Surf’s up! Where to catch the best waves in Cape Town

Seb’s top pick is Dunes at Noordhoek, where big waves and sweet barrels will keep him busy for a while. It’s less crowded as it involves a bit of a walk down the long beach to get to the good spots.  

Time Out Tip: People tended to avoid Dunes because of sharks, but the white shark population around Cape Town’s waters has pretty much disappeared over the years, so no need to stress like you might in Jeffreys Bay.

Next to the popular promenade is Seb’s other favourite surf spot, specifically Off The Wall and Thermopylae. The first breaks, just off the start of the promenade, offer a fun but hard experience with its hollow waves. The latter breaks, over remnants of a shipwreck, create a rare left-hand that’s not as common around Cape Town.  

Time Out Tip: Sea Point locals can be a bit territorial, but like everywhere else, as long as you stay respectful of the surfers already out, you should have no problems.

One of the biggest surf spots in Cape Town, Kommetjie, offers a variety of waves that will suit every surfer’s taste. However, it also means that it’s one of the more crowded spots, so you will have to time it well. Long Beach is the main spot, and longboarders will enjoy Inner Kom, while Outer Kom offers an introduction to big waves.

The big attraction is Sunset, a world-class big wave according to Seb, which starts breaking at like 12-15 feet and holds up to pretty well. It’s also very consistent, it breaks at the same time every day, and you can have heavy wipeouts there, but then you'll wash into deep water.

Time Out Tip: There are even more waves to be found past the Kommetjie lighthouse towards Witsands, where you’ll find the popular crayfish factory big wave spot.

The other famous (or rather infamous) Cape Town big wave is Dungeons. “They describe it often as like a big beach break,” explains Seb. “It's very unpredictable. The peak shifts a lot. It breaks over quite shallow water, and it washes you into reefs. So it's pretty scary.”

Time Out Tip: Only seasoned surfers take on this wave, and even then, it’s only those who took the film Point Break to heart.

Surfing around this nature reserve requires a little planning, but making the mission is well worth it. If you time it right with the right conditions, you can get a lot of great waves mostly all to yourself.

You can also check out Kalk Bay reefs if it’s a good barrel day, but be aware that the takeoff area is the size of a pizza box and you might wait an hour without catching anything.

Time Out Tip: On the way to Cape Point and Kalk Bay be on the lookout for the swell at Buffelsbay, Black Rock and Fishhoek – they can offer big waves for advanced surfers, however they don’t break that often as it’s difficult for the swell to build up there.

If you’re just starting out, there’s no place better to learn than at Muizenberg, a special place for Seb from his coaching days. For him, it offers some of the best schooling conditions in the world, bolstered by a friendly local vibe.

“I think it’s probably the most inclusive surf community you can get in Cape Town. Everywhere else is very closed off by the people that live there, but Muizenberg is a lot more open, you know, it’s a lot easier to chat to people in Muizenberg compared to everywhere else.”

Time Out Tip: Besides a variety of surf schools to choose from, you can also check out the surf conditions from your couch with a webcam or daily updates on Lifestyle Surf Shop’s Instagram page.

On the way to the West Coast, Bloubergstrand offers a lekker spot for beginners, with an easy paddle in from the protected beach. Just a little further along is Melkbosstrand, with more surf options for fun waves.

Time Out Tip: One of Cape Town’s strengths is that a lot of surf spots are very close together in a certain region like Bloubergstrand, so you can check them out one by one before making a call on your surf for the day.

One of Cape Town’s most beautiful white sandy beaches is also not just the coldest, but some of the most difficult waves. “It takes a lot of skills to surf there, and the ones who surf it really well are the ones who live there. It’s a master class, what they can do there,” says Seb.

Time Out Tip: Cape Town waters are generally cold - but Llundudno has an especially icy grip. Surfing with a hood is recommended here and for other spots across the Atlantic Seaboard, and a 4.3mm wetsuit should keep most of the chill at bay.