
Surf Forecasts:
Buffalo Bay Wildside surf forecast from 15 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 16 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 21 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 15s period, SSW swell with 6,268 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 15 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 9s period with E 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 (Jul 15) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.9m and 6s 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 3.5m 15s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 19) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Wed 15th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Thu 16th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Tue 21st Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Buffalo Bay Wildside over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a good look at what's on offer at Buffalo Bay Wildside over the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, we've got a slow start. Wednesday the 15th is a write-off, with a weak 3.3ft easterly swell and a cross-onshore breeze making things messy. The combined energy is a low 328, so there's just nothing doing. You're better off staying in bed.
Things get interesting on Thursday morning the 16th, though. That's our first real standout. The wind is glassy, dead calm, and a solid 8.2ft SW groundswell is rolling in with a long 14-second period. The energy reading jumps to 2706, which is a solid, powerful pulse. This is a classic setup for experienced surfers, as the size is on the edge of what's doable for the average punter. The swell direction is pretty much bang on the optimum SE for the break, so expect some nice, lined-up walls. Keep in mind, it's an inconsistent break, so you'll have to be patient, but the waves that come through will be worth the wait. Crowds are possible here, so get there early.
The quality holds through Friday morning the 17th. Another morning of glassy conditions, with a 7.9ft SW swell at 12 seconds (1627 energy). It's still solid and clean, but the wind shifts a bit in the afternoon, going clean cross-off from the east. Saturday the 18th is a step down in size, with a 4.3ft S swell, but it's still glassy first thing, so it's a good option for a mellower session.
Now, brace yourselves. Things get a bit wild from Sunday the 19th into the next week. The wind turns on Sunday, howling onshore at 22 mph from the west, making a mess of the 4.6ft swell. The whole of the following week, from the 21st to the 25th, sees a massive pulse of swell. We're talking 9.8ft to 13.1ft SW groundswells with very long periods of 15 seconds. The energy numbers are huge, like 6349 on the 21st. For a spot like this, that's too big. The forecast says it's too big for the break, and I agree. This is strictly for experts only, if anyone at all. The wave will be closing out and dangerous.
The surf finally settles back down to a more manageable size on Friday the 24th. The morning of the 24th is a cracker: glassy wind, a clean 8.2ft SW swell at 14 seconds (2731 energy). It's still a big swell, but it's within the zone for experienced surfers.
The real standout to end the period is Tuesday afternoon the 28th. We get a lovely 8.2ft SW swell, but the period stretches to a very long 16 seconds, and the wind is glassy. The energy is a meaty 4193. This is a top-tier forecast. The long period means the swell will be wrapping in with real power, and the glassy conditions will make it look like a million bucks. It's a little over two weeks out, so we have to treat it as a promising but less certain call, but it's the one to circle on the calendar.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed morning, min 13°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Sun afternoon. Warm (max 21°C on Sat afternoon, min 11°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat morning, fresh winds from the W by Sun morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tue 21 | |||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | E 9 | SW 11 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 10 | S 11 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
248 | 176 | 868 | 3068 | 2633 | 1749 | 1173 | 1573 | 1034 | 392 | 403 | 186 | 398 | 561 | 1259 | 901 | 1485 | 1287 | 2003 | 6268 | 5868 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | off | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | off | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 4:08AM1.79m | 4:37PM1.83m | 4:50AM1.77m | 5:18PM1.85m | 5:30AM1.70m | 5:58PM1.81m | 6:09AM1.60m | 6:37PM1.73m | 6:47AM1.48m | 7:15PM1.61m | 7:27AM1.34m | 7:56PM1.47m | 8:12AM1.21m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:03PM0.12m | 10:24AM0.00m | 10:48PM0.10m | 11:03AM0.00m | 11:31PM0.12m | 11:41AM0.05m | 00:12AM0.20m | 12:17PM0.14m | 00:52AM0.30m | 12:52PM0.26m | 1:32AM0.42m | 1:29PM0.40m | 2:16AM0.53m | 2:10PM0.55m | |||||||
— | 7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | |
5:36 | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 20 | 21 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 18 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
Feels °C | 13 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 18 | 19 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 16 | 12 | 13 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | E 9 | SW 11 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 10 | S 11 | S 11 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 |
248 | 176 | 553 | 3068 | 2633 | 1749 | 1173 | 1573 | 1034 | 392 | 403 | 146 | 398 | 561 | 1259 | 901 | 1485 | 1287 | 2003 | 6268 | 5868 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 5 | SW 7 | SW 17 | E 10 | E 10 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | S 9 | SW 10 | ESE 6 | SSE 9 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SSW 13 | SE 11 | SE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 |
21 | 73 | 594 | 69 | 73 | 81 | 82 | 54 | 52 | 76 | 160 | 57 | 86 | 244 | 228 | 253 | 145 | 123 | 82 | 81 | 81 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SW 18 | E 9 | — | — | — | — | — | S 14 | S 12 | ESE 6 | SW 14 | SE 13 | S 11 | E 10 | SE 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | — | — |
55 | 79 | 139 | — | — | — | — | — | 16 | 150 | 73 | 186 | 175 | 35 | 30 | 174 | 8 | 8 | 8 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 5 | WSW 7 | SW 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 4 | — | — | WSW 3 | SW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
39 | 123 | 868 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 21 | — | — | 6 | 429 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 358 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
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.











