
Surf Forecasts:
Buffalo Bay Wildside surf forecast from 1 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 6 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 8 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 15s period, SW swell with 6,936 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 1 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 9s period with ESE 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 (Aug 01) at 2PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.0m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 11s. 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 15s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 08) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Friday (Aug 07) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2PM (Sat 1st Aug) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Thu 6th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Sat 8th Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Buffalo Bay Wildside over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about Buffalo Bay Wildside. We’ve got a solid run of surf coming up, but it’s not all plain sailing. This spot is an exposed SE-facing break, and it’s inconsistent, so when it’s on, it’s on, but you gotta pick your moments.
The water’s sitting at 63°, which is bang on average for this time of year – nothing to worry about there.
We start off this Saturday, August 1st, with a punchy 8 ft swell from the ESE, period around 9 seconds, and a light ENE offshore breeze. The energy is strong (1678), and conditions are clean. This is excellent for experienced surfers. Saturday afternoon drops a touch to 7 ft, still clean with a cross-off breeze.
Sunday the 2nd is a beauty. The morning goes glassy with a 6 ft ESE swell, and the afternoon stays clean with a light cross-off. Monday the 3rd is another standout: glassy again in the morning with a 6 ft ESE swell, but now the period bumps up to 11 seconds, giving it more shape and punch (energy 1318). The afternoon is clean too. The first few days are looking prime for experienced surfers.
Tuesday the 4th sees a change. The swell drops to 4 ft from the SW, but the wind goes cross-on, and the quality falls away. It’s a marginal day. Wednesday the 5th morning is a gem – glassy, 4 ft SSW swell with a long 15-second period. That’s a clean, lined-up groundswell, perfect for a point break like this. The afternoon gets a bit messy with a cross-on breeze.
Now, Thursday the 6th and Friday the 7th bring a big pulse. Thursday morning sees an 12 ft SW swell with 13-second period and onshore wind – too big and messy for this break. The energy is massive (4024). Friday morning is cleaner, glassy with an 8 ft SW swell at 14 seconds, but again, that’s big and only for the experts.
Saturday the 8th is the biggest of the run. We’re looking at a 13 ft to 15 ft SW swell with 14-15 second periods, and the energy is extreme (up to 8154). It’s way too big for paddle surfing here – more of a tow-in or kite situation.
Sunday the 9th is a write-off. Strong winds, rain, and blown-out conditions. Monday the 10th morning is still messy, but the afternoon glass off with a 6 ft S swell (12 seconds) and clean conditions is a nice recovery.
The standout session in the second week is Tuesday the 11th. Morning offshore NNE wind, 7 ft ESE swell at 10 seconds, clean and punchy. The afternoon is also excellent with a 7 ft ESE swell.
Wednesday the 12th brings another big SW groundswell (16-second period) but it’s onshore and too big. Thursday the 13th is poor with strong winds. Friday the 14th saves the week with a clean offshore and a 4 ft SW swell at 13 seconds – good for a fun session.
The last few days, Saturday the 15th and Sunday the 16th, fade out. Saturday morning is glassy but small (3 ft), and Sunday is a blowout with strong winds.
Best on offer: The glassy Sunday the 2nd morning and the Monday the 3rd morning with the longer-period ESE swell are the true standouts. Clean, good size, and that long period will make for some well-shaped waves.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sun afternoon, min 13°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Thu morning. Warm (max 20°C on Tue morning, min 12°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | ESE 10 | SSW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
822 | 617 | 589 | 466 | 455 | 984 | 718 | 622 | 528 | 383 | 350 | 245 | 632 | 1626 | 3567 | 3936 | 2972 | 2613 | 2344 | 2238 | 2103 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | on | on | off | glassy | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 5:24PM1.77m | 5:31AM1.64m | 5:54PM1.75m | 6:03AM1.58m | 6:27PM1.70m | 6:39AM1.49m | 7:04PM1.62m | 7:21AM1.37m | 7:51PM1.50m | 8:19AM1.23m | 9:00PM1.37m | 9:56AM1.14m | 10:48PM1.31m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:09AM0.08m | 11:32PM0.20m | 11:37AM0.11m | 00:05AM0.23m | 12:08PM0.18m | 00:40AM0.29m | 12:42PM0.27m | 1:23AM0.37m | 1:24PM0.39m | 2:18AM0.48m | 2:22PM0.53m | 3:41AM0.58m | 3:58PM0.63m | ||||||||
7:20 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | |
— | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 22 | 19 | 22 | 23 | 19 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 19 | 15 |
Feels °C | 17 | 20 | 16 | 20 | 21 | 17 | 21 | 20 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | SSW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 |
623 | 617 | 589 | 466 | 455 | 984 | 718 | 622 | 458 | 356 | 294 | 245 | 632 | 1626 | 3567 | 3936 | 2972 | 2613 | 2344 | 2238 | 2103 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | ESE 9 | E 9 |
150 | 153 | 277 | 340 | 424 | 236 | 600 | 488 | 528 | 383 | 350 | 220 | 200 | 200 | 148 | 88 | 64 | 65 | 42 | 68 | 99 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | SW 14 | S 10 | S 9 | ESE 14 | SSW 14 | — | S 13 | — | — | S 18 | SSW 15 | SW 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 5 | — | — |
83 | 103 | 17 | 15 | 145 | 264 | — | 3 | — | — | 6 | 86 | 122 | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 3 | WSW 4 | SW 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
822 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 17 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 1 |
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.











