Surf spot

Glen Beach

Forecast conditions and map view for Glen Beach in South Africa, Cape Town. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: South Africa, Cape Town
Coordinates: -33.9470, 18.3764

Metric
Metric	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00
Wave height (m)	1.6	1.4	1.3	1.8	2.2	2.4	2.6	2.6	2.6	2.5	2.4	1.8	1.9	1.8	1.8	1.6	1.3	1.2	1.3	1.2	1.1	1.2	1.1	1	1	0.9	1	1	1	1.6	1.9	1.8	2.5	2.8	2.9	2.6	2.9	2.8	2.8	2.8	2.6	2.4	2.3	2.2	2	1.7	1.6	1.4	1.6	1.7	1.7	1.5	1.3	1.5	1.9	1.9
Wave direction	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SSW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SSW	WSW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	WSW	SW	SW	W	WSW	WSW	SW	WSW	WSW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	WSW	WSW	SSW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW
Wave period (s)	9.3	9.9	9.4	12.2	12.6	12.6	12.4	12.3	12	11.8	11.1	10.3	10.3	10.3	10.2	10	9.4	10.1	9.8	9.7	9.7	7.8	7.8	7.3	8.8	7.2	7.6	7.2	6.5	7.3	6.8	9.3	8.5	8.3	8.5	9.1	8.9	9.3	9.3	9.3	9.3	9.3	9.3	9.3	9.3	9.4	9.6	9.7	9.7	9.7	9.8	9.2	10.9	11.5	10.8	10.8
Wave energy (kJ)	436	384	302	978	1470	1845	2032	2014	1917	1698	1430	725	775	711	638	525	284	284	312	268	225	166	145	112	161	92	125	94	81	256	339	530	889	1050	1215	1124	1310	1380	1376	1323	1175	1013	937	843	699	504	444	369	506	564	555	397	427	611	834	878
Wind speed (km/h)	21.1	12.8	21.2	21.9	24.5	27.5	19.6	14.4	13.9	13.8	11	5.9	2.9	5.9	1.5	12.3	14.2	15	18.8	23.1	23.1	25.7	19.7	23.6	22.5	22.9	21.5	29.5	32.5	30.6	19.5	15.2	18.4	21.3	19.9	30.3	33.9	32.7	35.2	30.5	27.9	29.5	32.9	36.7	37.7	37.2	29.6	32.1	39.8	29.8	31.7	38.2	42.4	36.4	31.3	30.8
Wind direction	SECross-on	SECross-on	SECross-on	SECross-on	SEOnshore	SECross-on	SECross-on	SECross-on	ESECross-on	SECross-on	SECross-on	ECross-on	NGlassy	SOnshore	ESEGlassy	NWCross-off	NNWOffshore	NOffshore	NNWOffshore	NNWOffshore	NWCross-off	NWCross-off	NNWOffshore	NNWOffshore	NOffshore	NOffshore	NNWOffshore	NNWOffshore	NNWOffshore	NNWOffshore	NNWOffshore	SSEOnshore	SSEOnshore	SSEOnshore	SECross-on	SECross-on	SECross-on	SEOnshore	SEBlown out	SECross-on	SECross-on	SECross-on	SECross-on	SEBlown out	SEBlown out	SEBlown out	SECross-on	SECross-on	SEBlown out	SECross-on	SECross-on	SEBlown out	SSEBlown out	SSEBlown out	SECross-on	SECross-on

Glen Beach, Cape Town, South Africa is a small, scenic surf break tucked between Camps Bay and Kloof Nek/Malibu on the Atlantic side of the Cape Peninsula. It’s known for its clean, punchy beachbreak/shorebreak-style waves that can offer fast, hollow sections when the swell lines up.

What it’s like

Wave quality: Can be very fun on the right swell, with sharp, quick takeoffs and short, intense rides.
Wave type: Mostly a beachbreak with shifting sandbars, so conditions can change a lot.
Best conditions: Typically works best with a solid westerly or southwesterly swell and light offshore easterly or southeast winds.
Skill level: Generally best for intermediate to advanced surfers, especially when it’s bigger and more powerful.

Spot character

Atmosphere: A beautiful but often crowded urban surf spot, with a mix of local surfers and visitors.
Setting: Dramatic mountain backdrop, views over Camps Bay, and easy access from Cape Town.
Crowds: Can get busy because it’s one of the more accessible and well-known surf breaks in the city.

Things to watch out for

Strong currents and shorebreak: Depending on swell and tide, it can be powerful and a bit unforgiving.
Crowds: Local etiquette matters; it can be competitive.
Sand movement: The break can vary from session to session because the sandbanks shift.

Overall

Glen Beach is a fun, powerful, and picturesque Cape Town surf spot that can light up when the swell, wind, and sandbars align. It’s not the most consistent or mellow wave, but when it’s good, it’s a high-quality session in one of the most beautiful surf settings in South Africa.