Surf Forecasts:
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 cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 14s period, SW swell with 7,176 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 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 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.0m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 1.8m and 8s. 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 4.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 13s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 30) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 13ft (4.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Buffalo Bay Wildside over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s talk about Buffalo Bay Wildside. It’s a tricky spot, exposed to the south-east, and it’s an inconsistent break that needs the right swell to fire. The water temp is sitting around 60°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so you’ll want a decent wetsuit.
We’ve got a bit of a slow start, but Thursday the 27th is your first real window. Thursday morning you’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 energy is pumping strong at 1518, and conditions are excellent for experienced surfers. Thursday afternoon stays clean with a 5ft S swell, still 12 seconds, and a light cross-off breeze. This is the standout for the first few days—clean, solid, and offering good shape.
Friday the 28th turns messier. The swell drops to 4ft with onshore winds and questionable conditions. Saturday and Sunday are even worse with onshore winds, small chop, and poor surf. Sunday afternoon does see a quick spike to 6ft SW swell with a 13-second period (energy 1169) but it’s onshore, so not worth the paddle.
Monday the 31st through Tuesday the 1st of September stays marginal with onshore winds and lumpy 5ft to 7ft SW swell. Not great.
Now, Wednesday the 2nd of September is a big one, but not for the faint of heart. A massive 13ft SW swell with a 14-second period rolls in (energy 6175), and the wind is light from the SSW. The swell is too big for this break—this is strictly for experts only, and even then, it might be more of a tow-in or kite session than a paddle surf. Thursday the 3rd and Friday the 4th are blown out with rain and strong winds, and the swell stays huge (16ft down to 12ft) but messy.
The real second standout comes on Saturday the 5th of September. Finally, the wind swings back to a clean cross-off from the ESE at 6 mph, with a 7ft SSW swell, 11-second period, and energy at 1589. Conditions are excellent for experienced surfers. Sunday the 6th continues well with 6ft ESE swell, 11 seconds, and a cross-off NE breeze. Monday the 7th looks even better: a 6ft ESE swell, 12-second period, and a light offshore breeze from the NNE at 3 mph. Clean, lined up, and fun.
After that, the surf fades fast. Tuesday the 8th through Thursday the 10th turns small and onshore, with weak energy and poor conditions. Friday the 11th brings another massive pulse—13ft SW swell, 13-second period, but again too big for this spot with a cross-off wind. That’s more for big-wave chargers or kite gear.
Overall, the best bets are Thursday the 27th of August and Saturday the 5th through Monday the 7th of September. Those windows have the right size, clean wind, and solid energy.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 27°C on Thu afternoon, min 13°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Sun morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Tue afternoon, min 11°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | |||||||||||||||
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 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | SSE 11 | SW 14 | SW 8 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1090 | 649 | 699 | 403 | 338 | 351 | 251 | 167 | 241 | 297 | 1086 | 855 | 739 | 675 | 564 | 1347 | 1381 | 4351 | 6168 | 4493 | 2925 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | cross | cross-on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 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 | 6:13AM1.53m | 6:34PM1.62m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 12:14PM0.26m | 00:51AM0.35m | |||||||
 | |  |  | |  |  | |  |  | | | | |  | | | | | |  | |
 | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — |
 | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:08 | — | — | 6:09 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 |
Temp °C | 25 | 27 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 17 | 14 |
Feels °C | 23 | 25 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 16 | 15 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | SSE 11 | SW 10 | SW 8 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 |
| kJ | 1090 | 649 | 699 | 403 | 338 | 351 | 251 | 167 | 196 | 297 | 1086 | 855 | 739 | 675 | 564 | 1347 | 1381 | 4351 | 6168 | 4493 | 2925 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | SSW 12 | ESE 9 | E 10 | E 10 | SW 14 | ESE 11 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 13 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 |
| kJ | 428 | 299 | 333 | 262 | 226 | 200 | 158 | 175 | 241 | 400 | 63 | 22 | 40 | 38 | 35 | 33 | 19 | 17 | 7 | 14 | 14 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | SW 17 | WSW 11 | SSE 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | E 11 | E 12 | E 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SSE 6 | SSE 8 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 127 | 54 | 11 | 47 | 160 | 155 | 162 | 121 | 130 | 90 | 20 | 10 | 11 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | ESE 8 | — | WSW 3 | — | ESE 10 | WSW 3 | SW 4 | SW 4 | — | — | — | W 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 385 | — | 2 | — | 236 | 4 | 12 | 15 | — | — | — | 21 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 38 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 19 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 180 |
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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