Surfing Tofo Beach: The Complete Guide

Tofo Beach is a point break located in Inhambane Province, Mozambique, offering a right-hander along the continent's diverse coastline. Tofo Beach is Mozambique's best-known surf destination—a right-hand point break in a stunning location famous for whale shark encounters. Rated as intermediate difficulty with lightly crowded conditions, this point break is a worthy destination for surfers looking beyond the usual suspects.

Best Conditions

Swell Direction: The ideal swell direction is SSE (160°), with workable conditions from SE to S (130°–190°). Swells outside this window will either miss the break or produce disorganized waves.

Swell Size: Tofo Beach needs a minimum of 0.8m / 3ft to start working and handles swells up to 2.5m / 8ft before conditions deteriorate.

Swell Period: Look for a swell period of at least 10 seconds, with 14 seconds being the sweet spot. Longer periods deliver more organized, powerful waves with better shape.

Wind: True offshore here blows from the WSW (250°). The full offshore range spans SSW to WNW (210°–290°). Glassy conditions under 4km/h from any direction also produce excellent surf. Plan for early morning dawn patrol sessions.

Tide: This spot works best at all tides. Optimal tide range is 0.4m–1.6m.

When to Go

Primary Season: The prime window at Tofo Beach runs April, May, June, July, August, September (Apr–Sep). This is when swell consistency and direction align most reliably with the break.

Secondary Season: A secondary window opens March, October (Mar–Oct). While not as consistent, patient surfers can still score quality sessions during this period.

Season Notes: Winter swells from Southern Ocean. Whale sharks in summer.

Water Temperature: Expect water temperatures around 24°C / 75°F. A shorty or spring suit is recommended for longer sessions.

Getting There

The nearest airport is INH, roughly 30 minutes by car.

Access: Or fly to Maputo (MPM), 450km drive

Hazards & Tips

Known Hazards:

🦈 Sharks — Known shark activity
🌀 Strong rips — Dangerous currents
🏝️ Remote — Far from help

High shark activity (whale sharks, bulls). Remote area.

Safety Tips:

Avoid surfing at dawn/dusk and near river mouths. Surf with a buddy
Study the currents before paddling out. Know your exit strategy
Carry a first aid kit and emergency communication. Help may be far away

Skill Level: This spot is rated intermediate (5/10). Crowd Level: Typically lightly crowded (3/10).

Check the Live Forecast

Planning a session at Tofo Beach? Check the live forecast on Strike Mission to see today's conditions and the 10-day outlook. Our Strike Score algorithm rates this spot from 0 to 100 every day, factoring in swell direction, size, period, wind, and tide — so you know exactly when to paddle out.

Don't leave your next surf trip to chance. Let the data tell you when Tofo Beach is firing.

*Conditions data sourced from Strike Mission's verified spot database.*