Cape Town Surf Forecast

The seven Cape Town surf spots that matter

Muizenberg — Surfer's Corner

Best for: Beginners and longboarders. Wind: Offshore on SE (summer); onshore on NW. Swell: Works in almost anything. Crowd: Always busy. Bottom: Sand. Water: Warmer (False Bay).

The world's most beginner-friendly classic break. Forgiving, sandy, consistent. Multiple schools. Don't expect to find solitude here.

Long Beach (Kommetjie)

Best for: Intermediates. Wind: Offshore on E/SE/S (summer perfection). Swell: Needs ~1.5m+. Crowd: Moderate. Bottom: Sand. Water: Cold (Atlantic).

Long, sandy beach south of the peninsula. Multiple peaks. Less crowded than Muizenberg, slightly faster waves. The cold water will test your wetsuit.

Llandudno

Best for: Advanced. Wind: Offshore on NE/E (rare); kills it on SE. Swell: Big winter swells. Crowd: Local. Bottom: Sand & rock.

Beautiful, remote, takes a serious swell. Fast, hollow waves on the right day. Local crew, respect the line-up.

Glen Beach

Best for: Advanced. Wind: Offshore on E/NE. Swell: Picks up Atlantic swells. Crowd: Local. Bottom: Rock.

Camps Bay's secret. Powerful right-hander on the right day. Not for beginners.

Big Bay (Bloubergstrand)

Best for: Wind-and-swell combo days. Wind: Side-shore, perfect for kiting. Swell: Wind-affected. Crowd: Mixed (kites + surfers). Bottom: Sand.

Better known as a kite spot but produces fun surf when the wind drops in winter. Good for windsurfing.

Dungeons (Hout Bay)

Best for: Big-wave specialists only. Wind: Offshore on SE. Swell: Needs 4m+. Crowd: Pros only. Bottom: Reef, deep.

One of the world's premier big-wave spots. 6–25m+ waves on the biggest days. Watch from the cliffs at Sentinel Peak; do not paddle out unless you really know what you're doing.

Off-Nahoon (Strand)

Best for: Intermediates. Wind: Offshore on N/NW. Swell: Cape Point swells. Crowd: Light. Bottom: Sand.

The False Bay alternative when Muizenberg is too crowded. Gentle, longer paddle.

Reading the Cape Town surf forecast

If you're new to local surf, the three things to check before paddling out:

1. Wind direction — offshore (blowing from land to sea) makes good surf. Onshore (sea to land) ruins it. Match the spot to the wind.
2. Swell size and direction — most local surf comes from southwest swells. The Atlantic side prefers W–SW; False Bay prefers SE swells.
3. Tide — varies by spot. Most Cape Town spots work best in the bottom three hours of the tide cycle, but Long Beach Kommetjie is high tide. Check before you drive.

Wetsuits

Cape Town water is cold year-round. Atlantic seaboard runs 12–17°C; False Bay 14–22°C. Most surfers wear:

• Summer — 3/2mm full suit (Atlantic), shortie or 2mm (False Bay if you're hardy).
• Winter — 4/3mm full suit minimum, often 5/4 with hood for Atlantic side.
• Booties — most use them year-round on the Atlantic side.

Sharks

False Bay had an active great white population that has dramatically declined since 2017. Shark Spotters operate at Muizenberg, Fish Hoek and Glencairn with a flag system. The Atlantic side has very few shark interactions. Surf with awareness, not fear — the statistical risk in 2026 is extremely low but not zero.