Buffalo Bay Wildside Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.08° S 22.98° E

Buffalo Bay Wildside Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 pm 06 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Buffalo Bay Wildside sea temperature is
15.7°C
1.5° 

Buffalo Bay Wildside surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Buffalo Bay Wildside surf forecast from 6 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 12 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 16s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 6 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 16s period, SSW swell with 3,455 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 7 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 15s 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 Monday (Sep 07) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.3m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 1.8m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Buffalo Bay Wildside in the next 16 days are 2.5m 16s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 06) at 11PM. 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 12s period and expected on Friday (Sep 11) at 11PM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5AM (Mon 7th Sep)7.5ft (2.3m) 15s
Best Surf 8PM (Sat 12th Sep)6.5ft (2.0m) 16s
Most Powerful11PM (Sun 6th Sep)8ft (2.5m) 16s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Buffalo Bay Wildside over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Righto, let's have a look at what's cooking for Buffalo Bay Wildside. This spot is a bit of a wildcard, it's inconsistent, so when it fires, it's a treat, but it can also be a total no-show. The water is sittin' a bit colder than normal for this time of year at 60°, so you might want that extra mil on the rubber.

We kick off on Sunday the 6th of September, and straight up, it's a big one. We're talkin' a solid 10ft SSW groundswell with a very long period of 17 seconds, and the energy is massive, over 5800. But here's the kicker – it's too big for this break. The wind's a 19 mph cross-off from the east, so it's clean, but only the brave or the foolish should even think about paddling out. This one's for the experts only, if anyone.

Monday the 7th settles a bit, with the swell droppin' to 7ft in the morning from the SSW, period at 14 seconds. The wind is super light at 3 mph, cross-off, makin' for excellent conditions for experienced surfers. The swell energy is still chunky at 2755. The afternoon cleans up a touch more with a 6ft SSW swell, same long period, and a light 6 mph cross-off. Still in the wheelhouse for the confident surfer.

Tuesday the 8th is where it gets really interesting. The morning brings in a 5ft easterly swell, short period at 9 seconds, but the wind goes glassy – dead calm. This is about as clean as it gets. The energy is moderate at 714, but that glassy surface is pure gold. The afternoon is still clean with a 4ft SW groundswell at 12 seconds and light cross-off wind. A solid, clean day.

Wednesday the 9th, the swell drops right off to under 3ft, and the wind goes onshore, so we're lookin' at poor to marginal conditions. Not worth paddlin' for.

Thursday the 10th brings a big spike again. The morning is a 5ft SSW swell, but the wind is onshore, so it's messy. The afternoon though, that's a ripper. A solid 10ft SW groundswell, 16-second period, and it goes glassy again. The energy is huge at 4034. But, just like Sunday, it's predicted to be too big for this break. Only for the mad dogs.

Friday the 11th is a write-off with light rain and strong winds, 16-19 mph, making the swell messy and choppy. The swell is around 6-6ft, but the conditions are just poor.

Saturday the 12th is another one that's too big. We've got a 10ft to 12ft ESE windswell with a short period of 8 seconds. The wind is cross-off, so it's clean, but the size and short period make it a messy, lumpy beast. More of a kitesurfin' setup than a paddle one.

Sunday the 13th, the morning looks promising. A 6ft SSW groundswell, 14-second period, with a nice offshore breeze from the north-northeast at 9 mph. This is excellent for experienced surfers, with the swell energy at 2498. The afternoon goes onshore and turns marginal.

The following week starts to get a bit more mixed. Monday the 14th and Tuesday the 15th have some decent sized swell, 5ft to 8ft, but the wind is mostly onshore. However, Tuesday morning the 15th is a standout – glassy conditions, 8ft SW groundswell with a 14-second period, and solid energy at 2463. Excellent for the experienced crew.

Then we hit a rough patch from Wednesday the 16th through the weekend. Wednesday is just plain poor with strong onshore winds. Thursday the 17th is way too big, 13ft to 15ft SE swell, but clean cross-off wind. Again, too big. Friday the 18th is still too big in the morning, but the afternoon drops to 8ft SE with light wind, which is excellent for experts.

Saturday the 19th has a nice 6ft SE swell with a moderate offshore from the NE. That's a solid, clean option for the experienced. The rest of that weekend and into Monday the 21st is onshore wind and messy, with a glimmer of hope on Monday afternoon the 21st when it goes glassy again with a 6ft SW groundswell, period at 13 seconds. That's a clean, excellent option for the experienced surfer.

The Standouts: If I had to pick the best on offer, it's a toss-up between the glassy, clean days. Tuesday the 8th morning with the 5ft easterly swell and glassy conditions is a gem for a smaller day. But for the bigger, more powerful stuff, Tuesday the 15th morning with the 8ft SW groundswell and glassy conditions is the pick of the crop. Just remember, this spot is inconsistent, so don't be bummed if the forecast changes. Keep an eye on the charts, and when it lines up, it's a proper wave.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Tue morning, min 15°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Thu night. Warm (max 21°C on Sat afternoon, min 16°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Monday
7
Tuesday
8
Wednesday
9
Thursday
10
Friday
11
Saturday
12
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
3
4
3
3
2
0
1
1
4
4
4
4
4
3
2
3
5
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.5
SSW
16
2.1
SSW
14
1.9
SSW
14
1.8
ESE
9
1.5
E
9
1.1
SW
12
1
E
10
0.7
SW
14
0.9
SW
13
0.9
SW
13
1.7
SSW
17
2.5
SW
16
2.3
SW
14
1.9
SW
13
1.7
SW
13
1.3
SSW
12
1.3
SW
12
2.5
ESE
8
2.2
SW
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
2887
1797
1261
528
388
314
183
198
290
282
1607
3058
2082
1266
954
429
469
850
2233
Wind (km/h)
20
ENE
5
E
10
SE
5
NNW
5
SE
10
ESE
5
NW
15
SW
10
W
10
W
5
WSW
10
SE
5
E
0
WNW
5
ESE
15
E
25
E
15
E
5
N
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
glassy
on
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
cross
glassy
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
00:43AM1.33m
1:22PM1.41m
1:40AM1.49m
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
Low Tide
7:09AM0.45m
7:36PM0.42m
7:57AM0.28m
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
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
light rain
light rain
light rain
cloud
rain showers
part cloud
cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:39
6:37
6:35
6:35
6:33
6:31
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:12
6:13
6:14
6:15
6:15
6:15
6:16
 mm
4
5
2
1
Temp °C
16
21
24
23
27
27
22
23
22
17
18
18
18
17
17
17
20
21
20
Feels °C
12
21
23
23
27
26
21
22
21
16
19
19
20
19
19
18
17
20
20
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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