
Surf Forecasts:
Buffalo Bay Wildside surf forecast from 4 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 8 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 11s period, SW swell with cross-onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 9 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, SSW swell with 3,878 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 4 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 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 Saturday (Jul 04) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 8s. 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 3.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 09) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 08) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Sat 4th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Wed 8th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Thu 9th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Buffalo Bay Wildside over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Alright, mate, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for the next couple of weeks.
For the first week, the swell window is open, but not everything is clean. The standout period is from Sunday the 6th through to the morning of Thursday the 10th of July, with some solid, powerful groundswell. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing too unusual.
Buffalo Bay Wildside is the only spot in the mix. Sunday the 6th starts with a glassy 6ft SW groundswell, period 12 seconds, and a solid 1073 combined energy. That's a good, punchy wave and the wind is dead calm – glassy conditions for the morning. Monday the 7th keeps the 6ft SW swell, period 12 seconds, but the morning has a light cross-onshore breeze, making it a bit lumpy (1076 energy). The afternoon turns glassy again (998 energy), so that's the better session that day.
Tuesday the 8th is a write-off with a strong 12 mph cross-onshore wind and a 8ft SW swell (2282 energy). Too big and choppy. Wednesday the 9th is the same story, with 10ft SSW swell (3370 energy) but the wind is light onshore. The forecast says the swell is too big for the break. This is for experts only.
The highlight of the run is Thursday the 10th. The swell drops to a still solid 8ft SSW, period 12 seconds (2221 energy), but the wind goes glassy in the morning – zero wind. That's absolutely perfect, clean conditions for experienced surfers on a powerful wave. The morning is the pick.
After that, through the 11th and 12th of July, the swell drops off to 4ft SSW (616 energy) and the wind turns up, so it's marginal. Friday the 18th of July sees a big, lumpy 12ft SW swell (2864 energy) but with a 22 mph cross-onshore wind. That's a messy, blown-out mess, not for paddling.
There's a long gap with no good recommendations after the 10th until the 13th of July, which offers a clean but small 4ft SSW swell (865 energy). Then a few more days of poor conditions and onshore wind.
The last decent look is Monday the 20th. A clean, glassy 5ft SW swell, period 13 seconds (1100 energy). That's a smaller, clean wave, and with glassy conditions, it could be a fun, uncrowded session if you're an intermediate.
Overall, lock in Thursday the 10th of July at Buffalo Bay Wildside for the best waves of the period – big, clean, and glassy.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Sun afternoon, min 14°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed morning, min 11°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 5 | Monday 6 | Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Sat 11 | |||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | S 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
647 | 518 | 441 | 335 | 865 | 650 | 765 | 986 | 939 | 1762 | 1806 | 1969 | 2649 | 3359 | 2979 | 2470 | 2221 | 2151 | 1402 | 1063 | 1304 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | on | glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:29AM1.47m | 7:01PM1.57m | 7:10AM1.40m | 7:43PM1.53m | 7:59AM1.31m | 8:36PM1.48m | 9:05AM1.23m | 9:46PM1.44m | 10:33AM1.20m | 11:10PM1.43m | 12:05PM1.25m | 00:31AM1.50m | 1:19PM1.36m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 00:32AM0.38m | 12:39PM0.27m | 1:14AM0.41m | 1:18PM0.34m | 2:03AM0.46m | 2:05PM0.42m | 3:05AM0.50m | 3:08PM0.50m | 4:23AM0.51m | 4:29PM0.55m | 5:49AM0.47m | 6:00PM0.52m | 7:05AM0.37m | 7:18PM0.42m | |||||||
— | 7:33 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:33 | — | |
5:30 | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 19 | 20 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
Feels °C | 12 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 17 | SSW 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | S 11 |
647 | 518 | 441 | 335 | 865 | 650 | 765 | 986 | 939 | 1762 | 1806 | 700 | 2649 | 3359 | 2979 | 2470 | 2221 | 2151 | 1402 | 1063 | 1304 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 8 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 10 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | SSW 18 | ESE 10 | SW 16 | SE 17 | SE 16 | — | — | — | — | SE 7 | SW 12 |
98 | 168 | 99 | 122 | 207 | 180 | 123 | 90 | 57 | 38 | 364 | 18 | 587 | 11 | 10 | — | — | — | — | 192 | 73 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 12 | S 8 | S 8 | — | — | E 10 | SSW 20 | ESE 10 | E 10 | ESE 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 12 |
174 | 238 | 147 | 151 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 127 | 19 | 8 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 6 | SW 13 | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 4 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 6 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 93 | 1969 | — | — | — | — | — | 25 | 128 | 219 | 178 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 77 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 19 | 19 |
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.











