One flight, no commitment, no licence required. You fly with an instructor, from launch to landing, and feel exactly what three months of training is building toward. Most people book the course within a week of their discovery flight.
You don't need to be training for a licence to fly. A tandem flight puts you in the air strapped in alongside a qualified pilot who does the flying — you just take in the view. It's the gift people remember, the bucket-list item people actually tick off, and for a lot of our students, the flight that convinced them to sign up for the course.
Birthdays, bucket lists, bachelor/bachelorette flights, corporate team days, or anyone who just wants to see Hartbeespoort Dam, Nelspruit or Lichtenburg from a few thousand feet up. No fitness test, no prior flying experience — if you can manage a short run-up on grass, you can tandem fly.
Every tandem pilot is a SACAA-registered PPG instructor who flies regularly — not a weekend hobbyist. They handle launch, flight and landing; you're clipped in on a dedicated tandem harness built for two and to the same standard we train our own students on.
A short briefing, a quick kit fitting, then 15–30 minutes in the air depending on weather and location. Ask about a GoPro add-on so you take the footage home with you.
Eugene Cussons, my friend and mentor, built this school on one idea: that flying should be taught properly, by people who actually fly, and fly far and wide. I was lucky enough to learn under that philosophy, and it's the same one I run Nirvana Aero Academy on today. No shortcuts. We focus on developing pilots who become capable, competent and confident in their flying. Every pilot who comes through our doors leaves with a real licence, real hours logged, and real experience in the air. That's the standard Eugene set, and it's the one we hold ourselves to every single session. — JP
Nirvana Africa holds the agency for Dudek paraglider and paramotor wings, with a regional service location at Paarl/Signal Hill. Replacement lines are ordered directly from the factory in Poland, matched to the original line identification.
Not a directory listing — every location below is a working training field with an instructor on the ground. We add new sites so pilots can focus on training, not travelling. Registered SACAA 0039 DTO.
Run by Nirvana Aero Academy — one of the country's largest training fields. A 45-minute drive from Fourways in the beautiful Hartbeespoort Dam landscape, shielded by the majestic Northern Ridge of the Magaliesberg mountain. Club building with braai facilities, seating for 50, modern ablutions.
On the R40 towards Barberton, the rolling hills of Mpumalanga offer breathtaking views in all directions. Paramotor training in the Lowveld, run by Nirvana Aero.
Known for its peaceful country atmosphere, historical roots and convenient stopover amenities. Paramotor training in the North West, run by Nirvana Aero.
A holiday destination for many and a playground for paramotor pilots. Sun, fun and splash when you're done training for the day. Run by Nirvana Aero.
Real feedback from Nirvana Aero Academy students.
I joined Nirvana through a friend who invited me to see how PPG works. From day one I got hooked and never looked back. My wife also got hooked on PPG and started at Evergreen with training. I worked with Reaan Swampoel, who took me solo, and I have done all 35 flights and training with Reaan. He is a good guy and has a lot of passion for his training. I have not met Mr JP, master of Nirvana Academy, yet, but I met the legend Eugene Cussons and had some lessons with him and did some business on Nirvana parts. He was unfortunately taken too soon from all our PPG friends. (R.I.P.) I will recommend that anyone train with Nirvana Academy. It is a great team and they go the extra mile to serve their students.
Thanks to JP for carrying on and fighting to get all students active. God bless you, buddy.
What stood out to me most was the instructor’s incredible patience, passion, and enthusiasm. I walked away from every training session feeling positive, encouraged, and even more motivated for the next one.
And then comes that unforgettable moment when all the training, practice, and hard work finally come together, and you find yourself in the air for your very first flight. That feeling is absolutely priceless! 🪂✨
Jean-Pierre loves the sport, and he makes no secret of it. He is always on time and unbelievably excited about helping students progress through the training programme.
Learning to fly a paramotor was not easy. It demanded focus, time, energy and bravery. One of the most challenging parts was trying to align uncontrollable factors such as the weather, personal schedules and available training days.
I cannot imagine going through that entire process with any other team. Choosing the right instructor is not only a matter of convenience; it is vital for safety.
The sky is not the limit in paramotoring. Anyone can progress as far as they want to, but we all start with the fundamental basics. I believe Nirvana Aero Academy’s strength lies in creating both a literal and emotional safe space for students to launch their paramotor journeys.
I can confidently recommend Nirvana Aero Academy to anyone interested in the sport. They are professional, passionate and competent.
See how our pilots put their training to work on aerial game counts and anti-poaching support.
