Surf Forecasts:
Buffalo Bay Wildside surf forecast from 12 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 16 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 15s period, SW swell with 3,026 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 12 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 17s 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 Saturday (Sep 12) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.2m and 17s period with a secondary swell of 1.6m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 2.3m and 8s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Buffalo Bay Wildside in the next 16 days are 2.5m 15s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 10s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Sat 12th Sep) | 7ft (2.2m) 17s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Wed 16th Sep) | 8ft (2.5m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Buffalo Bay Wildside over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again. Let's talk about what's cooking at Buffalo Bay Wildside over the next couple of weeks. It's gonna be a ride, with some killer windows and some total duds.
Straight up, Saturday the 12th is a skip. Small, junky, rippled-up slop with wave energy at 1021. Water temp is 15.7°, a good degree and a half colder than usual, so you'll want the rubber on.
The first real standout is Sunday the 13th. We've got a solid push of ESE swell coming in at 9.8 to 11.5ft, with moderate wave energy (3588). The wind is cross-off, keeping things clean. But at that size, this is strictly for the experts. It's gonna be a beast. The period is a short 10 seconds, so it'll be a bit bumpy, but for the crew who charge, it's game on.
We hit a flat, nasty spell from Monday the 14th through Tuesday the 15th morning with onshore wind and chop. Leave it alone.
Now, Tuesday the 15th morning is a beauty. A clean 5.2ft E swell, glassy as a mirror, with a nice long 11-second period. Wave energy is moderate at 931. This is your sweet spot for intermediates. Clean, glassy, long walls. It's an inconsistent break, so patience is key, but the waves you get will be pure quality.
Wednesday the 16th gets messy again with rain and onshore wind, and the swell jumps to 8.2ft, pushing it for most. Then from Thursday the 17th through the 19th, we've got a stretch of clean, cross-off winds with steady 5.6 to 6.9ft SW swells (energy around 1200-1930). Not epic, but clean and rideable for a few days. Just watch the 19th afternoon when the wind hits 19 mph, it gets a bit howling.
Monday the 21st morning is another one for the advanced crew. A 6.9ft E swell with a short 8-second period. Energy is solid at 1550. It's fast and punchy, but clean with light winds. Good fun for the experienced.
The real diamond in the rough is the last weekend. Sunday the 27th morning is glassy, with a 4.6ft SW groundswell and a super long 19-second period. Wave energy is strong at 1649. That long period means it'll wrap in deep and have real grunt. This spot is inconsistent and rarely lines up perfectly, so when it goes glassy with a long-period groundswell? That's a special, low-crowd session for the patient surfer. That afternoon gets even better with a 5.6ft SW swell at 18 seconds and still glassy; energy jumps to 2249. If you can wait, the last weekend of the month is your best bet.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Sat night. Warm (max 20°C on Sun afternoon, min 16°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 42mm), heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 20°C on Tue morning, min 13°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SW 14 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 11 | E 11 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 825 | 1845 | 2472 | 1874 | 2085 | 1529 | 1053 | 910 | 721 | 617 | 418 | 1164 | 2562 | 1504 | 1210 | 860 | 792 | 622 | 880 | 1418 | 1498 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:21PM1.95m | 4:36AM1.75m | 4:50PM1.88m | 5:04AM1.68m | 5:18PM1.77m | 5:32AM1.58m | 5:45PM1.63m | 5:58AM1.45m | 6:11PM1.47m | 6:25AM1.31m | 6:38PM1.31m | 6:56AM1.16m | 7:13PM1.15m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:09AM-0.01m | 10:35PM0.01m | 10:38AM0.04m | 11:02PM0.08m | 11:05AM0.12m | 11:29PM0.18m | 11:31AM0.24m | 11:54PM0.31m | 11:57AM0.38m | 00:21AM0.45m | 12:24PM0.53m | 00:52AM0.59m | 12:56PM0.68m | 1:44AM0.74m | |||||||
 |  |  | | |  |  | |  |  | | |  |  | | | | | |  |  | |
 | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — |
 | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:17 | — | — | 6:19 | — | — | 6:19 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:21 | — |
mm | 1 | — | 10 | 2 | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | 7 | 15 | 20 | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 17 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 16 |
Feels °C | 18 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SW 14 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 11 | E 11 | SW 10 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 13 |
| kJ | 825 | 1845 | 2472 | 1714 | 1187 | 1529 | 1053 | 910 | 721 | 617 | 418 | 850 | 2562 | 1504 | 1210 | 860 | 792 | 622 | 880 | 1418 | 1498 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 6 | SE 7 | — | — | — | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 10 | SW 16 | E 11 | E 10 | SSW 6 | E 10 | E 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 |
| kJ | 85 | 131 | — | — | — | 780 | 527 | 373 | 298 | 249 | 328 | 1164 | 143 | 131 | 43 | 98 | 355 | 415 | 314 | 222 | 149 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 10 | SSE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 7 | SW 16 | SSW 18 | E 11 | — | — | — | — | SSE 6 | — | — | — | SSW 16 |
| kJ | 111 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 100 | 65 | 273 | 235 | — | — | — | — | 55 | — | — | — | 100 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | — | — | SSW 5 | — | — | — | WSW 10 | — | SE 6 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 1897 | 1874 | 2085 | — | — | 40 | — | — | — | 1333 | — | 235 | 344 | 458 | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 41 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 475 | 19 | 0 | 476 | 510 | 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.
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