Buffalo Bay Wildside Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.08° S 22.98° E

Buffalo Bay Wildside Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 am 26 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Buffalo Bay Wildside sea temperature is
17.2° 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 26 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 27 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 17s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 27 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 16s period, SSW swell with 5,644 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 26 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 12s 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 Sunday (Jul 26) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.0m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 16s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Buffalo Bay Wildside in the next 16 days are 3.5m 16s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 27) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 6s period and expected on Friday (Jul 31) at 5AM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11AM (Sun 26th Jul)6.5ft (2.0m) 12s
Best Surf 8PM (Mon 27th Jul)10ft (3.0m) 17s
Most Powerful11PM (Mon 27th Jul)11ft (3.5m) 16s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's take a look at what we've got cooking at Buffalo Bay Wildside over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, the water temp is sitting at 63°, which is pretty much spot on for this time of year, so no surprises there. This spot is an exposed, inconsistent break that only lights up when the conditions line up, so we're working with a bit of a selective setup here. The optimum direction is from the southeast, so we'll be keeping an eye on that.

We've got a solid run of surf kicking off this Sunday morning, July 26th. The swell is a clean 7ft from the southwest with a 12-second period, and the wind is a glassy, light NE breeze at 3 mph. The combined wave energy is a hefty 1489 (moderate-strong), so there's plenty of push behind it. This is a standout window for experienced surfers – the conditions are going to be pristine. The Sunday arvo sees the wind swing cross-shore, so that glassy morning window is your prime time.

Monday the 27th is a write-off, with a messy 7ft swell and a choppy cross-onshore wind. Tuesday the 28th cleans up a bit with a cross-offshore ESE breeze at 16 mph, wrapping a 8ft SSW swell. The energy is massive (2711), but that wind is strong enough to be a handful. It's a day for strong intermediates and above.

Wednesday the 29th morning is another standout. Glassy offshore ENE wind at 6 mph, clean 6ft SW swell (13-second period), with a healthy energy of 1506. Excellent, clean conditions for experienced surfers again. Thursday the 30th morning goes glassy again with a 5ft SSW swell, but the energy drops to 940, making it a mellow, clean session. The Thursday arvo picks up again with a glassy 5ft SW swell and an energy of 1071 – that's a solid late-day option.

Friday the 31st morning is clean with 4ft swell, but the arvo looks a bit average. Saturday the 1st of August is a big day – a 8ft easterly swell with offshore NE wind at 6 mph and an energy of 1581. That's big, clean, and punchy, but at 8ft it's expert territory. The period is short (8 seconds), so it'll be a bit lumpy and less lined up, but the power is there.

We then hit a bit of a lull. From Sunday the 2nd through to Monday the 3rd of August, the conditions are messy with cross/onshore winds and average 4-7ft swell. Not much to get excited about.

From Tuesday the 4th, we see a return of clean conditions with a 5-6ft SW swell and light cross-offshore winds. Good energy and clean faces, but nothing that jumps out as a massive standout. Wednesday the 5th and Thursday the 6th are manageable but windy. The energy ramps up again on Thursday the 6th (1764 for a 7ft SW swell), but it's cross-shore, so not perfect.

The second week sees a drop in size. Friday the 7th and Saturday the 8th are poor, with onshore winds and weak 4-4ft swell. We get a clean look on Sunday the 9th, but it's small.

The 16-day window finishes up on Monday the 10th of August with a decent pulse: a 6ft SSW swell with a very long 18-second period and light winds, giving an energy of 1993. That's a powerful, clean groundswell. This deep period will favour the reef and point setups over the beach break, as it might break a bit straight.

Overall, the best windows are Sunday morning July 26th, Wednesday morning July 29th, and the Thursday afternoon July 30th. These are the cleanest, most powerful, and most consistent offerings on the table. The rest of the window is a mix of average conditions and blown-out chop.

Stay safe, stay salty.
Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Mon night. Warm (max 22°C on Sun afternoon, min 13°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Fri afternoon, min 12°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Sunday
26
Monday
27
Tuesday
28
Wednesday
29
Thursday
30
Friday
31
Saturday
1
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
4
3
1
2
3
!
3
3
3
4
3
4
3
4
4
3
2
3
4
2
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2
SW
12
1.8
SW
12
1.9
SW
13
2.2
SW
12
2.5
SSW
17
3
SSW
16
2.4
SSW
15
2.4
SSW
14
2.1
SW
14
1.8
SW
13
1.7
SSW
13
1.6
SW
13
1.5
SSW
13
1.6
SW
13
1.6
SW
13
1.3
SW
12
2.5
ESE
7
2.1
ESE
8
2.4
E
8
2.1
ESE
9
2.2
ESE
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1094
897
1185
1486
3991
3684
2378
2281
1570
1110
946
841
772
828
834
546
571
522
800
651
753
Wind (km/h)
5
NE
5
SE
15
W
15
W
10
WSW
25
SE
25
ESE
20
ESE
20
ENE
10
ENE
20
ENE
10
N
5
W
5
SSW
5
NNE
15
E
20
E
15
NE
10
NE
15
E
10
NNE
Wind State
glassy
cross
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
off
High Tide
2:24PM1.32m
2:30AM1.44m
2:59PM1.44m
3:04AM1.53m
3:30PM1.55m
3:35AM1.61m
3:59PM1.64m
4:04AM1.66m
4:28PM1.71m
4:33AM1.68m
4:56PM1.75m
5:01AM1.68m
5:24PM1.77m
Low Tide
8:16AM0.47m
8:26PM0.52m
8:50AM0.36m
9:01PM0.42m
9:20AM0.26m
9:32PM0.33m
9:48AM0.18m
10:03PM0.26m
10:15AM0.12m
10:32PM0.22m
10:42AM0.08m
11:02PM0.19m
11:09AM0.08m
11:32PM0.20m
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
mod rain
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:24
7:24
7:24
7:22
7:22
7:22
7:20
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:43
5:44
5:45
5:45
5:45
5:46
5:46
 mm
10
Temp °C
20
22
18
16
17
15
16
16
15
16
18
16
17
17
14
16
19
16
19
23
18
Feels °C
18
20
16
14
15
13
11
11
12
13
14
13
15
14
13
13
15
12
16
19
14
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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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