Surf Forecasts:
Van Riebeek surf forecast from 20 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 21 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 14s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 23 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 17s period, SW swell with 8,273 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 20 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 16s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Van Riebeek this week:
The surf forecast for Van Riebeek over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 20) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Van Riebeek in the next 16 days are 4.0m 17s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 23) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 23) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Mon 20th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Tue 21st Jul) | 7ft (2.2m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 13ft (4.0m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Van Riebeek over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon afternoon, min 11°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Thu morning. Warm (max 21°C on Sat afternoon, min 11°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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 9 | SW 8 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | SW 11 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 492 | 279 | 258 | 1895 | 2426 | 1724 | 1298 | 1249 | 488 | 1333 | 1256 | 7783 | 5153 | 4062 | 2719 | 2494 | 1749 | 1298 | 1234 | 1200 | 1094 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | off | glassy | on | glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 7:45PM1.31m | 8:15AM1.07m | 8:37PM1.19m | 9:22AM1.00m | 9:43PM1.11m | 10:48AM0.98m | 11:05PM1.08m | 12:11PM1.02m | 00:19AM1.11m | 1:10PM1.09m | 1:14AM1.17m | 1:53PM1.18m | 1:56AM1.25m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:21PM0.39m | 2:14AM0.43m | 2:09PM0.51m | 3:14AM0.51m | 3:14PM0.60m | 4:34AM0.55m | 4:48PM0.64m | 5:57AM0.53m | 6:16PM0.61m | 6:58AM0.46m | 7:16PM0.54m | 7:43AM0.38m | 7:59PM0.45m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 7:46 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — |
 | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 15 |
Feels °C | 12 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 9 | SW 8 | SW 8 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | SW 11 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 |
| kJ | 492 | 279 | 110 | 1895 | 2426 | 1724 | 1298 | 1249 | 488 | 1333 | 1256 | 7783 | 5153 | 4062 | 2719 | 2494 | 1749 | 1298 | 1234 | 1200 | 1094 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | W 10 | SW 16 | W 9 | W 9 | — | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SW 19 | — | — | SSW 17 | — | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSE 5 | SW 15 | SW 14 |
| kJ | 117 | 120 | 258 | 39 | 24 | — | 42 | 82 | 303 | 121 | 296 | — | — | 615 | — | 1379 | 317 | 206 | 6 | 217 | 221 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | SW 18 | SW 12 | WSW 11 | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 13 | SW 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 6 | 50 | 120 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | 154 | 102 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | — | — | S 4 |
| kJ | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 141 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 44 | 26 | — | — | 17 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 39 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 5 | 39 | 13 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 39 | 1 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Cape Town | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Van Riebeek surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.
Information about the Van Riebeek Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Van Riebeek provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Van Riebeek can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Van Riebeek 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 (Van Riebeek) 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 Van Riebeek 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.
Van Riebeek is 13 km (8 miles) from the 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 car hire and transport links.
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