Best Time to Surf South Africa
The best time to surf South Africa is April to September: that is when the most breaks are at their best — 7 of the 7 South Africa breaks we map at the peak.
Last updated · Counted from the surf breaks we map — each break's own season, level and wave type
Surf in South Africa month by month
How many of the 7 breaks we map in South Africa are at their best in each month, and which ones. The busiest months are highlighted.
January
0 at their best · 0 in season
February
0 at their best · 0 in season
March
0 at their best · 0 in season
April
7 at their best · 7 in season
Supertubes, Muizenberg, Elands Bay, Cape St Francis, Dungeons, Victoria Bay, New Pier - Dairy Beach
May
7 at their best · 7 in season
Supertubes, Muizenberg, Elands Bay, Cape St Francis, Dungeons, Victoria Bay, New Pier - Dairy Beach
June
7 at their best · 7 in season
Supertubes, Muizenberg, Elands Bay, Cape St Francis, Dungeons, Victoria Bay, New Pier - Dairy Beach
July
7 at their best · 7 in season
Supertubes, Muizenberg, Elands Bay, Cape St Francis, Dungeons, Victoria Bay, New Pier - Dairy Beach
August
7 at their best · 7 in season
Supertubes, Muizenberg, Elands Bay, Cape St Francis, Dungeons, Victoria Bay, New Pier - Dairy Beach
September
7 at their best · 7 in season
Supertubes, Muizenberg, Elands Bay, Cape St Francis, Dungeons, Victoria Bay, New Pier - Dairy Beach
October
0 at their best · 0 in season
November
0 at their best · 0 in season
December
0 at their best · 0 in season
Lefts, rights and peaks in South Africa
Every break we map here, by what the wave breaks over and which way it peels — a left peels to the surfer's left as they ride towards the beach.
| Break type | Lefts | Rights | Both ways / A-frames |
|---|---|---|---|
| Point | Elands Bay | Supertubes, Cape St Francis, Victoria Bay | — |
| Reef | — | — | Dungeons |
| Beach | — | — | Muizenberg, New Pier - Dairy Beach |
Season at every South Africa break
Each break's stated season, with its best months filled in.
- Muizenberg
Cape Town
- Wave
- Beach break · A-frame peaks (lefts and rights)
- Level
- Beginner
- Season
- April to September (winter swells)
- Tide
- All tides; sandbar-dependent
- Watch out
- Rip currents on bigger days. Check the shark-spotter flags before you paddle out. Busy with surf schools at weekends.
- Dungeons
Hout Bay
- Wave
- Reef break · A-frame peaks (lefts and rights)
- Level
- Advanced
- Season
- April to September (winter swells)
- Tide
- Best on a mid-to-high tide
- Watch out
- Breaks over shallow coral or rock reef — booties are recommended and mind the take-off zone.
- Supertubes
Jeffreys Bay
- Wave
- Point break · Right-hand
- Level
- Advanced
- Season
- April to September (winter swells)
- Tide
- All tides; best on a pushing tide
- Watch out
- Rocks and a strong current along the point, so plan your entry and exit. Fast and crowded with good surfers when it is on. Cold water in winter; wear a full suit.
- Cape St Francis
- Wave
- Point break · Right-hand
- Level
- Intermediate
- Season
- April to September (winter swells)
- Tide
- All tides; best on a pushing tide
- Watch out
- Rocks and strong currents run around the point, so plan your entry and exit carefully.
- Elands Bay
- Wave
- Point break · Left-hand
- Level
- Intermediate
- Season
- April to September (winter swells)
- Tide
- All tides; best on a pushing tide
- Watch out
- Rocks and strong currents run around the point, so plan your entry and exit carefully.
- New Pier - Dairy Beach
- Wave
- Beach break · A-frame peaks (lefts and rights)
- Level
- Intermediate
- Season
- April to September (winter swells)
- Tide
- All tides; sandbar-dependent
- Watch out
- Rip currents form between the sandbars — always check conditions before paddling out.
- Victoria Bay
- Wave
- Point break · Right-hand
- Level
- Intermediate
- Season
- April to September (winter swells)
- Tide
- All tides; best on a pushing tide
- Watch out
- Crowded and concentrated takeoff • large rocks • reef • surges/boils • local competition for waves • cold winter water • wave can become fat when oversized. Surfline specifically highlights the surges, boils, congestion and several large rocks around the break.
Surf spots in South Africa by level
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to surf South Africa?
The best time to surf South Africa is April to September: that is when the most breaks are at their best — 7 of the 7 South Africa breaks we map at the peak.
Can you surf South Africa all year round?
Not every month. None of the 7 breaks we map in South Africa lists October to March in its season.
Which surf breaks in South Africa are lefts and which are rights?
Lefts: Elands Bay. Rights: Supertubes, Cape St Francis and Victoria Bay. The table below splits every break we map in South Africa by type and direction.