Surfing South Africa
South Africa delivers some of the most powerful and consistent surf in the world. Jeffreys Bay — the seemingly endless right-hand point break in the Eastern Cape — is reason enough to visit. But the coastline from Cape Town through the Garden Route to Durban offers thousands of kilometers of quality waves.
The Western Cape around Cape Town catches both Atlantic and Indian Ocean swells, offering variety from the heavy slabs of Dungeons to the fun beach breaks of Muizenberg. The Garden Route and Eastern Cape feature J-Bay and dozens of quality points and reefs. Durban's warm-water beach breaks are among the most consistent in the country.
South Africa's combination of wave quality, affordable living costs, stunning natural scenery, and world-class wine country makes it one of surfing's great destinations. The wildlife alone — whale watching from the lineup, penguins on the beach — adds a dimension no other surf trip can match.
Best Months
May through September (J-Bay winter season), year-round for Cape Town
Highlights
- ·Jeffreys Bay — one of the world's most perfect right-handers
- ·Huge coastline with waves for every ability level
- ·Affordable food, wine, and accommodation
Travel Tips
- ·Fly into Cape Town (CPT) or Port Elizabeth (PLZ) for J-Bay
- ·Road trips along the Garden Route are world-class
- ·Visa free for most Western passports (90 days)
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All Surf Spots in South Africa
Durban(3)
Cave Rock
Durban, South Africa
Cave Rock is Durban's heaviest wave—a powerful right-hander that breaks in two distinct sections: The Pool and The Rock. When solid Indian Ocean swells hit this stretch of coast,...
Bay of Plenty
Durban, South Africa
Bay of Plenty is Durban's friendly surf cornerstone—a reliable beach break on the famous Golden Mile where generations of South African surfers have learned their craft. Protected...
Durban North Beach
Durban, South Africa
Durban North Beach is one of South Africa's classic urban beach breaks, a warm-water setup shaped by piers, sand movement and the constant energy of the Golden Mile. It is far...
Mossel Bay(3)
Outer Pool
Mossel Bay, South Africa
Outer Pool is the outside peak of Mossel Bay's double point setup at the Point, a fast, hollow right-hander that barrels over a sharp rock ledge for rides of 150 to 300 meters....
Inner Pool
Mossel Bay, South Africa
Inner Pool is the mellower inside peak of the Mossel Bay Point setup, a right-hand reef that breaks off the rocks in a small inlet next to Outer Pool. It tends to be slower and...
Diaz Beach
Mossel Bay, South Africa
Diaz Beach is Mossel Bay's long sandy stretch, breaking directly in front of the old Dias hotel with lefts and rights spread across kilometers of shifting banks. Named for...
Eastern Cape(2)
Jeffreys Bay
Eastern Cape, South Africa
Jeffreys Bay is surfing's ultimate right-hand point break—a legendary sand-bottomed wave that spirals down a long bay on South Africa's Eastern Cape. The wave connects multiple...
Cape St Francis
Eastern Cape, South Africa
Cape St Francis is where the endless summer dream began—the right-hand point break immortalized by Bruce Brown's iconic 1966 film that launched the global surf travel movement....
George(2)
Victoria Bay
George, South Africa
Victoria Bay is the flagship wave of the Garden Route: a right-hand point that rolls over small boulder-like rocks for around 200 meters down a narrow, cliff-lined cove between...
Herolds Bay
George, South Africa
Herolds Bay is a small resort cove tucked between George and Mossel Bay, where peaky sand-and-rock banks throw up hollow, punchy lefts and rights when an easterly swell lines up...
Hout Bay, Cape Town(1)
Cape St. Francis(1)
St Francis Bay(1)
West Coast(1)
Plettenberg Bay(1)
Knysna(1)
Stilbaai(1)
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