Southern Cape, South Africa
Surf Spots & Information
South Cape Town is of the greatest stretches of coastline in the world. Wave-rich, rugged and incredibly beautiful, Cape Town offers a variety of waves and conditions for all ability levels.
Typically, most surf spots in this area need a west to southwest swell and light east winds. It’s cold, so you're going to be surfing in a 4/3 wetsuit. But the shivers are totally worth it because there are some epic waves to be ridden in this region of the world.
Find a surf school in South Africa.
Southern Cape South Africa Surf Breaks |
Dungeons – Best Big Wave Surf Spot in South Africa |
| Surf Location |
Inside Hout Bay |
| Best Swell Direction |
West |
| Best Tide |
Low |
| Best Wind Direction |
Light northeast |
| Best Surf Season |
Winter |
| Wave Quality |
Famous right-hand, big wave surfing spot in Africa. Starts breaking at 10 ft. and can reach up to 60 ft. |
| The Surfers |
Pros only |
| Boards |
Big wave gun, tow board |
| Paddle Out |
Impossible, need a jet ski |
| Skill Level |
Advanced |
| Watch Out For… |
Clean-up sets, sharks, jet skis |
| Water Condition |
Cold with heavy currents |
Hoek – Cape Town |
| Surf Location |
Near the rivermouth of the Silvermine River, in False Bay |
| Best Swell Direction |
West |
| Best Tide |
Low |
| Best Wind Direction |
southeast |
| Best Surf Season |
Summer |
| Wave Quality |
A Cape Town classic. Perfect peeling wave breaking over a shallow sandbar that starts to barrel right from the take-off. |
| The Surfers |
Very crowded with good surfers |
| Boards |
Shortboard, funboard, fish, longboard |
| Paddle Out |
Moderate |
| Skill Level |
intermediate to advanced |
| Watch Out For… |
Crowds, thick lips, sharks |
| Water Condition |
Cold |
Noordhoek Beach – Cape Town |
| Surf Location |
Between Chapman’s and Kommetjie |
| Best Swell Direction |
West |
| Best Tide |
High |
| Best Wind Direction |
Light southeast |
| Best Surf Season |
Summer |
| Wave Quality |
Fun beach breaks with various sandbar peaks spread across the entire beach |
| The Surfers |
Can get crowded, but mellow vibe |
| Boards |
Shortboard, funboard, fish, longboard |
| Paddle Out |
Moderate |
| Skill Level |
Total Beginner to Advanced |
| Watch Out For… |
Crowds, sharks |
| Water Condition |
Cold |
The Dunes – Cape Town |
| Surf Location |
At Noordhoek Beach |
| Best Swell Direction |
Large west, southwest swell |
| Best Tide |
Low |
| Best Wind Direction |
East, light southeast |
| Best Surf Season |
Summer |
| Wave Quality |
A Cape Town classic. Perfect peeling waves breaking over super shallow, hard packed sand. Starts to barrel right from the take-off. Produces world-class barrels. |
| The Surfers |
Very crowded with good surfers |
| Boards |
Shortboard, funboard, fish, longboard |
| Paddle Out |
Moderate |
| Skill Level |
Advanced |
| Watch Out For… |
Crowds, thick lips, sharks, broken boards |
| Water Condition |
Cold air and water |
Sunset Reef – Cape Town, South Africa Big Wave Surfing |
| Surf Location |
Cape Peninsula |
| Best Swell Direction |
West |
| Best Tide |
Any |
| Best Wind Direction |
East, light southeast |
| Best Surf Season |
Summer |
| Wave Quality |
The outside reef creates huge right-hand barrels and thick lefts that peel perfectly. Many still paddle in, but tow surfing has now taken over. |
| The Surfers |
Pros only |
| Boards |
Big wave gun, tow board |
| Paddle Out |
Hard to impossible |
| Skill Level |
Advanced |
| Watch Out For… |
Crowds, clean-up sets, sharks, tow surfers |
| Water Condition |
Cold with heavy currents |
Long Beach – Cape Town |
| Surf Location |
South end of Noordhoek Beach |
| Best Swell Direction |
Large west, southwest swell |
| Best Tide |
Any |
| Best Wind Direction |
Southwest |
| Best Surf Season |
Summer |
| Wave Quality |
Good beginners spot. Perfect peeling waves, often smaller than area beaches. Mostly lefts. Good for beginners. |
| The Surfers |
Can get crowded with beginners. |
| Boards |
Shortboard, funboard, fish, longboard |
| Paddle Out |
Moderate |
| Skill Level |
Total Beginner to Advanced |
| Watch Out For… |
Beginners, sharks |
| Water Condition |
Cold |
Boneyards – Cape Town |
| Surf Location |
Park at Long Beach and walk down to Boneyards |
| Best Swell Direction |
West |
| Best Tide |
High |
| Best Wind Direction |
Northeast |
| Best Surf Season |
Summer |
| Wave Quality |
Long right-hand reef break |
| The Surfers |
Very crowded with good surfers |
| Boards |
Shortboard, funboard, fish, longboard |
| Paddle Out |
Long paddle out |
| Skill Level |
Advanced |
| Watch Out For… |
Crowds, thick lips, sharks, broken boards |
| Water Condition |
Cold air and water |
Outer Kom – Cape Town |
| Surf Location |
Park at the small harbor that’s after Kommetjie |
| Best Swell Direction |
West |
| Best Tide |
Low |
| Best Wind Direction |
Light east |
| Best Surf Season |
Fall and Spring |
| Wave Quality |
A Cape Town classic. Left-hand point break with an outer reef takeoff and thick, speedy walls peeling down the point. |
| The Surfers |
Very crowded with good surfers |
| Boards |
Shortboard, funboard, fish, longboard |
| Paddle Out |
Hard, can be hell |
| Skill Level |
Intermediate to Advanced |
| Watch Out For… |
Getting caught inside, beatings from the wave, sharks |
| Water Condition |
Cold |
Crayfish Factory – Cape Town |
| Surf Location |
On the tip of the Cape that faces west, just off of M65 |
| Best Swell Direction |
Large south to southwest swell |
| Best Tide |
Any |
| Best Wind Direction |
East |
| Best Surf Season |
Summer |
| Wave Quality |
Cape Town’s heaviest wave…period. A right-hand slab that delivers unbelievable drops and barrels over a rock ledge. |
| The Surfers |
Only pros |
| Boards |
Shortboard, tow board |
| Paddle Out |
Through the channel |
| Skill Level |
Advanced |
| Watch Out For… |
Crowds, thick lips, sharks, broken boards |
| Water Condition |
Cold air and water |
Extensions – Cape Town |
| Surf Location |
Near Olifantsbos Point, in the Cape Nature Reserve |
| Best Swell Direction |
West, Southwest |
| Best Tide |
Any |
| Best Wind Direction |
East |
| Best Surf Season |
Summer |
| Wave Quality |
Long right-hand break. A mushy takeoff on the outer reef, then there is a speed reform that breaks over a rock/sand ledge. |
| The Surfers |
Can get crowded, mellow vibe |
| Boards |
Shortboard, funboard, fish, longboard |
| Paddle Out |
Moderate |
| Skill Level |
Beginner to Advanced |
| Watch Out For… |
Sharks |
| Water Condition |
Cold |
Olifantsbos – Cape Town |
| Surf Location |
The beach at Olifantsbos Point in the Cape of Good Hope |
| Best Swell Direction |
Large west swell |
| Best Tide |
High |
| Best Wind Direction |
Light east |
| Best Surf Season |
Summer |
| Wave Quality |
Right-hand rock reef that can get very hollow and totally epic with the right conditions |
| The Surfers |
Very crowded with good surfers |
| Boards |
Shortboard, funboard, fish, longboard |
| Paddle Out |
Moderate |
| Skill Level |
Intermediate to Advanced |
| Watch Out For… |
Sharks, kelp |
| Water Condition |
Cold, kelpy |
