Surf Forecasts:
Horse Trails surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s period, SW swell with 3,126 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Horse Trails this week:
The surf forecast for Horse Trails over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 13s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Horse Trails in the next 16 days are 3.0m 13s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Horse Trails over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about Horse Trails in feet and miles per hour, because that makes sense to me.
The next couple of weeks are a story of size versus clean conditions. We have some serious swell, but the wind is the real decider. The standout session is for the big dog surfers, but there’s a definite window where it all comes together.
So, we start on Wednesday the 19th with a solid 8ft swell from the southwest. The energy is cranked (1866), but the wind is a cross-onshore at 9 mph, making it choppy and messy. Thursday the 20th is the first real event. The swell jumps to a powerful 10ft from the SW with a 13-second period. The morning has light cross-shore wind at 6 mph, which is clean, but it’s 10ft. That is big. Combined wave energy is a massive 3126. This is expert territory only. The tide and wind are good for it, but unless you’ve got serious experience, stay on the beach.
Friday the 21st drops to 7ft but gets onshore in the afternoon. Saturday the 22nd is weak and messy. Sunday the 23rd has 8ft waves but the wind blows cross-onshore again, keeping it average.
Now, here is your absolute best bet. Tuesday morning, August 25th. The swell is a solid 7ft from the SW with a 14-second period, which is proper groundswell. The combined energy is 1975. The wind is a light cross-offshore at 9 mph, which will groom those waves into beautiful, clean lines. The report calls it excellent for experienced surfers. For a strong intermediate or advanced surfer, this is the prime window.
After that, things get big again. The weekend of the 29th sees swell hitting 10ft to 13ft with serious energy (3639 to 6281), but on Saturday afternoon the wind is a strong 22 mph making it a total washout. Sunday the 30th has clean 10ft waves with a strong cross-offshore wind at 28 mph, but that’s massive and for experts only. At that size and wind speed, it might be more of a kite-surfing show than a paddle session.
So, for the regular surfer, Tuesday morning is the winner. That long 14-second period means the waves will have proper shape and push. For the experts, Sunday the 30th offers raw power with clean faces, but it’s a heavy, heavy day. The rest of the second week is either too small, too windy, or too big to be fun for most.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Fri afternoon, min 11°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Mon afternoon, min 12°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SSW 11 | WSW 11 | SSW 11 | SW 11 | SW 14 | WSW 12 | WSW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | WSW 11 | SW 14 | SW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1866 | 1638 | 1591 | 3126 | 2369 | 1513 | 821 | 444 | 345 | 319 | 745 | 2762 | 2001 | 1297 | 1346 | 1055 | 376 | 565 | 1429 | 1198 | 835 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | on | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off |
High Tide | 7:29PM1.15m | 8:07AM0.99m | 8:32PM1.04m | 9:49AM0.92m | 10:25PM0.98m | 11:54AM0.96m | 00:06AM1.04m | 12:58PM1.07m | 1:01AM1.13m | 1:36PM1.19m | 1:40AM1.24m | 2:08PM1.31m | 2:13AM1.33m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:06PM0.51m | 1:55AM0.54m | 1:57PM0.63m | 3:19AM0.62m | 3:53PM0.70m | 5:32AM0.61m | 6:08PM0.66m | 6:46AM0.52m | 7:07PM0.56m | 7:27AM0.41m | 7:45PM0.45m | 7:59AM0.30m | 8:17PM0.34m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 7:20 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — |
 | — | 6:19 | — | — | 6:19 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:21 | — | — | 6:21 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 18 | 13 | 19 | 25 | 23 |
Feels °C | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 14 | 17 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 11 | 17 | 23 | 21 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 11 | SW 11 | SW 14 | WSW 12 | WSW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | WSW 11 | SW 14 | SW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 |
| kJ | 1866 | 1638 | 1591 | 3126 | 2369 | 1513 | 821 | 444 | 345 | 319 | 745 | 2762 | 2001 | 1297 | 1346 | 1055 | 376 | 565 | 1429 | 1198 | 835 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 6 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 10 | WSW 17 | — | — | SSW 11 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 10 | WSW 11 | S 6 | SW 19 | SW 16 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | 61 | 379 | 317 | 163 | 54 | — | — | 317 | 54 | 110 | 272 | 292 | 67 | 179 | 728 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 14 | SSW 10 | — | SSW 11 | S 10 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 175 | 178 | — | 23 | 184 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 2 | — | — | — | S 3 | — | SSE 4 | S 5 | S 5 | SSE 6 | S 6 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 6 | — | 11 | 42 | 90 | 93 | 95 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 53 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 0 | 6 | 31 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Cape Town | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Horse Trails Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Horse Trails provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Horse Trails can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Horse Trails 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 (Horse Trails) 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 Horse Trails 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.
Horse Trails is 8 km (5 miles) from the very large city of Robben Island. If you plan a holiday in Cape Town, look for hotels and other accommodation in Robben Island. Robben Island has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as cheap car hire and transport links.
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