Best time to surf Wilderness

The best time to surf at Wilderness is January–April, October–December, the known surf season, with water around 19°C.

Wilderness, Western Cape, South Africa

Sports: Surfing

Best time to go: January–April, October–December

Wilderness is a small village on the Garden Route, about 10 km east of George along the N2 and a few kilometres east of Victoria Bay. Its long sandy beach runs from Leentjiesklip, the rocks at the western end next to the N2, past the main beach to the mouth of the Touw River and on east for many kilometres. There is free parking by the main beach, and local surf schools give lessons and holiday camps here.

It is a beach break over sand with some rock, with peaks that move with the sandbanks and break both left and right; the river mouth can shape cleaner peaks. It works best in a south swell of about 0.6 to 1.8 m (east to south-west swells also work) with a northerly, offshore wind, on any tide, though lower and rising tides are usually better. On smaller, clean days the whitewater suits beginners, which is why schools use it when Victoria Bay's point is crowded or too big; when the swell is large or the wind is onshore it quickly gets messy and closes out. Surf guides call it mainly a summer spot.

Rip currents are the main danger. The stretch from Leentjiesklip to the lagoon mouth is known for strong rips, and sea rescue crews bring swimmers back to the beach most summers. Lifeguards are on duty in the busy seasons but not all year, so surf near them, stay out on big days and learn with a school. Sharks are present along this coast, so follow local advice. The water ranges from about 16 °C in winter to 21 °C in summer, but upwelling can drop it quickly: a 3/2 mm wetsuit in summer and a 4/3 mm in winter.

Month by month at Wilderness

January: 1 windy day (15+ knots), average wind 7 knots, waves 0.5 m, water 22°C, air 25°C (nights 17°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 29 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 9; a day can have both
February: 1 windy day (15+ knots), average wind 7 knots, waves 0.7 m, water 21°C, air 25°C (nights 18°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 26 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 10; a day can have both
March: 1 windy day (15+ knots), average wind 6 knots, waves 0.9 m, water 20°C, air 24°C (nights 17°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 29 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 9; a day can have both
April: 1 windy day (15+ knots), average wind 6 knots, waves 1 m, water 18°C, air 21°C (nights 14°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 26 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 10; a day can have both
May: 1 windy day (15+ knots), average wind 5 knots, waves 1.1 m, water 17°C, air 21°C (nights 12°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 28 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 7; a day can have both
June: 1 windy day (15+ knots), average wind 6 knots, waves 1.6 m, water 16°C, air 19°C (nights 10°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 25 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 8; a day can have both
July: 3 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 6 knots, waves 1.7 m, water 16°C, air 18°C (nights 8°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 27 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 6; a day can have both
August: 3 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 6 knots, waves 1.6 m, water 16°C, air 19°C (nights 9°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 29 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 5; a day can have both
September: 2 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 6 knots, waves 1.5 m, water 16°C, air 19°C (nights 11°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 26 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 9; a day can have both
October: 1 windy day (15+ knots), average wind 7 knots, waves 1.2 m, water 17°C, air 21°C (nights 13°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 29 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 10; a day can have both
November: 1 windy day (15+ knots), average wind 7 knots, waves 1.1 m, water 19°C, air 22°C (nights 14°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 29 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 8; a day can have both
December: 1 windy day (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 0.9 m, water 21°C, air 23°C (nights 16°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 29 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 12; a day can have both

Surfing in South Africa: January, February, March, April, October, November, December

When is the best time to go surfing at Wilderness?

January–April, October–December, the known surf season (when the swell direction and winds suit this spot).

How warm is the water at Wilderness?

16°C to 22°C over the year: a 3/2 full suit in the warmest month, a 5/4 with boots in the coolest.

How windy is Wilderness?

About 16 days a year with at least 2 hours of 15+ knots in the daytime, most in July.

Figures from 5 years of weather data (Open-Meteo).

Jeffreys Bay surf guide: Supertubes, the season and what to expect5 min read

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