Surf Forecasts:
Buffalo Bay Wildside surf forecast from 20 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 23 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 11s period, SW swell with cross-onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 24 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 17s period, SSW swell with 7,541 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 20 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 12s 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 Monday (Jul 20) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 1.2m and 10s. 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 3.5m 17s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 24) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 8s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 23) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Mon 20th Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 5PM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Fri 24th Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Buffalo Bay Wildside over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Hey folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about Buffalo Bay Wildside. Water temp is about 64°, and with a tiny anomaly of 0.7°, it’s totally normal for this time of year.
We’ve got a slow start, but the real show starts on Tuesday, July 21st. The morning is the pick. You’ve got a 6ft swell from the SSW, with a 14-second period pushing some serious energy (1812). The wind is glassy, so those waves will be perfect. This is the standout. The afternoon holds up too, with the swell jumping to 8ft from the same direction, still a 14-second period, and energy climbing to 2768. The wind is a light cross-offshore, keeping it clean. This is a big, powerful swell, so it’s for the experienced surfers.
Wednesday and Thursday are a total loss. The wind gets onshore, and the conditions are choppy and messy. Thursday afternoon hits 10ft from the SW with a short, choppy 11-second period and a massive 4256 energy, but the wind is just ruining it.
Saturday, July 25th is your next real window. The morning is glassy again, with an 8ft SSW swell, 14-second period, and 2202 energy. The afternoon stays clean with cross-offshore winds, 8ft swell, and 2010 energy. Another solid day for the experienced crew.
Sunday, July 26th is also a good one. Morning cross-off winds, 7ft SW swell (1239 energy), and the afternoon goes glassy with 7ft SW swell (1102 energy). Clean and fun.
After that, the wind goes south again through the 27th and 28th, with rain and strong onshore winds. It’s a mess.
Now, looking further out, there’s a huge, dangerous pulse coming. Friday, July 31st through Sunday, August 2nd we’re seeing massive swells – 12ft to 16ft from the SW, with period hitting 18 seconds on the 31st. Energy readings are insane – 6759, 12082, 9152. This is a monster groundswell, but it’s way too big for this spot. It’s only for the absolute top-tier experts, and honestly, this setup might be more interesting for the kite surfers than anyone on a paddle board. The wind is mostly cross-off or glassy, but the sheer size makes it a high-risk, high-reward situation.
The long-range forecast into the first week of August is still showing heavy, oversized swell. It’s promising for the big-wave chargers, but less certain. Keep an eye on it.
Signing off, Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon afternoon, min 12°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 25°C on Sun morning, min 13°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | ||||||||||||||
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 12 | SE 11 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 13 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 371 | 380 | 1447 | 2503 | 1942 | 1229 | 1129 | 581 | 1102 | 2316 | 7541 | 6389 | 4788 | 3456 | 2180 | 1999 | 1381 | 1220 | 1076 | 960 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | off | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross |
High Tide | 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 | 1:43PM1.21m | 1:50AM1.33m | 2:24PM1.32m | 2:30AM1.44m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:16AM0.53m | 2:10PM0.55m | 3:12AM0.63m | 3:07PM0.67m | 4:36AM0.69m | 4:43PM0.75m | 6:22AM0.67m | 6:36PM0.72m | 7:32AM0.58m | 7:43PM0.63m | 8:16AM0.47m | 8:26PM0.52m | ||||||||
 |  | | | | | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — |
 | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:43 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 19 | 16 | 19 | 20 | 17 | 25 | 27 | 20 |
Feels °C | 14 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 16 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 21 | 24 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 10 | SE 11 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 |
| kJ | 315 | 380 | 1447 | 2503 | 1942 | 1229 | 1129 | 580 | 1102 | 1806 | 7541 | 6389 | 4788 | 3456 | 2180 | 1999 | 1381 | 1220 | 1076 | 960 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 12 | SW 10 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SSW 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | SE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | ESE 6 | E 8 |
| kJ | 371 | 262 | 359 | 265 | 222 | 186 | 193 | 581 | 164 | 125 | 91 | 52 | 49 | 31 | 11 | 11 | 26 | 15 | 26 | 60 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 11 | SSW 16 | S 6 | — | — | ESE 4 | S 15 | ESE 12 | SW 12 | S 22 | — | — | — | — | ESE 11 | — | ESE 10 | SE 10 | — | ESE 10 |
| kJ | 182 | 291 | 6 | — | — | 6 | 110 | 175 | 37 | 9 | — | — | — | — | 11 | — | 10 | 4 | — | 11 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 4 | — | WSW 8 | SW 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 5 | — | — | W 4 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | 24 | — | 294 | 2316 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 50 | — | — | 12 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 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.
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