Wild Sky Paragliding School

Welcome to Wild Sky paragliding school and lodge.  We are in Bulwer, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa.  We offer paragliding courses, paragliding tandem flights, and paragliding guiding.

Bulwer is one of the best places to learn to paraglide! 

There are ten different paragliding sites in the area that face various wind directions.  We have both thermic and ridge soaring flying conditions.

The school and backpackers lodge is run by Hans and Ria Fokkens. Hans has been paragliding since 1989 and a paragliding instructor since 1993.  Ria started flying in 1998 and has been an instructor since 2010. With our vast experience and good safety record you will be in great hands learning to fly here. We are serious about safety.  Our school equipment is all rated and suitable for beginners.

The backpackers lodge is set at the foot of  Bulwer mountain. With a bit of experience you can land right next to the deck otherwise the official landing is right next door!

The lodge consists of a backpackers upstairs, with ten single beds, divided into three rooms. Adjoining the lodge there are two small cabins with shared ablutions.  There is also one  en-suite cabin which consists of  two adjoining rooms to the bathroom with shower basin and toilet. We have recently added a family/friends unit called the Forest cabin with kitchen, bathroom, two bedrooms and a loft upstairs for kids.

There is a campsite under pine trees(no power). The kitchen is shared by everyone and is fully equipped. There is a braai place outside and a comfortable lounge dining area. The atmosphere is warm and friendly. The lodge is built with pine logs.

Bulwer (Amahwaqa) mountain is world famous as a spectacular flying site, both for its views and the fact that we fly all year through all the seasons.

It is also a perfect training site for students as it has friendly grassy slopes, and very reliable breezes.   The area around Bulwer has many hills that allow us to fly in various wind directions.

Bulwer mountain is the most reliable of all the sites in the area.  The valley generates an updraft regularly, generating its own micro meteorological climate, which makes it  consistently flyable.

The site has spectacular views of the rolling Kwazulu-Natal hills and also the Drakensberg.

Flying Cross Country to Underberg is beautiful with green fields interspersed with little dams and the Drakensberg ahead.

Bulwer is flyable throughout the year and although it gets a bit chilly in winter great height gains and cross country is possible all year round. It also has a fantastic valley release (ridge soaring)  in the afternoons.  Valley release occurs when the heat absorbed by the ground during the day is released, which causes warm air to rise and constant smooth lift for paraglider pilots, allowing us to stay aloft for hours at a time.

Paragliding for beginners here is best from December through to August.  September to November can be strong conditions suitable for more experienced pilots.

We  offer guiding for newly qualified pilots, as well as groups that want to do tours. We have also developed a post basic license steps programme.  The goal is to improve each pilots flying skills to a higher level, allowing them to take their flying abilities to the next step, whether it be simple thermalling, a bit of acro or flying cross country.

Bulwer is an unassuming  little town set below the beautiful mountain.  There are no frills, so don’t expect any.   You will find the atmosphere below our beautiful mountain both relaxing and fresh.  It is unlike anywhere else.  There is some great hiking and mountain biking available  in the area,  not to mention the spectacular bird watching. The Marutswa forest is becoming a well known birding hotspot. There are a number of historical buildings of note in Bulwer one of which is the yellow wood church, which is definitely worth a visit.