Surf spot

Cape Vidal

Forecast conditions and map view for Cape Vidal in South Africa, East Coast North. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: South Africa, East Coast North
Coordinates: -28.1261, 32.5577

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)	1.1	1.1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1.1	1	1	1	0.9	0.9	0.9	1	1	1	1.5	1.4	1.5	1.4	1.8	1.9	2	2	2	1.8	1.8	2	2	2	1.9	1.9	1.8	1.8	1.7	1.6	1.5	1.5	1.8	1.7	1.9	1.8	1.6	1.3	1.2	1.1	1.1	1.1	1.1	1	0.9	0.8	1.9
Wave direction	E	E	E	E	S	S	S	S	S	S	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	S	S	S	S	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	E	ENE	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	S	S	S	S	SSE	E	E	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	S	S
Wave period (s)	7.1	7	7	7.5	8.8	8.7	8.6	8.6	8.4	8.4	8.4	8.1	8	7.8	7.7	10.2	10.3	9.7	10.4	6.3	6.5	6.9	7.2	6.5	6	6.8	7	7	7.6	7.7	7.3	7.3	7.3	7.5	7.5	7.5	7.5	7.7	7.7	7.7	7.7	6.3	6.5	6.4	6.3	6	7	7.5	10.3	10.3	9.9	9.8	9.7	9.6	11.2	9.9
Wave energy (kJ)	131	113	104	122	166	162	158	152	154	160	154	142	123	108	92	169	202	181	236	169	161	209	212	286	265	365	376	384	366	376	404	409	409	415	406	376	353	330	304	278	253	246	256	290	246	187	163	160	278	269	257	214	179	149	153	708
Wind speed (km/h)	16.3	12.8	6.7	18.1	33.4	40.1	41.1	38.7	32.2	39	37.2	46	43.4	49.2	40.9	39.2	39.6	39	40.6	49.3	48.5	46.5	49.5	52.6	32.1	20.8	34.5	41.7	35.2	29.9	5.3	10.7	7.4	9.2	3.6	13.7	20.1	27	16.3	5	30.7	42.2	48.6	54.4	49.4	41.5	44.3	37.8	37	47.9	48.9	50.8	54.8	58.7	54.7	47
Wind direction	SWOffshore	WSWOffshore	NWCross	NEOnshore	NEOnshore	NEBlown out	NNEBlown out	NBlown out	NCross-on	NNEBlown out	NBlown out	NNEBlown out	NEBlown out	NEBlown out	NEBlown out	NNEBlown out	NNEBlown out	NNEBlown out	NNEBlown out	NNEBlown out	NEBlown out	NNEBlown out	NNEBlown out	NNEBlown out	NNWCross-on	NCross-on	NCross-on	NEBlown out	NEBlown out	NEOnshore	ENEOnshore	ESECross-on	NEOnshore	WNWCross-off	NWGlassy	NEOnshore	EOnshore	ENEOnshore	ENEOnshore	NCross-on	SWOffshore	SSWBlown out	SWBlown out	SSWBlown out	SSWBlown out	SSWBlown out	SBlown out	SBlown out	SSWBlown out	SSWBlown out	SSWBlown out	SWBlown out	SSWBlown out	SBlown out	SBlown out	SSWBlown out

Cape Vidal is a scenic, relatively secluded surf spot on South Africa’s East Coast North, within the iSimangaliso Wetland Park area near St Lucia. It’s known for its long stretch of beach, wild coastline, and a more uncrowded, adventurous feel compared with many better-known South African breaks.

Surf character

Type: Beach break
Wave quality: Can be fun and punchy, with shifting sandbanks creating different peaks
Best on: Smaller to moderate swells, especially when the sandbanks line up well
Conditions: Can handle a range of swell directions, but the surf is highly dependent on sand movement and tides

What to expect

Crowd: Usually light to moderate, often much quieter than urban surf spots
Setting: Remote, natural, and beautiful, with a strong “surf safari” vibe
Consistency: Not as consistently reliable as major point breaks, but it can deliver quality sessions when conditions align

Hazards / things to know

Marine life: This is a wild part of the coast, so be aware of sharks and strong currents
Currents: Rip currents and shorebreak can be strong
Access: Often requires travel through park areas and attention to conservation rules

Best for

Surfers who like quiet, scenic beaches
Intermediate surfers comfortable with beach-break variability
Travelers looking for a less developed, more natural surf experience