
Surf Forecasts:
Buffalo Bay Wildside surf forecast from 11 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 16 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 15s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 17 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 13s period, SW swell with 4,747 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 11 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 12s 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 Saturday (Jul 11) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.4m and 12s period. 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 4.0m 13s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 17) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be 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 Saturday (Jul 18) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Sat 11th Jul) | 8ft (2.4m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Thu 16th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Fri 17th Jul) | 13ft (4.0m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Buffalo Bay Wildside over the next 16 days.
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Buffalo Bay Wildside.
Right now, the surf’s actually on the way, but it’s not until Saturday afternoon on the 11th of July that things kick off. That first pulse is a solid 8ft SSW swell, with a 12-second period, pumping out moderate to strong wave energy (1659). It’s a cross-off breeze from the east at 9 mph, keeping things clean, but this one’s only for experienced surfers—definitely not a beginner’s wave. The water’s sitting at 62°, which is about average for this time of year, so nothing weird there.
Sunday the 12th looks promising too. The morning brings a clean 5ft SSW swell, still with that nice 11-second period, and lighter easterly winds at 6 mph—still cross-off, still clean. The energy’s moderate (1010), so it’s a step down from Saturday but still a very good option. By the afternoon, it’s a bit smaller at 5ft, but still holding shape.
Monday the 13th is where it gets glassy. Early morning, the wind swings west at just 3 mph, turning it glassy, with a smaller but fun 5ft ESE swell. The period’s dropped to 8 seconds, so it’s a shorter-period wind swell, but with that glassy surface, it’ll be smooth and clean. Combined energy’s moderate (563). Afternoon stays glassy with a 4ft SSW swell—really nice conditions for the intermediate crew.
Now, we hit a bit of a lull from Tuesday the 14th through Wednesday the 15th. The swell gets smaller and the winds start turning onshore or cross-onshore, so the quality drops off. Not much to write home about there.
But hold onto your boards, because Thursday the 16th brings a serious spike. The morning sees a 10ft SW swell with a 14-second period—that’s proper groundswell—and the combined energy jumps to 3209. However, it’s cross-on from the west at 3 mph, and the forecast is clear: it’s too big for this break. This one’s for experts only, and even then, it’s gonna be a handful. The afternoon stays big at 8ft.
Friday the 17th is even bigger, hitting 12ft in the morning and holding into the afternoon. The period’s 12 seconds, and the energy’s massive (3506 and 3664). The wind swings glassy in the afternoon, so the surface will be perfect, but again, this is serious size—only for the brave and skilled.
Saturday the 18th sees the swell drop a bit to 6ft in the morning and 8ft in the afternoon, but the wind picks up to 12 mph from the east, cross-off. It’s clean but a bit choppy underfoot. Not the best, but still surfable for experienced folks.
Sunday the 19th is a standout. The morning has a 10ft E swell at 9 seconds with glassy north winds—clean but too big for most. The afternoon is where it gets interesting: 8ft E swell with offshore winds from the ENE at just 3 mph, period at 10 seconds, and strong energy (2770). That’s clean, powerful, and offshore—this is the pick of the second week for the more experienced crew.
From Monday the 20th through Tuesday the 21st, the swell drops and the winds turn onshore or cross-onshore again. Quality tanks, with poor conditions by Tuesday afternoon.
Then, into the third week, we’ve got another massive pulse. Wednesday the 22nd of July brings a monster 13ft SW swell with a very long 16-second period—that’s a serious groundswell. Combined energy is enormous at 7847, with calm, glassy winds in the morning. But it’s way too big for this break, and that long period will make it suck out hard and break straight. Only for absolute experts, and honestly, it’s more of a spectacle than a session.
Thursday the 23rd through Saturday the 25th keeps the size well above 8ft, with periods from 12 to 16 seconds, all glassy or cross-off winds in the morning. It’s consistent, but constantly too big for Buffalo Bay Wildside.
Finally, Sunday the 26th of July offers a window. The morning brings a 7ft SW swell, 12-second period, with glassy west-southwest winds at 3 mph. Energy is strong (1626). This one is described as excellent for experienced surfers, and with glassy conditions, it’ll be clean. By afternoon, it’s back up to 12ft, so the morning is your best bet that day.
Overall, the best bet in the next week is Saturday the 11th and Sunday the 12th for clean, manageable swell. For the second week, Sunday the 19th afternoon stands out with that offshore wind and solid 8ft east swell. The third week is mostly massive—morning of the 26th is the only real window unless you’re chasing big waves.
Stay safe out there.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Sun afternoon, min 13°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue afternoon, min 13°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sat 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | S 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | ESE 8 | SSW 10 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 9 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1659 | 1365 | 642 | 515 | 408 | 277 | 306 | 240 | 145 | 352 | 302 | 173 | 254 | 3470 | 3126 | 2289 | 3662 | 3455 | 3631 | 2587 | 990 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross | glassy | on | cross | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | glassy | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 1:38AM1.60m | 2:17PM1.51m | 2:34AM1.69m | 3:08PM1.65m | 3:23AM1.77m | 3:53PM1.76m | 4:08AM1.79m | 4:37PM1.83m | 4:50AM1.77m | 5:18PM1.85m | 5:30AM1.70m | 5:58PM1.81m | 6:09AM1.60m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:18PM0.42m | 8:06AM0.25m | 8:21PM0.30m | 8:57AM0.13m | 9:15PM0.19m | 9:43AM0.05m | 10:03PM0.12m | 10:24AM0.00m | 10:48PM0.10m | 11:03AM0.00m | 11:31PM0.12m | 11:41AM0.05m | 00:12AM0.20m | 12:17PM0.14m | |||||||
— | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:30 | |
5:34 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | 5:37 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 |
Feels °C | 14 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | S 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 9 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 12 |
1659 | 1365 | 642 | 515 | 185 | 277 | 229 | 240 | 145 | 352 | 302 | 173 | 254 | 3470 | 3126 | 2289 | 2561 | 3455 | 3631 | 2587 | 990 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 12 | SW 18 | SE 7 | SSW 16 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | E 8 | S 9 | SW 12 | SW 5 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SSE 10 |
3 | 12 | 153 | 25 | 408 | 265 | 306 | 125 | 105 | 41 | 54 | 29 | 136 | 83 | 83 | 66 | 72 | 51 | 33 | 31 | 511 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 18 | W 12 | W 11 | W 11 | SSW 15 | W 10 | SSE 9 | SSW 9 | SW 9 | SW 9 | SW 12 | SW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 18 | S 14 |
— | 12 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 21 | 2 | 88 | 78 | 43 | 20 | 52 | 56 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 63 | 861 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 4 | WSW 6 | — | — | — | — | SW 13 | — | — | — | E 10 |
— | 155 | 215 | 164 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 53 | — | — | — | — | 3662 | — | — | — | 31 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 19 |
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.











