Urban Surf

Life's a Swell - The South African coastline is defined by way of a group of points and bays, technically logarithmic spiral beaches for their mathematically determined shapes. And, as any surfer worth his / her bar of Mr Zogg's Sex Wax knows, points and bays will be the salt and water of surfing.

What they'll also know is that the grade of the surf depends upon how big is the swell and the direction of the wind. For that latter reason, the Cape Peninsula (with Cape Town at its northern end) is just about a 360 degrees, 365 days per year ride. But there are a few other radical breaks too, so wax up and hit the water once we explore South Africa's 10 most readily useful surfing spots.

Eland's Bay

Elands is approximately three hours' drive up the West Coast from Cape Town. There is an “outback” style hotel, several guest-houses, backpackers and a camp site, but otherwise it's pretty frontier. The wave here is most effective in summer, whenever a south-easter stands up a westerly swell to make a cranking left point break (surfers are certain to get it) as effective as any. Think about it as J Bay (see below), reversed.

If you are up for this, Elands is really a gate way to the wondrous attractions of the wild West Coast, where frigid ocean meets semi-desert flower wonderland. Oh yes, remember your wet-suit and a hoodie when you have one.

Long Beach

This Kommetjie spot, on the Atlantic side of the southern Cape Peninsula, supplies the most readily useful & most consistent shore break in the Cape (maybe 2nd after Durban). Is most effective on a southeaster, in small to medium swell. If you are after bigger fish, the Outer Kom kicks up massive curlers on a large westerly swell that aren't for the faint hearted.

Muizenberg

Long Boarders' paradise, this popular swimming beach referred to as Surfer's Corner. In summer you need to make it happen early, prior to the crowds and the pumping south-easter ruins things. Is most effective on a north-westerly in cold weather, but could be surfed most days of the entire year with an extended board. Three surf schools hire out boards and wet-suits. Take to the all-day break fast pizza at Knead bakery-deli a while later.

Still Bay

One of the bays long the Cape south coast, east of Cape Agulhas, which are constant producers (some of the others being Mossel, St Francis, Jeffrey's and Algoa-Port Elizabeth bays). Stil Bay includes a pretty constant shore break while watching village, however the hotties await a large south to south-east swell, once the right-hand point break really grinds.

Victoria Bay

A really narrow, steep-sided bay that's jealously guarded by young locals when its working well. Vic Bay works all the year, as a result of model of the bay, and works for many quantities of surfer. If you should be considering loitering for a time, attempt to obtain a booking at Land's End Guesthouse, among the best positioned in the nation.

Buffels Bay

Near to Knysna on the celebrated Garden Route, it's a half-decent shore, point and reef break. Buffs is "only half-decent" as it just isn't a celebrated surfing venue. But what it lacks in dynamic surf it significantly more than comprises for with consistency and easy conditions usually. Nice laid-back village atmosphere.

Jeffrey's Bay

Supertubes, need I say more? This really is South Africa's premiere surf spot plus one of the world's most consistent tubes. J Bay can also be the sole devote the nation where you can wind up on the sharp end of local surf xenophobia. We suggest that you don't test it until you holds your own personal on a wave, and not, ever, cut in on a nearby of bypass one at the breaking point. On the down-side, voted (by this author) while the ugliest town in SA.

Cape St Francis

This is simply not to be confused with St Francis Bay, in the cusp of the bay, which was made famous in the 60s surf classic Endless Summer. Excepting if the reticent wave called Bruce's Beauties is pumping down the arm of the bay and also you get barrels rolling literally for kilometres. The Cape, or point of the bay, is just a much nicer place over-all, with many different point and shore breaks, most useful that is Seal Point nearby the lighthouse.

Bay of Plenty

Or, for the less surf savvy, Durban. There was seldom per day if the wave just isn't working, and you will choose your spot according how big the swell: it gets bigger from south (uShaka Beach) to north, at Blue Lagoon at the Umgeni River mouth. Try to find the locals, who gather mostly at Diary or North Beach, nearby the north-most pier.

Dungeons

We've left this 1 for last, as it works only on a cold temperatures storm surf, and is classed among the world's “big wave” venues. The 15-30 foot swell at Dungeons breaks over a shallow reef on the sea-side of Hout Bay and is available only by water craft. For the brave only (the new game around is always to human anatomy surf the monster).