safi ranch

Safi Ranch is the largest dedicated airsports park in the Philippines, set on wide dry grassland in Maasim, Sarangani Province, about 20 minutes from General Santos airport. The flat, gently sloping launch area lets pilots choose from several takeoff directions to match the day's wind, with an easy paved road built up to it by the local government. Ground handling at both launch and the landing plateau is straightforward, though the flying itself here suits pilots with some experience rather than complete beginners. Launch sits around 970 ft, facing southeast over Sarangani Bay into a mix of sea breeze and thermal lift — conditions turn genuinely thermic and bumpy through the middle of the day, roughly 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Weather is dry and hot most of the year, with rain mostly confined to a short window in July and August, so flyable days are common. The site is private land run by the local paragliding community, and visiting pilots need to register with them to get access. There's a small commercial airport nearby, so a 1,500 ft ceiling applies whenever a scheduled flight is arriving or departing.

Launch & conditions

Launch is flat with a gentle slope, multiple directions available to match the wind — facing southeast over Sarangani Bay at the main site, with a mix of sea breeze and thermal lift.

Getting there & local rules

The site is private land run by the local paragliding community — visiting pilots need to register with them before flying, and a paved road leads up to launch.

Local rules & hazards

A 1,500 ft ceiling applies whenever a scheduled flight is arriving or departing at the nearby airport, about 20-30 minutes away. Midday conditions (roughly 9 a.m.-3 p.m.) turn thermic and bumpy; the dry season covers most of the year, with rain mainly limited to July and August.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to safi ranch, read the wind and thermals for the site itself, confirm the day's rules with the local club, and remember the standing rule — when in doubt, don't launch. In the free OutDare app you can open safi ranch with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.