Buffalo Bay Wildside Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.08° S 22.98° E

Buffalo Bay Wildside Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 am 05 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Buffalo Bay Wildside sea temperature is
16.9° C
0.2° 

Buffalo Bay Wildside surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Buffalo Bay Wildside surf forecast from 5 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 6 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 9 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 14s period, SW swell with 5,891 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 5 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 15s period with SW swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Buffalo Bay Wildside this week:

The surf forecast for Buffalo Bay Wildside over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 05) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Buffalo Bay Wildside in the next 16 days are 4.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 09) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 6s period and expected on Friday (Aug 07) at 11AM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8PM (Wed 5th Aug)7ft (2.1m) 15s
Best Surf 5AM (Thu 6th Aug)10ft (3.0m) 14s
Most Powerful 2AM (Sun 9th Aug)13ft (4.0m) 14s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Buffalo Bay Wildside over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s talk about Buffalo Bay Wildside. We got 16 days to look at, and it’s a real rollercoaster – plenty of size, but you gotta pick your moments or you’ll get cleaned up. The water’s sittin’ at about 62°, right on the mark for this time of year, nothin’ unusual.

Right off the bat, we got some surf Wednesday morning, August 5th. It’s a modest 4 ft from the SSW, but with that cross-on breeze and a period pushing 15 seconds, it ain’t doin’ us any favours. The energy’s pumpin’ at 1147 – moderate – but the quality is marginal. Not worth paddlin’ out for.

The real story, and the standout of the whole forecast, is Friday, August 7th. We get a solid 8 ft swell from the southwest, with a period of 14 to 15 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell. The wind swings around to the ESE, clean, cross-offshore all day. The wave energy is through the roof – 2817 in the morning, up to 3308 by the arvo. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers. The swell is a bit big for beginners, and because it’s a long-period swell, it might jack up fast on the beach, but the quality is there. Crowds are *sometimes* a thing here, so you might have a few mates out.

Thursday, August 6th, is a write-off for paddle surf. We got 10 ft to 12 ft from the SW, onshore wind, and the energy is massive – 3703. That’s just too big and messy. If you’re into kiting, the setup looks more interesting than paddle surf.

Saturday the 8th drops off quick. The swell drops to 8 ft but the wind turns cross-on and choppy. Energy’s still decent at 2262, but the surface is junk. Sunday the 9th is another one to skip – heavy rain, howlin’ cross-shore wind at 25 mph, and a 10 ft swell turnin’ to chop. That’s a zero.

Monday the 10th sees the swell drop to 5 ft to 6 ft. The wind is fresh and cross-off, so it’s clean, but the energy is still moderate. It’s rideable but nothin’ special. Then Tuesday the 11th through Thursday the 14th is just chaos again: 10 ft to 13 ft from the ESE, all of it too big and directed for experts. The wind is cross-off and clean, but the swell size is just too much for most. The energy readings are astronomical – 3950 on the 12th – but it ain’t for the faint of heart.

Now, after that rough patch, we get a second standout. On Thursday afternoon, August 14th, the swell cleans right up. It drops to 5 ft from the SW, with a 14-second period. The wind goes glassy, and the energy is still a healthy 2720. That’s excellent conditions for more experienced surfers, and it’ll be some of the cleanest waves of the whole run.

Friday the 15th is small and fadin’. By Sunday the 17th, we’re down to tiny 2 ft waves – glassy, but barely surfable. Then Tuesday, August 19th, we get a nice little pulse: 7 ft to 7 ft from the SW, glassy conditions, excellent for experienced surfers. That’s a real hidden gem in the second week. After that, the swell drops off again, and by Thursday the 21st, we’re lookin’ at 7 ft from the SW but with a fresh onshore breeze makin’ a mess of it.

So, overall: the standout is Friday, August 7th, with that solid 8 ft SW groundswell and clean cross-off wind. The other diamond is Thursday afternoon, August 14th. There’s a long gap in quality surf between the 8th and the 13th, so don’t waste your time chasin’ it midweek. Keep an eye on that Tuesday the 19th as a second-week wildcard. Be smart out there.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Thu morning. Warm (max 21°C on Wed morning, min 13°C on Thu afternoon). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 47mm), heaviest during Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat morning, min 11°C on Sun afternoon). Winds increasing (light winds from the WNW on Sat night, strong winds from the SE by Sun afternoon).

Wednesday
5
Thursday
6
Friday
7
Saturday
8
Sunday
9
Monday
10
Tuesday
11
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
4
!
!
!
4
5
!
1
2
!
!
0
!
2
2
3
!
!
!
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.3
SSW
15
2.1
SW
16
2.5
SW
14
3.5
SW
13
3
SW
13
3
SW
12
2.5
SW
14
2.5
SW
15
3
SW
14
2.4
SW
14
2.5
SW
13
4
SW
14
3.5
SW
13
3
SSW
13
3
SSW
12
1.7
SSW
11
1.6
SSW
11
2.3
SSW
14
3.5
ESE
8
4
ESE
9
4
E
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
780
2066
2680
3615
2610
2233
2725
3116
3326
2157
2172
5891
3621
3041
2493
643
622
2078
1493
2488
2945
Wind (km/h)
10
WSW
10
S
10
NNW
20
SW
10
WSW
5
ESE
5
ESE
10
ESE
10
NW
20
W
15
SW
10
WSW
20
S
40
SSE
30
SE
30
ESE
35
ESE
35
E
30
E
25
E
10
NE
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
on
on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
High Tide
7:51PM1.50m
8:19AM1.23m
9:00PM1.37m
9:56AM1.14m
10:48PM1.31m
12:01PM1.18m
00:33AM1.38m
1:23PM1.34m
1:42AM1.52m
2:17PM1.54m
2:33AM1.66m
3:01PM1.71m
3:16AM1.75m
Low Tide
1:24PM0.39m
2:18AM0.48m
2:22PM0.53m
3:41AM0.58m
3:58PM0.63m
5:38AM0.57m
6:03PM0.60m
7:09AM0.44m
7:29PM0.46m
8:06AM0.28m
8:26PM0.29m
8:51AM0.13m
9:12PM0.15m
clear
clear
clear
light rain
light rain
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
heavy rain
heavy rain
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
light rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:16
7:16
7:16
7:15
7:13
7:13
7:11
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:50
5:51
5:52
5:52
5:52
5:53
5:53
 mm
1
1
1
3
14
25
3
2
4
3
Temp °C
21
19
15
15
14
14
16
18
15
14
14
14
12
12
14
14
14
13
14
14
13
Feels °C
19
17
16
12
12
14
15
15
14
11
12
13
7
4
7
7
6
6
8
8
11
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the Buffalo Bay Wildside Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Buffalo Bay Wildside provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Buffalo Bay Wildside can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Buffalo Bay Wildside surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Buffalo Bay Wildside) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).

Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Buffalo Bay Wildside may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.

Are you planning a holiday in Garden Route? If you are looking for accommodation near Buffalo Bay Wildside, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Garden Route, consider staying in Knysna which is 8 km (5 miles) away. Other places in and around Garden Route where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Plettenberg Bay which is 36 km (22 miles) away, George, Mossel Bay and Oudtshoorn.

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