Surfing in South Africa
Cape Town, South Africa
I love to surf, but I’m not very good at it. So I’m spending the next 6 weeks surfing South Africa’s best waves with professional instructors.
Yes, you read that correctly. An epic surfing road trip from Cape Town to Durban, with instruction from some former pro surfers. Sounds like a dream adventure travel vacation, right?
That’s what I thought.
I’ll be heading out on a multi-week South African Road Trip to experience legendary surfing conditions and locations that South Africa is well known for.
Surfing South Africa
Where will I be surfing? The adventure starts in Cape Town and I’ll slowly work my way up the East coast to Durban over 4 weeks, stopping at all the best surf spots along the journey.
Cape Town (Muizenberg Beach)
Plettenburg Bay
Jeffrey’s Bay
Coffee Bay
Durban (Anstey’s Beach)
Surfing Friends
Volunteer Projects
Surfing Friends
My journey won’t just be about getting better at surfing though. We’ll also dedicate time to local community projects throughout the trip. Like organizing football matches on the beach for township kids, teaching surfing lessons, and more.
It’s another aspect of this adventure that I’m really looking forward to.
Muizenberg Beach, Our First Stop
Surf Vacation Packing List
Did I mention that July is winter in South Africa? The Drakensburg mountains were covered with snow on my flight in! My travel gear for this adventure will be slightly different than my usual kit.
4/3 Wetsuit
The water in South Africa isn’t tropical, and I need a proper wetsuit (4mm chest, 3mm arms/legs). Luckily I found a local company that has a factory in Cape Town. I snagged a brand new, custom fit, 4/3 wetsuit direct from the Coral Wetsuits factory store for only $126!
50+ Sunscreen
My Irish skin doesn’t tan well, so plenty of strong waterproof sunscreen is a must. Maybe some Zinc for the nose too. I’ll be putting in a lot of wave time under the hot sun each week.
First Aid Kit
Surfing can be a rough sport. Getting slammed into the rocks by a wave will leave a mark or two. That’s why it’s important to have a first aid kit for the inevitable cuts & scrapes.
Warm Clothes
Despite it being winter here, air temperatures are between 50° – 70°F (11° – 21°C). So it’s really not that bad. However early mornings and late nights on the beach will require warm & comfortable clothing. After a 3 hour session surfing in cold water, warm clothes are exactly what you need.
GoPro Camera & Accessories
I’ve written a whole post about my favorite GoPro accessories for travel, but wanted to test out some new stuff on this surf trip. So I picked up a few dedicated surf mounts, replaced my underwater housing with the blackout version, and bought GoPro’s new adjustable gooseneck/hand-grip.
Hoping to capture some great surfing footage & photos to share with you.
Surfboard!
I’m normally accustomed to surfing 9 foot longboards, but I’d like to move down to a shorter board. It will certainly be a challenge. Before I get my hands on one though, I’ll use longer boards while slowly working my way down to shorter ones as I become more proficient.
Special Surprises
Of course there is much more to South Africa than surfing. If you love adventure travel, this amazing country has a lot to offer. That’s why we’ll be embarking on other activities as well.
Follow Along!
You can follow my surfing adventures in real time on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
What About Sharks?!
I’ll punch them in the nose.
SEE ALSO: Fun Things To Do In South Africa
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Packing Guide
Check out my travel gear guide to help you start packing for your trip.
Book Your Flight
Ready to fly? Here’s how I find the cheapest airline flights.
Rent A Car
Discover Cars is a great site for comparing car prices to find a deal.
Cheap Accommodation
Learn how I save money booking hotels & vacation apartments.
Protect Your Trip
Don’t forget travel insurance! Protect yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read why you should always carry travel insurance.
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READ MORE SOUTH AFRICA TRAVEL TIPS
I hope you enjoyed my guide on surfing in South Africa! Hopefully you found it useful. Here are a few more wanderlust-inducing articles that I recommend you read next:
Nathalie Egerton
Monday 30th of May 2016
Would love to get to a level of surfing where I can do things like this! This blog post was super easy to read and well-laid out. I strongly identify with the sunscreen tip.. burning in 5 seconds flat and having skin with the pigmentation of a jellyfish isn't that fun.
Good advice for dealing with sharks too, made me laugh!
Derek
Tuesday 5th of August 2014
What an adventure! Can't wait to see the pics... especially those showing fist-on-shark-nose action.
Matthew Karsten
Thursday 17th of July 2014
Surfing is one of those sports that requires some lessons (and a lot of practice) to really get the hang of it. I'm happy to finally get some proper instruction, from former pros no less!
Bryan Richards
Monday 14th of July 2014
I look forward to following your journey through South Africa. I'll be taking notes for my own in October. Well, maybe not on the surfing though...
Matthew Karsten
Thursday 17th of July 2014
Why not Bryan? The surfing here is awesome, and Cape Town is a great place to learn.
The World on my Necklace
Sunday 13th of July 2014
Wow sounds like fun! I have driven that route myself but we didn't have nearly as much time as you. South Africa certainly has some amazing beaches and I am looking forward to being back there this summer
Matthew Karsten
Thursday 17th of July 2014
I hear South Africa's waves in the winter are amazing. We're still in Cape Town now, but are leaving to start heading North next week!