Surf Forecasts:
Buffalo Bay Wildside surf forecast from 18 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 22 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 12s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 24 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 16s period, SSW swell with 7,802 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 18 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 9s 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 Saturday (Jul 18) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 11s. 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 4.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 24) 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 5s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 23) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 5ft (1.5m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 5PM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Fri 24th Jul) | 13ft (4.0m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Buffalo Bay Wildside over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, checking in with a look at the surf window for Buffalo Bay Wildside.
We’ve got a promising run ahead, but you’re going to need to be patient. The first few days are pretty ordinary, with messy, onshore wind and average swell. The real magic doesn't kick in until Monday the 20th.
The standout window is definitely the morning of Monday the 20th. You’ll find a clean 6ft SW swell with glassy conditions, making for some excellent surf. The wave energy is moderate (1071), but it’s a good size for intermediate surfers. It’s only going to get better from there, although it does get bigger. The water temp is sitting at 64°, which is pretty average for this time of year.
If you’re an experienced surfer, the morning of Tuesday the 21st is the true highlight. We’re looking at a 5ft SSW groundswell with a long 14-second period and glassy conditions. That’s a recipe for power and shape, with a combined energy reading (1389) that'll get your heart beating. This spot is an exposed beach, so that long period might make it a little walled at times, but the clean conditions more than make up for it.
Later in the week, there are a few windows of clean, glassy surf, like the morning of Monday the 27th with a 7ft SW swell, but the swell size starts to ramp up, hitting over 8ft and 10ft from the 22nd onwards. That's expert territory. On Wednesday the 22nd, the afternoon shows a huge 10ft swell and glassy wind, but the file says it's too big for this break, so steer clear.
Keep an eye on the morning of Sunday the 26th. It’s a more manageable 6ft SW swell with clean cross-offshore wind, perfect for a solid session if the bigger stuff is a bit out of your comfort zone. The following week has some more big swells, and by the 1st of August it starts to get messy with strong winds again, so don't sleep on that promising window around the 20th and 21st.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Sat morning, min 12°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Thu morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue afternoon, min 12°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 11 | SW 10 | SW 9 | SW 12 | SW 9 | SW 9 | SW 11 | SW 10 | ESE 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 367 | 334 | 318 | 672 | 996 | 945 | 690 | 541 | 449 | 1072 | 1748 | 1903 | 1521 | 2149 | 2752 | 1745 | 1967 | 7802 | 4407 | 3385 | 4061 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross | off | glassy | on | cross-on | on | glassy | cross | on | cross-off | cross-off | on | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:37PM1.73m | 6:47AM1.48m | 7:15PM1.61m | 7:27AM1.34m | 7:56PM1.47m | 8:12AM1.21m | 8:44PM1.33m | 9:14AM1.10m | 9:54PM1.22m | 10:58AM1.05m | 11:34PM1.19m | 12:41PM1.10m | 00:56AM1.24m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:17PM0.14m | 00:52AM0.30m | 12:52PM0.26m | 1:32AM0.42m | 1:29PM0.40m | 2:16AM0.53m | 2:10PM0.55m | 3:12AM0.63m | 3:07PM0.67m | 4:36AM0.69m | 4:43PM0.75m | 6:22AM0.67m | 6:36PM0.72m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | |
 | 7:30 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — |
 | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 18 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 14 |
Feels °C | 17 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 11 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | SW 10 | SW 9 | SW 12 | SE 10 | SW 9 | SW 11 | SW 10 | ESE 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 |
| kJ | 367 | 334 | 318 | 672 | 181 | 945 | 690 | 541 | 449 | 1072 | 1748 | 1903 | 1521 | 2149 | 1995 | 1745 | 1967 | 7802 | 4407 | 3385 | 4061 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 10 | S 11 | SW 13 | SE 9 | S 10 | SE 10 | ESE 12 | SE 12 | SW 10 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | S 20 | SE 11 | SE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 |
| kJ | 213 | 253 | 230 | 123 | 50 | 220 | 365 | 400 | 262 | 317 | 286 | 180 | 128 | 107 | 85 | 56 | 32 | 33 | 31 | 23 | 23 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | SW 14 | SSE 11 | S 10 | E 10 | SSW 13 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSW 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 9 | SSW 20 | SE 11 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 32 | 97 | 156 | 77 | 18 | 151 | 16 | 8 | 366 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 39 | 33 | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | SW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 11 | — | ESE 4 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 996 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2752 | — | 52 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Garden Route | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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