Surf Forecasts:
Buffalo Bay Wildside surf forecast from 12 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 16 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 15s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 16 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 15s period, SW swell with 3,330 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 12 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 11s 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 Sunday (Jul 12) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 1.2m and 7s. Another secondary swell of 1.5m and 6s is also forecast. 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 3.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 16) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 18) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Sun 12th Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Thu 16th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Thu 16th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Buffalo Bay Wildside over the next 16 days.
Alright, Rusty here, talking about Buffalo Bay Wildside. There’s surf coming, but we’ve got some small days first before the real swell hits.
Water temp is about 62°F, which is normal for the time of year.
Sunday the 12th starts with a 5ft SSW swell, 11-second period, with a light east cross-off breeze. The energy is moderate (947). It’s clean, but not a standout. Monday the 13th morning drops to 4ft, but it’s glassy – you’ll get some fun little waves. Tuesday the 14th stays small, 5ft to 5ft ESE swell, glassy again. Good for a log.
Wednesday the 15th afternoon is a sleeper: a 3ft SSW groundswell with a very long 18-second period, combined energy 1014, and glassy. Clean, long lines. Excellent for experienced surfers.
Thursday the 16th morning is the first big standout: 8ft SW groundswell, 14-second period, dead glassy. Energy is strong at 2762. Over 8ft, long period – this is expert-only, but properly clean and powerful.
Friday the 17th is 10ft – too big for this spot. Saturday the 18th is 7ft with clean cross-off winds, still solid.
There’s a lull from the 19th to the 21st, then Tuesday the 21st afternoon jumps to 12ft – too big again. The next standout is Friday the 24th afternoon: 8ft SW, 14-second period, glassy, and massive energy at 4851. Saturday the 25th morning is similar: 8ft SSW, 16-second period, glassy. Both are expert-level, clean, and powerful.
The last days see 18ft on the 26th and 10ft on the 27th – all too big for this break.
Best on the board: Thursday the 16th morning – 8ft SW, glassy, strong energy. And Friday the 24th afternoon – same size, glassy, huge energy. Expert-only, clean, and firing.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon afternoon, min 13°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 19°C on Thu afternoon, min 14°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | SSW 18 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | S 13 | S 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 642 | 515 | 375 | 265 | 306 | 246 | 275 | 360 | 240 | 173 | 534 | 3330 | 2670 | 1830 | 2318 | 2871 | 2588 | 1932 | 1160 | 1283 | 884 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | cross | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | glassy | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 6:37PM1.73m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 00:52AM0.30m | |||||||
 | |  | | |  | |  | | | | | | | | |  |  |  | |  | |
 | 7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — |
 | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 18 | 15 | 18 | 19 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 18 | 19 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 18 |
Feels °C | 15 | 15 | 13 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 11 | 15 | 17 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | SW 11 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | S 13 | S 12 |
| kJ | 642 | 515 | 256 | 172 | 173 | 246 | 275 | 360 | 240 | 173 | 344 | 3330 | 2670 | 1830 | 2318 | 2871 | 2588 | 1932 | 1160 | 1283 | 884 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 7 | SSW 16 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | SW 9 | SW 5 | SW 6 | SSW 18 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | — | S 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
| kJ | 124 | 25 | 353 | 265 | 306 | 125 | 78 | 43 | 7 | 39 | 534 | 87 | 92 | 71 | 76 | 54 | 53 | — | 440 | 1050 | 659 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 12 | W 11 | W 11 | SSW 15 | W 10 | SSE 9 | S 9 | S 9 | SW 12 | SW 12 | E 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 10 | E 10 | ESE 7 |
| kJ | 11 | 3 | 2 | 21 | 2 | 88 | 42 | 41 | 54 | 52 | 136 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 186 | 31 | 172 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 6 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | — | — | — | — | SW 3 | — | SW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 4 | ESE 5 | ESE 6 | E 8 |
| kJ | 181 | 178 | 375 | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 80 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 35 | 50 | 91 | 371 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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.
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