South Africa
Surf’s up: South Africa's top surfing spots
Where to catch the best waves in South Africa
South Africa’s surf culture runs deep. It’s raw, real and shaped by thousands of kilometres of coastline. This is where two oceans collide and every kind of wave rolls in with them. Some breaks draw the world’s best, while others stay a local secret. It’s a place where pros chase barrels and beginners find their feet, but the heart of it is in the in-between moments. Tuning your board at sunrise, smoke drifting from a beachside braai, chatting with tide-watchers. From the legendary right-handers of Jeffreys Bay to Durban’s warm, rolling swells, South Africa has a surf spot that is sure to blow you away. Whether you’re here for that perfect ride or just to feel the pull of ocean culture, these are the spots where South Africa’s surf identity feels most alive.
01
Jeffreys Bay
Jeffreys Bay (or J-Bay, as locals love to call it) is South Africa’s surf capital. Its Supertubes are among the best right-hand point breaks on the planet, a fast, hollow line that’s shaped generations of surfers. It’s technical and fast, but the rest of the town offers smaller, more forgiving sections for those still building confidence. The rhythm of this town is built around surf, salt and simplicity. Early mornings bring a glassy calm and a lineup that glitters under soft Eastern Cape light. You’ll want to spend a few days in this gem of a surf town. Stay at The Ocean Bay Guesthouse, close enough to hear the waves at night.
Jeffreys Bay
South Africa
Photography courtesy of JBay Waves
02
Durban
Durban is the country’s warm-water capital, where subtropical energy meets surf obsession. The Golden Mile offers consistent beach breaks with an easy paddle-out and clean, punchy peaks. Add the city’s humid buzz, colonial-era architecture and Indian Ocean warmth and you’ve got surf with serious soul. Early sessions at North Beach or New Pier are a local ritual before the workday begins. Post-surf, it’s curry for breakfast, boards strapped to the back of taxis and life that always feels close to the ocean. If you’re looking for the perfect stay, check in at Sala Beach House, set just north of Umhlanga, close to quieter breaks and the same warm current that fuels the city’s surf.
Durban
South Africa
03
Victoria Bay
Victoria Bay might be tiny, but it shows off with some serious waves that the locals love. It’s one small cove between George and Wilderness, lined with cottages and a handful of surfers who know every curve of the reef. The surf community here is small and fiercely protective of its quiet charm. The wave peels across the bay in long, even lines, ideal for both shortboards and logs. You can park above the break and watch sets wrap in, each wave unfolding neatly along the rocks. The atmosphere is calm, stripped of the scene you find elsewhere. The rhythm of life moves with the tides – surf, coffee, braai, repeat. Stay at Hilltop Boutique Hotel, overlooking the water with a view that catches the early light.
Victoria Bay
South Africa
Photography courtesy of Surfing south africa
04
Kommetjie, Cape Town
Kommetjie sits at the tip of the Cape Peninsula, wild and salt-laced, where kelp forests sway and the Atlantic never quite warms. It’s a locals’ domain with longboarders carving slow arcs on glassy mornings and groms cutting their teeth at the reef breaks. The surf here demands respect – winds can turn quick, waves can get heavy – but when it aligns, it’s electric. Long Beach is the most accessible spot, with clean sandbanks that hold a wave through much of the year. For heavier surf, the reef breaks like Outer Kom draw those who chase power. Kommetjie is also one of the most scenic surf spots in the country, framed by mountains and fynbos. For a stay close to the waves, consider The Last Word Long Beach, right on the sand with views straight into the lineup.
Kommetjie
Cape Town
South Africa
05
Eland’s Bay
Eland’s Bay, on the remote West Coast, is for purists. The drive up is long and raw, through scrubland and salt flats, but the payoff is legendary. A powerful left-hand point break that, when it fires, is world-class. The water is cold, the crowd small and the vibe old-school. The break offers long rides and a real sense of solitude, a kind of surfing that feels elemental and honest. The town is sparse, with just a few fishermen, a few surfers and a single shop. That’s part of its appeal. When the waves fire, it’s one of South Africa’s purest surf experiences. Base yourself at Lambertsbay Beachfront, a short drive away, where you can sleep with the sound of surf rolling through the night.
Eland’s Bay
South Africa
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