South Africa offers some of the best surfing destinations in the world. With conditions that would delight everyone from beginner to expert, it is a country that should definitely be on your surfing bucket list. Here are five of the best (among many!) surf spots in South Africa
Dungeons
Dungeons is famous as one of the Big Wave spots and even hosts a leg in the Red Bull Wave Competition. It is definitely a spot for the very experienced surfers with swells as big as 6-9 meters at times (usually during a winter storm surf). It is only accessible by boat and lies behind the Sentinel, around the corner from Hout Bay. This spot offers three different areas with great surf. The first is The Slab, where you can find great barrels and a good take-off spot. The second is Two-Point-Five – named after the depth of the water. The third spot is Washburn’s Peak where the largest sets are sometimes found – definitely worth the wait if you are looking to get your adrenaline pumping! For an added thrill, surfing here will give you the badge of having surfed in one of South Africa’s surf spots with the most sharks.
Jeffrey’s Bay
Jeffrey’s Bay – or fondly referred to by locals as J-Bay – is found in the Eastern Cape Province, about an hour’s drive from Port Elizabeth. Jeffrey’s Bay has been a famous surf spot since the 1960’s and is ranked as the second best surfing destination in the world. It has amazing surf, with consistent tubes, good swells and rides of up to 800 meters long. Jefferey’s Bay hosts the World Surf League’s Annual Bay Open and the Billabong Pro – a competition that attracts local and international surfers to compete for the title of the World’s Number 1 Male Surfing Champion. There are a number of surf spots including Kitchen Window, Magnatubes, Boneyards, Impossibles, The Point, and Albatross.
Muizenberg
It is said that the first wave surfed in South Africa was in Muizenberg in 1919. National Geographic has voted Muizenberg as one of the Top 20 surf towns in the world… need we say more? Surfer’s Corner has relaxed waves, making it especially good for beginners and students. This area is also known as a longboarder’s paradise. There are larger waves around the corner and two reef breaks in the area.
Dunes
Dunes is located at Noordhoek Beach, about 40 minutes from the Cape Town city centre. South Easterly winds bring up to 2.5 meter waves with world-class tubes. This area also has a large shark population and is recommended only for advanced surfers.
Cape St. Francis and St. Francis Bay
Kind of the same name, but not the same place. Cape St. Francis and St. Francis Bay are neighbours – both with epic surfing. St. Francis Bay starred in the 60s surf movie Endless Summer, it is also known for Bruce’s Beauties – barrels that roll along the coast for kilometres. Cape St. Francis, on the other hand offers a mix of point and shore breaks with the best being at Seal Point, near the lighthouse.
With all of these world renown surf spots South Africa definitely does not fail to please surfers from every experience level.
