Surf Forecasts:
Buffalo Bay Wildside surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 14s period, SSW swell with onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 14s period, SSW swell with 4,794 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 14s period with SSW 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 Thursday (Aug 20) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.5m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be onshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Buffalo Bay Wildside in the next 16 days are 3.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Buffalo Bay Wildside over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here, checking in on the only option we’ve got on the table for the next 16 days. Let’s get straight into it.
The whole period is centred on one spot: Buffalo Bay Wildside. It’s an exposed, inconsistent set-up that rarely fires, but when it does, it demands respect. Right now, the water is sitting at 57°, and that’s a massive 6° colder than normal for this time of year – that’s a real kick in the guts, so get the thickest wetsuit you own.
We’re starting with a bang on Thursday the 20th. A powerful SSW groundswell is hammering in at 10ft to 12ft with a long 13 to 14-second period. The combined energy is immense, hitting 4801 (strong to very strong). But honestly, for most of us, it’s too big. This is strictly for experts only. If you’re a pro, the Thursday morning glass-off and slight offshore wind could be a rare, heavy session. For everyone else, it’s a full pass.
Friday the 21st is the standout window in this whole outlook. The swell drops to a still-chunky 7ft from the SW, period still solid at 12 seconds, and the morning delivers clean conditions with a light cross-offshore breeze. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers. The energy is moderate at 1256, but the quality will be there. The afternoon drops off to marginal 5ft – not worth the paddle.
Saturday the 22nd gets messy. Strong cross-onshore winds and dropping swell make for poor, choppy conditions. Sunday the 23rd brings a little more size at 7ft, but it’s cross-shore and onshore winds kill the vibe – just marginal.
Monday the 25th up into Wednesday the 27th sees a slow decline. Tuesday the 25th has a clean 8ft swell with a 14-second period and cross-offshore winds, but the energy is solid at 2629, and it’s only rated as marginal due to the inconsistent nature of the break. Wednesday the 26th morning is the next real bright spot – 6ft from the SW, clean with a light cross-offshore breeze. It’s excellent for experienced surfers, and the energy is moderate at 1044. After that, it fades fast into small, weak surf.
Now, holding out for the long range. There’s a promising pulse arriving around Wednesday the 2nd of September. A clean 8ft to 10ft SW swell with a long 14 to 15-second period. Energy is back up, 3008 to 4057. It’s glassy, with light offshores. But, it’s too big for the break. Again, experts only, and it’s a long way out so treat it as a promising possibility, not a sure thing.
The week in between, from the 28th of August to the 1st of September, is mostly a write-off. Some small swell, mostly onshore or cross-onshore winds, and generally poor to marginal surf. There’s a clean 8ft on the morning of the 30th, but even that is borderline for this spot.
Overall, the only consistent quality window is Friday morning, 21st August. If you’re experienced and want clean, solid waves in challenging water temps, that’s your call. Give it a rest. Buffalo Bay Wildside doesn’t hand out good waves often, so when it does, you gotta be ready.
Stay warm,
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri afternoon, min 12°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Tue afternoon, min 12°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
4794 | 3365 | 1914 | 1250 | 477 | 469 | 814 | 660 | 1162 | 1302 | 1255 | 1188 | 840 | 687 | 752 | 2202 | 1618 | 780 | 971 | 850 | 308 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | glassy | on | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 8:20PM1.16m | 9:23AM1.00m | 10:47PM1.07m | 12:37PM1.04m | 00:51AM1.16m | 1:37PM1.19m | 1:41AM1.29m | 2:11PM1.34m | 2:15AM1.43m | 2:39PM1.49m | 2:44AM1.55m | 3:06PM1.63m | 3:12AM1.65m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:47PM0.68m | 2:58AM0.75m | 3:17PM0.82m | 6:04AM0.77m | 6:39PM0.79m | 7:27AM0.63m | 7:40PM0.65m | 8:02AM0.49m | 8:15PM0.51m | 8:30AM0.35m | 8:44PM0.38m | 8:56AM0.23m | 9:11PM0.26m | ||||||||
7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | |
— | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 18 | 20 | 17 | 30 | 34 | 26 |
Feels °C | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 27 | 30 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 11 |
4794 | 3365 | 1914 | 1250 | 477 | 469 | 814 | 660 | 1162 | 1302 | 1255 | 1188 | 840 | 687 | 568 | 2202 | 1618 | 780 | 971 | 850 | 308 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 11 | E 8 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | — | E 9 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | SW 12 |
7 | 14 | 6 | 6 | 455 | 303 | 31 | 6 | 10 | 305 | 309 | — | 2 | 123 | 752 | 427 | 696 | 697 | 71 | 55 | 330 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | — | — | — | E 9 | E 10 | — | — | ESE 6 | E 9 | ESE 6 | E 6 |
— | — | — | — | — | 37 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | 109 | 2 | 55 | 20 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | ESE 4 | E 5 | W 4 | SW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 4 | — | — | — | WSW 4 |
— | — | — | — | 13 | 64 | 27 | 67 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 52 | — | — | — | 16 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 37 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Garden Route | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











