
Surf Forecasts:
Horse Trails surf forecast from 29 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 5 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 14s period, WSW swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 5 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 14s period, WSW swell with 4,798 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 29 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 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 Wednesday (Jul 29) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m 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 3.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 05) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 05) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Wed 29th Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 2PM (Wed 5th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Wed 5th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Horse Trails over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what Horse Trails has in store for us over the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, we’ve got a slow start. Wednesday afternoon kicks off with a bit of messy, cross-onshore wind and a 6ft south-west swell, but it’s not really doing us any favours. The water’s sitting at 57°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year – a solid 3° chillier than average, so you’ll want a decent wetsuit.
The real story starts to turn Thursday morning, July 30th. That’s when we see a clean little window. The wind goes light and cross-offshore from the east, and that 5ft south-west swell cleans right up. The combined energy is moderate, sitting at 805, but with a period of 13 seconds, it’s got some proper groundswell punch. It’s a sandbar setup, and it’s fairly consistent, so this is the one to aim for if you can get out there. The waves will be a bit too much for beginners at that size, but for intermediates, it’s a solid, clean morning.
Friday, July 31st, stays clean in the morning with a lighter 4ft south-west swell, but the energy drops off. Saturday and Sunday, August 1st and 2nd, are both glassy and clean in the mornings, with that same 4ft swell size. The wind is light and offshore or glassy, which is a major positive. The energy is still moderate, but the quality is there for a fun, small wave session. Crowds are possible at this spot, so don’t expect to have it all to yourself.
Then we hit a bit of a lull from Monday, August 3rd. The swell drops, the wind gets messy, and the scores drop off. It’s a few days of marginal conditions.
Hold onto your board, because things go absolutely mental starting Wednesday, August 5th. The swell pumps up to 12ft from the west-south-west, with a long 14-second period and a massive energy reading of 4798. That’s not for the faint of heart. This is expert-only territory, and it’s way too big for beginners. It stays huge and powerful through the 9th, with 13ft to 15ft sets and energy readings climbing into the 7000s. The wind is often cross or cross-off, but the size makes it a serious challenge. A beach-and-reef setup like this in that kind of size might actually look more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing for most of us.
The swell starts to back off a little around August 10th, but we’re still looking at 10ft sets with a slightly shorter period. The wind stays clean, but the size is still only for the brave and the experienced. By August 11th, the afternoon drops to a more manageable 8ft, but it’s still a heavy day.
Honestly, for the best all-rounder, you’ve got to go with Thursday morning, July 30th. The 5ft south-west swell, that clean cross-offshore wind, and the 13-second period make for a proper, quality session. The other standout is Saturday morning, August 1st: glassy conditions, 4ft, and clean long-period swell. It’s smaller, but it’s beautiful.
The long-range stuff from August 5th onward is promising in terms of raw power, but it’s less certain and strictly for experts only. Keep an eye on it, but don’t plan your life around it.
Stay stoked,
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Fri afternoon, min 14°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sat afternoon, min 11°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | ||||||||||||||
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 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | WSW 16 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | WSW 12 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | WSW 11 | SW 15 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
1083 | 976 | 796 | 669 | 545 | 416 | 355 | 215 | 581 | 494 | 486 | 479 | 496 | 428 | 347 | 317 | 350 | 198 | 187 | 322 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-on | off | off | glassy | off | glassy | on | cross-off | cross | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:33PM1.43m | 3:38AM1.41m | 4:03PM1.49m | 4:09AM1.43m | 4:33PM1.52m | 4:41AM1.42m | 5:03PM1.53m | 5:13AM1.39m | 5:34PM1.52m | 5:48AM1.34m | 6:08PM1.47m | 6:28AM1.27m | 6:48PM1.41m | |||||||
Low Tide | 9:40PM0.25m | 9:50AM0.13m | 10:11PM0.22m | 10:18AM0.12m | 10:42PM0.20m | 10:47AM0.13m | 11:13PM0.20m | 11:16AM0.16m | 11:47PM0.21m | 11:48AM0.21m | 00:24AM0.25m | 12:25PM0.29m | 1:09AM0.31m | |||||||
— | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | |
6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 17 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 23 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 13 |
Feels °C | 16 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 20 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | WSW 12 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | WSW 11 | SW 15 |
1083 | 976 | 796 | 669 | 545 | 416 | 355 | 213 | 581 | 494 | 486 | 479 | 496 | 428 | 347 | 317 | 350 | 198 | 187 | 322 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 7 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | — | SSE 6 | W 19 | WSW 18 | WSW 16 | SE 10 | SE 11 | SE 11 | S 9 | S 9 | SW 15 | SW 13 | SW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | SW 11 | SW 10 |
18 | 7 | 9 | — | 13 | 7 | 60 | 215 | 16 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 171 | 277 | 314 | 95 | 167 | 137 | 96 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | SW 18 | WSW 18 | SE 6 | — | — | — | — | SE 12 | S 8 | — | — | — | SW 18 | SW 16 | W 10 |
— | — | — | — | — | 13 | 60 | 8 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | 12 | 91 | 71 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SSE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 3 | NNW 3 | NNW 3 | — | NW 3 | NNW 4 | NW 5 | NW 6 |
— | — | — | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 4 | 5 | — | 2 | 8 | 54 | 170 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 38 | 341 | 81 |
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.










