Buffalo Bay Wildside Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.08° S 22.98° E

Buffalo Bay Wildside Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 pm 26 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Buffalo Bay Wildside sea temperature is
15.3°C
1.9° 

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 27 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 1 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 13s period, SSW swell with 6,136 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 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 Thursday (Aug 27) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 1.8m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 2.3m and 8s 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 13s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) 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 2.0m 12s period and expected on Monday (Aug 31) at 5PM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5AM (Thu 27th Aug)7ft (2.1m) 12s
Best Surf11PM (Tue 1st Sep)10ft (3.0m) 13s
Most Powerful11PM (Wed 2nd Sep)13ft (4.0m) 13s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at what we’ve got coming up for Buffalo Bay Wildside. The forecast is a real mixed bag – a couple of tidy windows for experienced surfers, but also plenty of days where it’s either blown out or just too damn big. Patience is going to be the name of the game.

The first real opportunity hits Thursday morning, 27 August. We’ve got a clean 7ft SSW swell with a 12-second period, and a light cross-off breeze from the ENE at 6 mph. The wave energy is strong at 1518, and the conditions are ideal for experienced surfers. Thursday afternoon follows a similar vein, with a slightly smaller 5ft S swell and clean conditions.

Friday the 28th is a step down. The swell drops to 4ft, and the wind swings onshore from the WSW, turning things marginal. The wave energy drops to moderate at 718. The weekend looks even worse, with Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th being a total write-off thanks to strong onshore winds and choppy seas. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so no worries there.

Now, the real standout is Tuesday morning, 1 September. This is the pick of the forecast. The wind goes glassy from the SSW, and we’ve got a clean 8ft SW swell with a 12-second period. The combined energy is strong at 1804. This is a solid, powerful setup for experienced surfers, with clean, peeling waves. It’s the one to circle on the calendar. Tuesday afternoon sees the wind shift a little onshore, turning it marginal.

The second week gets wild. Wednesday morning, 2 September, is just too big for this break, with an 12ft SW swell and a very long 14-second period. The wave energy is massive at 5129. This is expert-only territory, and the onshore wind makes it a mess. The rest of the week through the 7th of September is dominated by huge, choppy, and often rainy conditions, with swell heights up to 23ft and wave energy over 10000. That’s strong to very strong energy, and it’s all too big and messy for paddle surfing. Honestly, this kind of setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddling.

Things finally start to settle down on Tuesday, 8 September, but the conditions are still marginal. The first real glimmer of hope in the second week comes on Wednesday morning, 9 September. The wind goes glassy, the swell drops to a clean 6ft from the ESE with a 10-second period, and the energy is moderate at 689. It’s a promising, clean session, but being so far out, it’s less certain. The forecast then closes out with some poor onshore wind and rain on the 10th and 11th.

So, the standout is Tuesday morning, 1 September. Get on it if you can. For the rest, check the charts and keep your fingers crossed.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Thu afternoon, min 15°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue afternoon, min 11°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Sat night, calm by Mon night).

Thursday
27
Friday
28
Saturday
29
Sunday
30
Monday
31
Tuesday
1
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
3
2
2
3
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
3
4
3
!
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.1
SSW
12
2
SSW
12
1.5
S
12
1.6
S
12
1.3
S
11
1.2
S
11
1.2
S
11
1
S
11
0.8
SSE
11
1.6
SW
14
1
SW
13
2.3
SW
9
1.3
SSW
9
1.8
SW
11
1.6
SW
12
1.8
SW
11
2.5
SW
12
2.3
SW
12
3.5
SW
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1310
1090
649
699
403
338
358
251
167
1033
347
763
299
792
710
787
1771
1602
3587
Wind (km/h)
15
ENE
10
ENE
10
ESE
5
W
5
WSW
10
S
10
E
20
WSW
10
WSW
30
SW
25
WSW
15
SW
10
WNW
20
W
15
SW
5
NE
5
SSW
10
S
5
NNE
Wind State
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-on
on
on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
on
glassy
glassy
cross-on
glassy
High Tide
3:12AM1.65m
3:32PM1.75m
3:40AM1.72m
3:59PM1.84m
4:08AM1.76m
4:26PM1.89m
4:37AM1.76m
4:54PM1.90m
5:06AM1.72m
5:24PM1.85m
5:38AM1.64m
5:57PM1.76m
Low Tide
9:11PM0.26m
9:21AM0.12m
9:39PM0.16m
9:46AM0.05m
10:07PM0.09m
10:13AM0.01m
10:35PM0.06m
10:40AM0.01m
11:05PM0.06m
11:09AM0.05m
11:36PM0.12m
11:40AM0.14m
00:11AM0.21m
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:52
6:52
6:50
6:50
6:48
6:47
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:05
6:06
6:06
6:07
6:07
6:07
6:08
 mm
3
1
Temp °C
16
25
28
21
19
22
22
18
17
16
15
15
13
14
15
12
17
18
15
Feels °C
11
23
26
21
18
21
21
17
15
16
10
11
10
10
10
10
15
15
15
  • Map Icons:
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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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