Surf Forecasts:
Buffalo Bay Wildside surf forecast from 26 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 1 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s period, SW swell with cross-onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 14s period, SW swell with 6,381 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 2AM (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 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 1.9m and 7s. Another secondary swell of 2.5m 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 14s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 7s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 30) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 2PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 13ft (4.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Buffalo Bay Wildside over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it for Buffalo Bay Wildside.
First up, we’ve got a solid run of surf starting now. The water is sitting at 60°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so you might want that extra layer.
The first real standout is Thursday morning, the 27th of August. We’ve got a clean 7ft SSW groundswell rolling in with a long 12-second period, and the wind is barely a whisper out of the East at 3 mph, making for a clean, cross-off surface. The combined energy is pumping at (1529), and it’s excellent for experienced surfers. This is your best window early on.
Friday morning the 28th keeps things going with a glassy 5ft S swell, 11-second period, and zero wind. It’s a bit smaller, but with that calm, glassy surface, it’ll be smooth and fun. The energy drops to (786), but it’s still a solid morning session.
Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th get tricky. The wind swings onshore and picks up, making things messy. Sunday morning has a 5ft SW swell but with a short 8-second period and a choppy cross-onshore wind, it’s not worth paddling out for.
We get a bit of a reprieve late Sunday afternoon with a 6ft SW swell, but the onshore wind and marginal conditions mean it’s a maybe at best. Monday the 31st is similar – onshore wind and lumpy, marginal surf.
Now, looking ahead, Tuesday the 1st of September sees a big jump in size. The morning is an 8ft SW swell with a 13-second period, but the wind is onshore. By the afternoon, the swell hits 12ft, and it’s the same story – too big for this break, even if the wind is light. The combined energy is massive (3513), and while it’s impressive, this is really only for experts, and even then, it’s pushing it.
Wednesday the 2nd of September is similar, with a 10ft SW swell in the morning. Too big for most of us.
Things get wild on Thursday the 3rd of September. Heavy rain, a 15ft S swell, and a strong 28 mph cross wind. By the afternoon, it’s a 25ft monster with a 12-second period, and the energy is off the charts at (17951). This is not for paddle surfing – this is big-wave territory or kite-surfing if the wind holds.
The following days, from the 4th to the 6th of September, the swell stays huge, over 13ft, with strong energy. It’s all too big for this break and not well-suited for a standard session.
The surf finally drops off towards the end of the run. By the 9th of September, we’re down to a tiny 2ft SSE swell, glassy in the morning, but it’s really just a small wave option. The 10th of September is similar, with a 2ft S swell.
So, to sum it up: your best bet is Thursday morning the 27th of August. That 7ft clean groundswell with light wind is the standout. The glassy Friday morning the 28th is a close second. Everything after that is either messy, too big, or too small.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Thu afternoon, min 15°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the E on Wed afternoon, calm by Fri morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue morning, min 11°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the WSW on Sat night, calm by Mon night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | ||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | SSE 11 | SW 14 | SW 8 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
2543 | 1310 | 1090 | 649 | 687 | 467 | 335 | 351 | 251 | 167 | 336 | 341 | 1018 | 736 | 711 | 563 | 505 | 2174 | 3478 | 6381 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-off | on | on | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:06PM1.63m | 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 | |||||||
— | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | |
6:05 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:08 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 16 | 25 | 26 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 18 | 13 |
Feels °C | 14 | 12 | 24 | 25 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 15 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | ESE 8 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | SSE 11 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 14 |
2543 | 1310 | 1090 | 385 | 687 | 467 | 335 | 351 | 251 | 167 | 336 | 406 | 1018 | 736 | 711 | 563 | 505 | 2174 | 3478 | 6381 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 13 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | S 12 | ESE 9 | E 10 | E 10 | SW 14 | ESE 11 | E 11 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 |
154 | 387 | 439 | 649 | 289 | 319 | 240 | 200 | 164 | 157 | 130 | 89 | 64 | 40 | 41 | 39 | 37 | 33 | 35 | 17 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | WSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 17 | WSW 11 | SSE 14 | WSW 10 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SE 10 | SSE 7 | — | — | — |
— | — | 127 | 299 | 11 | 47 | 160 | 42 | 162 | 172 | 91 | 35 | 20 | 13 | 11 | 4 | 9 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 7 | E 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 11 | WSW 4 | SW 4 | SW 10 | SW 8 | SW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
606 | 690 | — | — | — | — | — | 191 | 10 | 16 | 281 | 341 | 247 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 356 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 181 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 19 | 3 |
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.











