Elands Bay
Elands Bay is the jewel of South Africa's remote West Coast—a long, barreling left-hand point break that fires when big SW swells wrap around the Cape. The drive from Cape Town is long (3+ hours), and the conditions need to be just right, but when it's on, Elands offers 150+ meter rides through hollow, sand-bottomed perfection. The setting is stark and beautiful: dry West Coast fynbos, cold Atlantic water, and not a soul around. Classic South African adventure surfing.
Elands Bay surf forecast
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
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Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- SW (225°)
- Direction range
- 200° - 260°
- Size range
- 2.4m - 4.9m
- Ideal size
- 3.5m - 4.3m
- Height multiplier
- 0.97×
- Ideal period
- 15s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- E (90°)
- Offshore range
- 45° - 135°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- low to mid
Difficulty
6/10
Crowd level
3/10
Access: Beach/paddle
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wave is Elands Bay?
Elands Bay is a point break in West Coast, South Africa, that mostly breaks left.
What swell works best at Elands Bay?
Elands Bay picks up swell from the SSW round to the W, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the SW. It starts working at around 2.4m and handles up to about 4.9m, with the sweet spot around 3.5 to 4.3m. Period matters too: aim for 15s or longer, as anything under 14s tends to be weak. These are the numbers our scoring uses, so treat them as a guide rather than a promise.
What wind is offshore at Elands Bay?
An E wind is dead offshore at Elands Bay, and anything from the NE round to the SE keeps it clean. The morning is typically the best window, roughly 6am to midday. Light winds from other directions can still be fine; strong offshores can make it hard to get into waves.
What tide is best at Elands Bay?
Elands Bay is at its best around the low to mid tide.
When is the best time of year to surf Elands Bay?
The most reliable run of swell at Elands Bay comes Mar to Aug. There's a second window in Feb and Sep too. ~65% Apr clean (40-60 days/yr).
Is Elands Bay good for beginners?
It's more of an intermediate wave, rated 6/10 for difficulty, so newer surfers are best off sticking to the smaller days. The lineup is usually quiet (crowd 3/10). Things to watch for: rocks at the entry or in the lineup and strong rips.
How do I get to Elands Bay?
The nearest airport on our list is CPT, then it's roughly a 3.5-hour drive. Beach/paddle.
Best Season
Peak: Mar-Aug
Secondary: Feb, Sep
~65% Apr clean (40-60 days/yr)