Muizenberg, on False Bay just outside Cape Town, is South Africa's classic place to learn to surf. Its row of colourful beach huts looks onto a long, gently sloping sandy beach where slow, rolling waves break in warmer water than Cape Town's Atlantic side. Surf schools and board rental line Surfer's Corner, and it's at its best in southeast swell with west-northwest winds. A mellow, friendly wave for beginners and longboarders.
🌡️ ~15.9°C now · a 3/2mm full suit, boots optional
Beginner: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec
Intermediate: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Nov, Dec
Advanced: not suitable for this level
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New spots, best-month tips and the local crews at Cape Town (Muizenberg). Tag us in your clips and we'll share them.
Beginner: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec
Intermediate: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Nov, Dec
Advanced: not suitable for this level
All-time average wind & swell
Dashed line marks Cape Town (Muizenberg)'s known offshore direction. Bright arrow is the all-time average swell direction, colored arrow is the all-time average wind direction at 16 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 |
| 18° | 18° | 17° | 16° | 16° | 15° | 15° | 14° | 15° | 16° | 16° | 18° |
Averages from 3 years of daily wave, wind and water temperature data — what a typical year looks like, not a forecast.
Waves average 5.2 ft (1.6 m), with cross-onshore winds around 17 km/h from the S. Water is ~18°C: a 2mm spring suit / shorty. A best month for beginners.
Waves average 5.5 ft (1.7 m), with cross-onshore winds around 18 km/h from the S. Water is ~18°C: a 2mm spring suit / shorty. A best month for beginners.
Waves average 5.2 ft (1.6 m), with cross-onshore winds around 16 km/h from the S. Water is ~17°C: a 3/2mm full suit, boots optional. A best month for beginners.
Waves average 5.5 ft (1.7 m), with cross-onshore winds around 14 km/h from the S. Water is ~16°C: a 3/2mm full suit, boots optional. A best month for beginners.
Waves average 6.5 ft (2.0 m), with cross-offshore winds around 13 km/h from the SW. Water is ~16°C: a 3/2mm full suit, boots optional. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 7.2 ft (2.2 m), with offshore winds around 14 km/h from the NW. Water is ~15°C: a 3/2mm full suit, boots optional. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 7.5 ft (2.3 m), with offshore winds around 14 km/h from the W. Water is ~15°C: a 3/2mm full suit, boots optional. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 7.2 ft (2.2 m), with offshore winds around 14 km/h from the W. Water is ~14°C: a 4/3mm full suit, boots recommended. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 6.7 ft (2.0 m), with cross-offshore winds around 15 km/h from the SW. Water is ~15°C: a 3/2mm full suit, boots optional. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 5.6 ft (1.7 m), with cross-onshore winds around 17 km/h from the S. Water is ~16°C: a 3/2mm full suit, boots optional. A best month for beginners.
Waves average 5.7 ft (1.7 m), with cross-onshore winds around 19 km/h from the S. Water is ~16°C: a 3/2mm full suit, boots optional. A best month for beginners and intermediates.
Waves average 5.6 ft (1.7 m), with cross-onshore winds around 19 km/h from the S. Water is ~18°C: a 2mm spring suit / shorty. A best month for beginners and intermediates.
For beginners: Oct–Apr. For intermediates: May–Sep, Nov–Dec. The biggest waves come in July, averaging 7.5 ft (2.3 m), and the smallest in January, at 5.2 ft (1.6 m).
It ranges from ~14°C in August to ~18°C in December, averaged over 3 years of daily readings.
In August (~14°C): a 4/3mm full suit, boots recommended. In December (~18°C): a 2mm spring suit / shorty.
Yes. The best months for beginners are Oct–Apr, when waves average around 5.5 ft (1.7 m).
The nearest airport is CPT, and the nearest town is Cape Town, South Africa.
