Horse Trails Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.78° S 18.45° E

Horse Trails Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 am 11 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Horse Trails sea temperature is
13.2° C
2.1° 

Horse Trails surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Horse Trails surf forecast from 11 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s period, SW swell with cross-shore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s period, SW swell with 4,045 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 11 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 13s period with SSW 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 Tuesday (Aug 11) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 10s. 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 3.5m 13s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 13) at 2AM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8AM (Tue 11th Aug)7ft (2.1m) 13s
Best Surf 8AM (Tue 18th Aug)11ft (3.5m) 13s
Most Powerful 8AM (Tue 18th Aug)11ft (3.5m) 13s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Horse Trails over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Right, mate, Rusty here with a look at what's on offer at Horse Trails. We've got a solid run of surf stretching over the next couple of weeks, but it's a bit of a mixed bag, so you've got to pick your moments.

The good news is we're looking at a decent run of south-west groundswell, and the water's sitting at 56° which is much colder than normal for this time of year - you'll definitely feel that nip, so a 4/3 is the go. The first real standout is the coming Tuesday, the 11th of August. The morning starts with a clean 7ft swell from the SSW, with a solid 12-second period, and a cross-off breeze. The afternoon cleans up even more with light winds and 5ft. The energy is building nicely too, with moderate readings. This is a great window for the intermediate crew.

We then hit a few days where it's clean but the conditions are a bit "marginal" - the Wednesday and Thursday still have decent swell (6ft to 8ft) from the SW, and the winds stay cross-off, but the forecast scores aren't peak. The real magic shows up on Saturday the 15th of August. Morning and afternoon are both glassy - dead calm - with a consistent 6ft swell from the WSW at 14 seconds. That's your pick of the first week; just a clean, fun sandbar with no wind to mess it up. The energy is moderate, and it's a fairly consistent break, so you'll get waves.

Sunday the 16th starts glassy again with 5ft, but the afternoon brings a light cross-onshore chop. The week that follows gets bigger, with the swell pushing 8ft to 10ft and the winds picking up from the SSE. By Tuesday the 18th of August, we're looking at 10ft SW swell, but that's getting too big for this break, and with a moderate cross-shore it's not going to be clean. The energy is very strong. That setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, truth be told.

We get a bit of a lull around the 20th with smaller 5ft-6ft surf and cleaner cross-off winds, but the wind swings onshore on the 21st and 22nd with more lumpy conditions. The window opens again on Sunday the 23rd of August with clean 6ft surf and light winds, and then the final standout is Monday the 24th of August. The morning offers excellent conditions for experienced surfers: 8ft of SW groundswell at 14 seconds, with clean offshore winds from the NE. That's a serious groundswell with strong energy, and with offshores, it'll be well-shaped. That's your pick of the second week. The last day on the 26th looks glassy again but with a shorter 10-second period and smaller 6ft swell.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Some drizzle, heaviest during Thu morning. Warm (max 25°C on Thu afternoon, min 11°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Fri morning, min 13°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Tuesday
11
Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
Friday
14
Saturday
15
Sunday
16
Monday
17
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
3
2
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2
SSW
12
1.6
SSW
12
1.4
SW
21
1.7
SW
18
1.8
SW
18
2
SW
16
2.3
SW
17
2.1
WSW
16
1.9
WSW
16
1.7
WSW
15
1.8
WSW
14
1.9
WSW
14
1.8
WSW
14
1.8
WSW
14
1.7
WSW
14
1.6
WSW
14
1.9
WSW
14
2.5
WSW
13
2.5
WSW
14
2.5
WSW
14
2.5
WSW
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1159
730
1850
1922
1952
2033
3146
2262
1743
1292
1393
1286
1196
1161
1004
988
1433
2245
2634
2245
2349
Wind (km/h)
15
ESE
10
ESE
20
ESE
15
E
15
ESE
15
E
20
NE
5
W
15
NE
10
NNW
5
NW
10
NNE
0
NW
5
SSW
5
N
5
NW
10
SW
5
ENE
10
NW
15
WNW
10
NNW
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
glassy
glassy
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
cross
High Tide
2:32PM1.51m
2:47AM1.53m
3:13PM1.62m
3:29AM1.57m
3:52PM1.68m
4:09AM1.56m
4:29PM1.69m
4:46AM1.51m
5:05PM1.64m
5:22AM1.43m
5:39PM1.55m
5:57AM1.33m
6:13PM1.43m
Low Tide
8:19AM0.10m
8:44PM0.13m
9:01AM0.02m
9:27PM0.05m
9:40AM-0.01m
10:07PM0.02m
10:16AM-0.00m
10:45PM0.03m
10:51AM0.05m
11:22PM0.09m
11:24AM0.14m
11:57PM0.19m
11:57AM0.25m
00:31AM0.30m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:28
7:28
7:26
7:26
7:24
7:24
7:22
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:13
6:14
6:14
6:15
6:15
6:16
6:16
 mm
1
1
Temp °C
13
18
17
16
21
20
21
25
19
20
18
17
16
18
15
16
18
16
17
17
16
Feels °C
10
15
14
12
18
16
17
19
17
17
15
15
15
16
14
15
17
15
15
15
15
  • 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 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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