Durban
Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Sports: Surfing
Best time to go: March–April, June–November
Durban's beachfront, the Golden Mile, stretches north from the harbour along the warm Indian Ocean coast of KwaZulu-Natal. A row of piers and groynes holds the sandbanks in place, creating consistent beach-break peaks at spots such as New Pier, North Beach and the Wedge. Durban picks up swell from the south and east for much of the year, so there is usually something to surf.
The cleanest conditions come in the southern winter, roughly April to September, when land breezes from the west blow offshore in the mornings and southerly swells are frequent. Summer brings more northeasterly onshore wind in the afternoons, so early sessions are best. Waves range from gentle at the southern beaches, where lessons take place, to fast, hollow peaks next to the piers. Lifeguards and shark nets protect the main bathing beaches; surf near lifeguarded areas, keep away from the piers in strong currents and watch for bluebottles. Water is around 20 °C in winter and 25 °C in summer. Line-ups can be crowded and competitive.
Month by month at Durban
- January: 6 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1.8 m, water 25°C, air 28°C (nights 22°C), 27 sunny days, 12 rainy days
- February: 5 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1.8 m, water 26°C, air 28°C (nights 22°C), 23 sunny days, 12 rainy days
- March: 8 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1.9 m, water 25°C, air 27°C (nights 22°C), 27 sunny days, 12 rainy days
- April: 5 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 9 knots, waves 2 m, water 25°C, air 25°C (nights 19°C), 26 sunny days, 11 rainy days
- May: 3 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 1.8 m, water 24°C, air 24°C (nights 17°C), 29 sunny days, 6 rainy days
- June: 4 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 7 knots, waves 1.9 m, water 23°C, air 23°C (nights 14°C), 29 sunny days, 5 rainy days
- July: 6 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 2 m, water 22°C, air 23°C (nights 14°C), 29 sunny days, 4 rainy days
- August: 9 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 2.1 m, water 21°C, air 23°C (nights 15°C), 28 sunny days, 5 rainy days
- September: 8 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 2.1 m, water 21°C, air 23°C (nights 17°C), 24 sunny days, 10 rainy days
- October: 12 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 11 knots, waves 2.1 m, water 22°C, air 24°C (nights 18°C), 24 sunny days, 11 rainy days
- November: 9 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 11 knots, waves 1.9 m, water 23°C, air 25°C (nights 20°C), 24 sunny days, 11 rainy days
- December: 7 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 11 knots, waves 1.8 m, water 24°C, air 27°C (nights 21°C), 23 sunny days, 18 rainy days
When is the best time to go surfing at Durban?
March–April, June–November, when the waves are biggest.
How warm is the water at Durban?
21°C to 26°C over the year: boardshorts, no wetsuit needed in the warmest month, a 3/2 full suit in the coolest.
How windy is Durban?
About 82 days a year with at least 2 hours of 15+ knots in the daytime, most in October.
Figures from 5 years of weather data (Open-Meteo).