | 0.88 | Based on thousands of aggregated IGC flights |
| Solar orientation | 0.45 | Slope faces north in southern hemisphere |
| Own flight history | 0.00 | Thermals detected in platform IGC tracks |
Takeoff description
Sports-rated (advanced site) above city of Cape Town for sea-breeze saoraing with some thermals. Easy slope launch. Advanced because wind gradient can increase rapidly and no landing options if blown over. Also, landing if not on top can be difficult due to flying over buildings. DO NOT FLY unless suitably rated and accompanied by experienced local pilot. 'The Point': for NW winds, drive all the way to the end of the road, and park in the large tarred car park. The launch is on the grassed picnic area just to the left of the car park. Any suitable area below the chains just before the car park. 'The Bench' is 1km S along the ridge, and is more suited to W winds. It is accessible from the tar road via a little gravel turnoff and car park. The lay out area is behind the scenic bench.
Rules and notes
Sports-rated airspace ceiling at 1200m.
Pilot comments
The ideal Sunday afternoon soaring site. A long ridge that is the body of the animal that forms Lion's Head. Signal Hill forms a smoothly sloped obstruction to the north-westerly wind. The lift band is usually wide but not too high, peppered with the odd thermal. Hang gliders tap into the real magic of Signal Hill when the wind is really strong, soaring high in the laminar flow. If it's too light here, go to Sir Lowry's Pass. If it's too strong at Sir Lowry's, come back here.
Nearby sites
Lions Head (Cape Town) (38) · Table Mountain (48) · Constantiaberg (37) · Llandudno (42) · Noordhoek Peak (38) · Kommetjie (42)