
Surf Forecasts:
Buffalo Bay Wildside surf forecast from 8 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 15s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 12 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 16s period, SSW swell with 2,472 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 8 Sep, 5PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 12s 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 Tuesday (Sep 08) at 5PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 10s. Another secondary swell of 1.2m and 9s 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 2.2m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 12) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 5s period and expected on Friday (Sep 11) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5PM (Tue 8th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Sat 12th Sep) | 7ft (2.2m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Buffalo Bay Wildside over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get into it. This is Rusty, and here’s what’s cooking for Buffalo Bay Wildside.
The first real surf shows up on Tuesday the 8th of September. A solid SW groundswell at 3.6ft with a 12-second period, clean under a light ESE cross-off breeze. The water’s running a chilly 58.3°, which is a whopping 4.7° colder than normal for this time of year – so you’ll want a good thick suit. The combined energy is moderate (672). It’s not huge, but it’s clean and it’s a start. Keep in mind this spot is inconsistent, so snagging a wave when it’s working is a treat.
Wednesday the 9th drops off. Small, messy cross-on wind, only 2.3ft to 3ft. Not worth paddling out for.
Thursday the 10th is a step up in size but the quality is questionable. The morning has 4.6ft SW swell with a 16-second period and the wind is onshore, so it’s not clean. The afternoon sees 6.9ft from the SW with a 15-second period, but it’s cross-on. The energy ramps up hard (1843), but it’s not the cleanest. A bit of a letdown.
Friday the 11th is still on the messy side. 5.6ft in the morning, cross-on, and the afternoon goes 4.9ft with a cross-off breeze, but the energy is moderate (679). It’s a pass.
Now, Saturday the 12th is where it starts to get interesting. The morning has 5.2ft SW swell, 14-second period, and a clean cross-off ESE breeze. The energy is solid (1059). This is a good window for the experienced crew – the waves have shape and the wind is your friend. The afternoon bumps up to 6.2ft with a 17-second period, but the wind picks up to 15.5 mph from the east, making it a bit blown out. The morning is the pick.
Sunday the 13th is the real standout. The morning session delivers 6.9ft of SW swell with a 14-second period, clean under a light ESE cross-off. The energy is pumping (2070). This is excellent for experienced surfers. The waves will have power and shape. The afternoon drops to 5.9ft and still clean, but the morning is the gold.
Monday the 14th is a mixed bag. The morning is a write-off – 6.2ft of short-period ESE windswell, cross-on, choppy. But the afternoon turns glassy. 6.9ft of ESE swell, 9-second period, but glassy conditions. The energy is moderate (1066). This is a sneaky good session for the glassy, clean conditions, even if the swell is a bit short-period.
Tuesday the 15th afternoon is another standout. The morning is cross-on and average, but the afternoon delivers 4.6ft SW swell with a very long 21-second period, clean under a cross-off ESE breeze. The energy is 2411. That’s proper groundswell, and it’s going to be clean. This is a gem for the point or reef, but at a beach break, that long period might make it a bit straight.
Wednesday the 16th gets big. The morning has 8.2ft SW swell, 16-second period, onshore wind – it’s a mess. The afternoon hits 9.8ft, cross-on, and the energy is massive (4011). The data says it’s too big for this break. This is kite-surfing territory, not for paddle surfing.
Thursday the 17th settles. The morning has 5.6ft SW swell, clean, cross-off. A solid backup. The afternoon is 6.6ft, clean, but a bit windier. The morning is the better call.
Friday the 18th morning is another big one. 8.2ft SW swell, 14-second period, clean cross-off. The energy is high (2444). This is for experts only.
Saturday the 19th is a nice fade. The morning has 5.2ft SW swell, clean, light wind. A good day for the bigger crew to wind down.
Sunday the 20th is big again. 8.2ft SW swell, 17-second period, cross-on in the morning. The energy is massive (3841). It’s on the edge of being too big.
Monday the 21st is massive. 11.5ft and 9.8ft from the SSW, with periods around 16 seconds, and the energy is through the roof (6231 and 5191). The data says it’s too big for this break. That’s a kite or tow-in day for sure.
The last few days of the outlook, from Tuesday the 22nd to Wednesday the 23rd, are all too big and messy. 8.2ft to 13.1ft, cross-on, and the energy is extreme. The data says it’s too big.
The best of the best: Saturday the 12th morning and Sunday the 13th morning are the true standouts. Clean, solid SW groundswell, good energy, and a clean cross-off breeze. For a later session, Tuesday the 15th afternoon is a long-period beauty if you can handle the drop. All windows are for experienced
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Wed morning, min 16°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Fri afternoon, min 16°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SW 12 | E 9 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 17 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
314 | 188 | 200 | 290 | 286 | 1057 | 1784 | 1162 | 917 | 634 | 573 | 951 | 1961 | 2465 | 1736 | 1179 | 701 | 614 | 736 | 992 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-on | glassy | cross |
High Tide | 2:07PM1.61m | 2:23AM1.63m | 2:45PM1.78m | 3:00AM1.73m | 3:19PM1.90m | 3:34AM1.79m | 3:51PM1.96m | 4:06AM1.79m | 4:21PM1.95m | 4:36AM1.75m | 4:50PM1.88m | 5:04AM1.68m | 5:18PM1.77m | |||||||
Low Tide | 8:22PM0.24m | 8:34AM0.13m | 9:00PM0.11m | 9:08AM0.03m | 9:34PM0.02m | 9:40AM-0.02m | 10:05PM-0.01m | 10:09AM-0.01m | 10:35PM0.01m | 10:38AM0.04m | 11:02PM0.08m | 11:05AM0.12m | 11:29PM0.18m | |||||||
— | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | |
6:14 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:17 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 23 | 29 | 28 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 24 | 18 |
Feels °C | 27 | 22 | 28 | 26 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 26 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | ESE 9 | E 10 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 17 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 |
314 | 138 | 88 | 290 | 286 | 1057 | 1784 | 1162 | 917 | 634 | 573 | 951 | 1961 | 2465 | 1736 | 1179 | 349 | 614 | 736 | 992 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 10 | SW 11 | SW 14 | E 9 | E 10 | SW 12 | E 10 | E 10 | S 6 | SSE 6 | ESE 6 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 |
77 | 142 | 200 | 81 | 65 | 355 | 52 | 33 | 28 | 24 | 103 | 100 | 110 | 151 | 291 | 422 | 701 | 411 | 330 | 232 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SSE 9 | SW 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSW 5 | S 5 | SSE 5 | E 11 | E 11 | SW 15 | E 10 | SE 13 | E 7 | SSE 9 | S 10 | S 8 | — | — | — |
41 | 27 | 114 | 36 | 16 | 13 | 7 | 4 | 37 | 21 | 56 | 8 | 7 | 96 | 43 | 8 | 118 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | — | — | W 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 7 | E 7 | — | — | — | NNW 3 | — | — |
240 | 188 | — | — | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 187 | 427 | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 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.










