Buffalo Bay Wildside Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.08° S 22.98° E

Buffalo Bay Wildside Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 pm 30 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Buffalo Bay Wildside sea temperature is
17.3° C
0.1° 

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 31 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 5 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 15s period, SW swell with cross-onshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 6 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 15s period, SW swell with 6,756 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 31 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 13s 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 Friday (Jul 31) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 1.2m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 2.0m and 6s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Buffalo Bay Wildside in the next 16 days are 4.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 06) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5AM (Fri 31st Jul)4.5ft (1.4m) 13s
Best Surf 2PM (Wed 5th Aug)10ft (3.0m) 15s
Most Powerful11PM (Thu 6th Aug)13ft (4.0m) 15s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here, checkin' in with the outlook for our local stretch.

Alright, we've got a bit of a slow start, but don't you worry, the action is coming. The first real swell to get your board wet will be on Friday the 31st of July. The week ahead is looking like a solid run for the experienced crew, with a couple of standout sessions that'll have you smiling.

First up, Buffalo Bay Wildside is where it's at. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no need for a thick steamer. Friday morning the 31st, we've got a clean 4ft swell from the SW with a nice long 13-second period. That's proper groundswell energy, and with a light offshore breeze, it'll be clean and lined up. The wave energy is pumping at 1177, so there's plenty of grunt. This is a spot that can be inconsistent, so when it's on, you gotta be on it. It's a solid option for intermediates, but the sets will have some punch.

Now, the real standout is Saturday the 1st of August. The morning session is the pick of the bunch. We're looking at a 8ft SE swell, a 9-second period, and a light offshore breeze. The wave energy is way up there at 2047, so there's serious power. This is clean, powerful surf for experienced surfers. The afternoon holds up well too, with a 8ft swell and clean conditions. Just keep an eye out for the crowds, because this spot *sometimes* gets busy, and with waves like this, it'll be popular.

Sunday the 2nd is a beauty. The morning is glassy, dead calm with a 6ft ESE swell. That's a dream. The afternoon gets even better with a 7ft ESE swell at a very long 12-second period. That's that classic groundswell, glassy, and the energy is strong at 1540. This is the kind of day you don't want to miss.

The next few days, Monday and Tuesday, stay clean and fun with chest to head-high waves, but the wind starts to shift. By Wednesday the 5th of August, the swell is going to get big. We're talking 10ft from the SW with a very long 16-second period. The energy is massive at 3736. The wind is glassy on the afternoon, but honestly, this is going to be too big for Buffalo Bay. Only for the most experienced, and even then, it'll be a handful. The setup might be more interesting for the kite crew than paddle surfers on those days. That big swell hangs around until the 7th, when it starts to drop back into a more manageable size.

The second week has some promise. After the big stuff fades, we get another clean run from the 7th of August into the weekend, with 8ft to 7ft SW swells and glassy conditions. The 10th of August has a glassy afternoon with a 7ft SSW swell. Then the 11th of August brings a solid 8ft SSW swell with an offshore breeze, a total score for the experienced. It gets a bit wild again on the 12th with a 13ft SSE swell, which is again too big, and then on the 13th, the wind is howling, making it a total write-off. It cleans up again by the 14th and 15th for a final run of clean, chest-high waves.

So, to sum it up: the standouts are the morning of the 1st of August for the sheer power and the entire Sunday the 2nd of August for the perfect glassy conditions. Get out there and get some.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Sat afternoon, min 12°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Mon morning, min 13°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
31
Saturday
1
Sunday
2
Monday
3
Tuesday
4
Wednesday
5
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
2
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
1
1
2
3
!
4
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.5
SW
13
1.3
SW
13
2.4
ESE
7
2.5
E
8
2.5
E
9
2.3
ESE
9
2.5
E
8
1.9
ESE
9
2
ESE
12
1.7
ESE
11
1.6
ESE
11
1.5
ESE
10
1.5
SW
13
1.4
SW
12
1.3
SW
11
0.9
SW
11
2.3
SW
16
3
SW
14
2.5
SW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
769
591
590
973
1064
828
908
534
1159
655
561
451
688
561
411
191
2653
3619
2708
Wind (km/h)
15
NE
10
ENE
20
E
10
NE
5
ENE
15
E
10
NNE
0
N
5
E
5
N
5
SE
5
E
5
N
15
WSW
15
W
5
NW
5
S
5
SSW
10
NNW
Wind State
off
off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
glassy
glassy
glassy
cross-off
glassy
on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
glassy
cross-off
High Tide
4:33AM1.68m
4:56PM1.75m
5:01AM1.68m
5:24PM1.77m
5:31AM1.64m
5:54PM1.75m
6:03AM1.58m
6:27PM1.70m
6:39AM1.49m
7:04PM1.62m
7:21AM1.37m
7:51PM1.50m
Low Tide
10:32PM0.22m
10:42AM0.08m
11:02PM0.19m
11:09AM0.08m
11:32PM0.20m
11:37AM0.11m
00:05AM0.23m
12:08PM0.18m
00:40AM0.29m
12:42PM0.27m
1:23AM0.37m
1:24PM0.39m
2:18AM0.48m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:22
7:20
7:20
7:18
7:18
7:16
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:45
5:46
5:46
5:47
5:49
5:50
5:50
 mm
Temp °C
15
16
20
16
19
22
18
22
22
18
21
21
19
21
19
15
16
16
15
Feels °C
12
13
16
12
17
19
15
20
19
16
19
19
17
18
16
13
15
15
13
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  • 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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