BEST PARAGLIDING SITES IN ZIMBABWE

St Albert's Mission

Take off: The take-off area is flatish on top but can become quite steep. In summer, thermals can be very strong, so exercise caution. Winching is possible on the road running east along the base of the escarpment. Landing: The Zambezi Valley offers plenty of landing options. Top landing is also feasible. Going there: Follow the road to Centenary and Muzarabani. Drive 30km past Centenary and take the St Albert's mission turn to the right before descending the escarpment. Pass the St Albert's mission hospital and turn left at coordinates S160 28' 09.8' E31018'43.3'. Follow the track down to the saddle and up to the promontory. A 4WD vehicle is necessary for the last 200m, though you can leave your vehicle if preferred. The track might be passable for low-clearance vehicles, but they are not recommended. To reach the base of the take-off, return to the tar road leading to Muzarabani, turn right at the T-junction in the valley, and follow the escarpment east. The road is long and not in great condition, so ensure a good flight and keep your retrieve driver content. Comments: This site is flyable year-round, featuring escarpment and flatland flying due to the open topography. The Zambezi Valley is known for its heat, making summer flying quite exhausting, especially if you have to walk. Bring plenty of water. Winter months offer the best flying conditions and are also out of season for mosquitoes and malaria. The site faces east, with easterly winds being the most common. The escarpment generally works best, but the flatland can also be effective, particularly near the Muvhuradhona mountains, about 20km to the west. The best flying times are late morning through the afternoon, with good climbs possible as late as 16:00 in winter. Summer flying is also viable, though thermals can be rough. Watch out for dust devils near the ground. There is no cell phone coverage. St Albert's Mission has a basic hospital. The site is best suited for flying west along the escarpment. With a northerly drift, it might be possible to return to Centenary. The site is generally reliable, but once you reach Muzarabani (30km west), where the tar road exits the escarpment, the Muvhuradhona mountains diminish. You will need to decide whether to follow the escarpment south or engage in flatland flying over irrigated fields, then join the lower mountains to the west across the river. Continue until you reach Mahuwe and the Bakasa site, another 30km west. You can keep going west until you reach the Hunyani river, another 30km further. The gravel road heads north here, so if you prefer a long walk, stay on the escarpment. Alternatively, head a bit north and follow the main gravel road through Mushumbi Pools to the Zambezi river far to the west. It may be best to do this near Mahuwe, where the main gravel road heads northwest if there is not too much westerly drift in the thermals. The site record is 102km. Weather hazards: Check for smoke on the valley floor to ensure you are experiencing the true wind at take-off. People to contact: Andy Roberts. goneXC@gmail.com +263772704757 Tourism: Mavhuradhona Wilderness Area. Current status unknown.

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Samanga

Takeoff is at 1600m ASL, facing east over a large valley that drops to 600m at its lowest point in the north. The takeoff area is spacious and user-friendly, although it can sometimes be overgrown. Top landings are possible for more experienced pilots. There are numerous landing options. The Samanga School soccer pitch is the most commonly used, though it can be tricky under thermic conditions. Higher up the hill, landing is possible when fields are clear of crops. Further out in the valley, there are plenty of options, but be cautious of power and telephone lines even in rural areas. To get there, it's about 3.5 hours east of Harare via a good road and about 1 hour south of World's View. Take the Marondera road out of Harare, turn left to Nyanga/Juliasdale in Rusape, then right at Juliasdale, and left at the Honde Valley turn-off some 22km south. Continue down this road for about 6km, then turn sharp left just over a small bridge on a very sharp right-hand bend. Keep going up the gravel road (don't turn down left) until you reach a forester's house where you must report in. Return a short distance to the road, turn left, and contour around the valley behind takeoff. Bear right up a steep incline to a sharp right bend and follow the road as it winds up the hill. Cross over a neck behind the takeoff and take a sharp right-hand turn to reach the takeoff area. From Mutare, take the Nyanga/Juliasdale road that turns left about 10km out on the Harare road. The Honde Valley road branches right off this road after about 48km. It is essential to check in with the forester on the way up as this is private forestry land, and open fires are strictly forbidden. The downwind potential is limited due to the rough terrain. Flying into the wind can be challenging but highly rewarding, especially with a SE component that allows you to fly past spectacular waterfalls over the escarpment. This is the most scenic site in Zimbabwe, offering breathtaking views of the sunset reflected in the clouds and plains of Mozambique. Be cautious of theft at this site and take care of your belongings. There is cell phone coverage, but the nearest medical facilities are in Mutare, about an hour away. For tourism, Nyanga National Park, Far & Wide adventure center, and hotels in Juliasdale and Nyanga (1/2 to 1 hour from the site) offer access to fishing, horse riding, golf courses, and hiking. There is also good accommodation on the Abberfoyle tea estate at the north end of the valley, which has a small golf course and plentiful walking opportunities in the dense forests. Contact Andy Roberts at goneXC@gmail.com or mobile: +263772704757 for more information.

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Worlds View

At an elevation of approximately 2309 meters, this paragliding site is often described as superb and frequently flyable, with good potential for cross-country flights. Takeoff: There are several takeoff points, all easily accessible with a short walk from the road to the viewing site. The takeoffs are steep, so precision is crucial. Some areas are prone to wind shadow, so be cautious when inflating your glider as it may suddenly catch the airflow and pull you off your feet. Landing: There are numerous landing options below. Top landing is possible but can be turbulent, so it is best done some distance back from the takeoff area. Getting There: The site is located three hours east of Harare on a good road, except for the last 6 kilometers. Take the road to Marondera and turn left for Nyanga in Rusape. The 80-kilometer stretch to Juliasdale offers stunning rock formations. In Juliasdale, turn left for Nyanga village and then right about 3 kilometers before Nyanga, following the signpost to Troutbeck Hotel. Continue for about 12 kilometers and turn left at the World's View sign near some horse stables. The road is rough but manageable with a normal car. As you approach the escarpment, turn left onto a track by some Eucalyptus trees and park just off the road. Depending on the wind direction, you may need to walk to the edge along a wooden fence line or follow the track to one of the westerly takeoffs. If coming through Mutare, take the Harare road and turn right about 10 kilometers out of town onto the Nyanga/Juliasdale road. Comments: This site can be flown most times of the year, with the highest cloud-base occurring during the dry, hot months of August and September. Summer conditions can be rough. There are multiple sites along the escarpment, all easily accessible with a short walk. The sites can be flown in winds from northerly to southwest. Choose your takeoff site accordingly. Be cautious of soaring the cliffs just north of takeoff in a northerly wind, as it can be turbulent. Exceptional flying conditions can be found here. Keep an eye out for convergence clouds, which indicate good flying conditions and can be surprisingly localized. It is not unusual for the wind to be northeast at Troutbeck Hotel and flyable at World's View. The convergence often moves west off the escarpment face during the day, so be aware of rotor and wind direction when landing. If it's flyable at the takeoff but northeast at the hotel, don't delay. Storms can build rapidly during summer due to the surrounding topography, including Mt Nyangani and the Honde Valley to the east. If unsure about the weather conditions, do not fly. The site works best from midday onwards and has reasonable cell phone coverage. There are no decent medical facilities nearby. The site record is 84 kilometers towards Harare. Long out-and-return flights are also possible; a competition task of 66 kilometers was completed by two pilots. Weather Hazards: Storms can build quickly in the summer months. Convergence is common, so check landing directions. Flight Regulation: Flying over the military camp to the west is prohibited. Avoid flying over the police camp in Nyanga Village. It is essential to inform the police of your intentions. The site has been used for around 20 years, so this is generally not a problem. People to Contact: Andy Roberts Email: gonexc@gmail.com Phone: +263772704757 Tourism: There are many hotels and attractions in the area, including Nyanga National Park with hiking, a small museum at Ziwa Mountain, river swimming, and fishing. Accommodation is available in the National Park but usually needs to be booked in Harare. Recommended hotels include Inn on the Rupurara, Pine Tree Inn (both part of the Inns of Zimbabwe group), and Troutbeck Hotel. There is also a campsite in the National Park that does not require booking. Nyanga Village offers basic supplies.

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Caesar Mine

Take-off is a bit rough in places but generally easy, making it suitable for beginners. To get there, take the Mazowe/Bindura road north out of Harare. Turn left up the Mvurwi road just after Mazowe. Take the next tar road left, signposted Mutoroshanga. Climb up a long hill on narrow tar and take the next tar road left, signposted to Barwick School. Still on narrow tar, you will now be approaching the Great Dyke, an unmistakable chain of low hills. Turn right at the Zimbabwe Alloys Caesar Mine road and turn left at the T junction. Go through the remains of a gate and wind along the gravel road. It takes a sharp right bend and climbs up the Dyke. Go over a cattle grid and about 200m later turn left up a track—you will see the remains of a hut on top of the take-off. The trip out of Harare takes about an hour. The site faces due east, which is the direction of the prevailing wind. It can be flown in NE wind and ESE wind, but a south-easter makes for a tricky launch. Thermals can be strong during the day, but this site is frequently gusty or alternatively dead. Ridge soaring in the evening is worth waiting for as the view is great, but it often requires good strong wind launch techniques because it is such a small hill (150m). Be aware of gust fronts from distant storms in summer. This site is on the edge of Delta 70, an aircraft training area, but they very seldom come this far. For more information, contact Andy Roberts at goneXC@gmail.com or +263772704757.

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