Ballito is a warm-water beach town on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast, and Willard Beach hosts the WSL Challenger Series event each July. Shifting sandbanks give punchy, peaky beach-break waves that pick up Indian Ocean swell year-round. It suits intermediate surfers on most days, and the water stays warm even in winter. Best in the morning with light westerly offshore winds.
🌡️ ~21.6°C now · a 2mm spring suit / shorty
Beginner: not suitable for this level
Intermediate: Jan, Feb, May, Jun, Jul, Nov, Dec
Advanced: Feb, Mar, Apr, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Follow @surfscanners
New spots, best-month tips and the local crews at Ballito (Willard Beach). Tag us in your clips and we'll share them.
Beginner: not suitable for this level
Intermediate: Jan, Feb, May, Jun, Jul, Nov, Dec
Advanced: Feb, Mar, Apr, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
All-time average wind & swell
Dashed line marks Ballito (Willard Beach)'s known offshore direction. Bright arrow is the all-time average swell direction, colored arrow is the all-time average wind direction at 14 km/h — hover or tap either arrow for exact values.
Monthly avg wave height (ft)
Monthly avg wind speed (km/h)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 25° | 25° | 25° | 24° | 24° | 22° | 22° | 21° | 21° | 22° | 23° | 24° |
Averages from 3 years of daily wave, wind and water temperature data — what a typical year looks like, not a forecast.
Waves average 5.1 ft (1.6 m), with onshore winds around 15 km/h from the E. Water is ~25°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 5.3 ft (1.6 m), with cross-onshore winds around 14 km/h from the SE. Water is ~25°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for intermediates and advanced surfers.
Waves average 5.6 ft (1.7 m), with onshore winds around 14 km/h from the NE. Water is ~25°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 5.6 ft (1.7 m), with offshore winds around 13 km/h from the W. Water is ~24°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 5.0 ft (1.5 m), with offshore winds around 11 km/h from the NW. Water is ~24°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 5.3 ft (1.6 m), with offshore winds around 11 km/h from the NW. Water is ~22°C: a 2mm spring suit / shorty. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 5.4 ft (1.6 m), with offshore winds around 12 km/h from the NW. Water is ~22°C: a 2mm spring suit / shorty. A best month for intermediates and advanced surfers.
Waves average 5.7 ft (1.7 m), with cross-offshore winds around 14 km/h from the N. Water is ~21°C: a 2mm spring suit / shorty. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 5.7 ft (1.7 m), with cross-offshore winds around 14 km/h from the S. Water is ~21°C: a 2mm spring suit / shorty. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 5.9 ft (1.8 m), with cross-offshore winds around 15 km/h from the S. Water is ~22°C: a 2mm spring suit / shorty. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 5.1 ft (1.6 m), with cross-onshore winds around 15 km/h from the SE. Water is ~23°C: a 2mm spring suit / shorty. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 4.9 ft (1.5 m), with onshore winds around 15 km/h from the SE. Water is ~24°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for intermediates.
For intermediates: May–Jul, Nov–Feb. For advanced surfers: Feb–Apr, Jul–Oct. The biggest waves come in October, averaging 5.9 ft (1.8 m), and the smallest in December, at 4.9 ft (1.5 m).
It ranges from ~21°C in August to ~25°C in February, averaged over 3 years of daily readings.
In August (~21°C): a 2mm spring suit / shorty. In February (~25°C): boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed.
Not really: Ballito (Willard Beach) is best suited to intermediate and advanced surfers.
The nearest airport is DUR, and the nearest town is Ballito, South Africa.
