Surf Forecasts:
Horse Trails surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 12s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 25 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 14s period, SSW swell with 2,765 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 12s 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 Friday (Aug 21) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.3m and 12s 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 2.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Horse Trails over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, let’s talk about what’s coming up at Horse Trails.
We’ve got a mixed bag of a forecast for the next couple of weeks, with some clean sessions to get excited about, but also some real duds and a massive swell event that will only be for the brave. The first real surf action kicks off on Friday the 21st.
The standout morning session is definitely Friday the 21st. The swell is a solid 7ft from the southwest with a sweet 11-second period, and the wind is a light cross-offshore breeze from the southeast. It’s going to be clean with plenty of energy. That’s your best bet early on for some proper waves without too much hassle.
Tuesday the 25th is another big one to circle. The morning swell hits 8ft from the southwest with a long 14-second period, giving it a lot of grunt. The wind is a light cross-offshore from the southeast, so the surf will be clean. Now, this swell is over 5ft, so it’s getting punchy, and with that long period, it might be a bit straighter at a sandbar break like this, but for experienced surfers, it’s excellent.
We do get a nice little run towards the end of the first week and into the second. Friday the 28th has a clean morning and afternoon, with a 5ft to 6ft southwest swell and a long 14-second period, all under light cross-offshore winds. That’s another couple of solid, clean sessions on offer.
Things get messy from the 29th onwards with onshore winds and rain, and by the 31st we’re back to small, lumpy conditions. The beginning of September is mostly a write-off until the 3rd, when a monster 16ft southwest swell shows up. With massive energy, this is serious. The wind is light, but the size is way too big for this break, only for experts if they’re crazy enough to try.
All in all, Friday the 21st morning and Tuesday the 25th morning are your clear winners. Get on them while they're clean.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri afternoon, min 11°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Wed afternoon, min 12°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | ||||||||||||||
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 11 | SW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 12 | SW 11 | SW 12 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | WSW 11 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | SW 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1513 | 1092 | 918 | 388 | 443 | 515 | 1111 | 1748 | 1667 | 1299 | 978 | 447 | 1025 | 2080 | 1697 | 972 | 659 | 525 | 650 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 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 | 2:36PM1.42m | 2:44AM1.41m | ||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 8:27AM0.21m | 8:46PM0.24m | |||||||
 |  | |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — |
 | 6:19 | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:21 | — | — | 6:21 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 16 | 20 | 18 | 21 | 27 | 24 |
Feels °C | 10 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 12 | 14 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 12 | 16 | 15 | 18 | 25 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 12 | SW 11 | SW 12 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | WSW 11 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | SW 12 |
| kJ | 1513 | 1092 | 918 | 388 | 443 | 515 | 1111 | 1748 | 1667 | 1299 | 978 | 447 | 1025 | 2080 | 1697 | 972 | 659 | 525 | 650 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 17 | WSW 14 | SSW 11 | — | — | — | SW 10 | SW 10 | — | — | S 7 | SSW 11 | S 11 | SSW 14 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 317 | 214 | 27 | 465 | 280 | — | — | — | 253 | 265 | — | — | 135 | 170 | 281 | 18 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SSW 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 15 | WSW 11 | — | — | SSW 13 | S 8 | SSW 14 | SW 20 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 77 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 171 | 202 | — | — | 67 | 76 | 41 | 15 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SSW 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 5 | S 6 | SSE 6 | S 6 | SSE 7 | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 485 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 63 | 121 | 80 | 200 | 230 | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 15 | 2 | 31 | 31 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 35 | 2 | 0 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
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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