Best Surf in Africa: Top 10 Surfing Spots from Morocco to South Africa

Find the best surf in Africa. These are 10 of the best surfing spots in Africa, scattered across the continent from Morocco and Senegal in the north to South Africa and Mozambique in the south, as well as some secret spots in southern and West Africa.

Morocco - legendary surf status & perfect right-hands

Northern Africa’s Morocco boasts some of the world’s best surfing spots.

1. Taghazout - Anchor Point & Boilers

The Taghazout area in the Agadir region of Morocco has been attracting surfers from across the globe since the free-living ’60s for its phenomenal right-hands

Anchor Point  - Morocco’s Most Famous Surf Spot

Anchor Point is renowned for consistent waves at all tides and the clean lines of its surf. Waves start at about 3ft reaching up to 15ft and can range between about 300m to 500m long. "This surf break is a mix of sand and reef bottom with 3 different sections where you can go for cover-ups and turns at the first two sections and the last one just gets quite hollow and fast" - SurfInn.

Boilers – Morocco’s Most Challenging Surf Spot 

Named after the boiler of a shipwreck that can be seen as the waves form, this is one of the most thrilling spots. Boilers is considered the most challenging break in the region, an awe-inspiring surf spot that draws professional photographers in search of the ultimate surfing image.

• The best time for surfing in Morocco: during the winter - from September to April - due to the bigger swells, as a result of storms on the North Atlantic Ocean.
• Pros: Surf spots are all easily accessible and Morocco has mild winters. The waves generally break over flat rock and sand, with great pointbreaks. Morocco is close to Europe which cuts travel time and costs, the cost of living is cheap and the local culture is interesting and diverse.

Find out more: Best surf spots in Morocco

Senegal - uncrowded world-class waves

'Despite world-class waves, the beaches around Dakar are still little known and uncrowded – the perfect spot for a surfing safari' - The Guardian.

2. The Almadies - one of the best swell windows

This part of Senegal offers a wide variety of surf, from waves for beginners to reef ledges for pros. Along this scenic coastline there is almost always a sheltered spot with good peaks to be found. The Almadies Peninsula lies just outside of Senegal's capital city, Dakar, on the westernmost point of Africa, at the end of the Cap Vert Peninsula.

This is a favourite spot with surfers, offering one of the best swell windows in the world, with swell coming in from the north, west, and south. Among Africa's biggest and most consistent swell windows, swells here can approach from the southeast and all the way around from the north, in a 260° turn! This is a good region for experienced surfers, due to the variety of waves, consisting mostly of reef breaks.

• Two of the hottest spots on the mainland are Secret Spot and the world-class Ouakam Right, a horseshoe bay on the southern shore which sees powerful waves during winter.

3. N’gor Island - Senegal's most famous wave

The right-hander at N'gor beach is Senegal's most famous wave, found on the 500-hundred-meter-long N'Gor Island, lying 500 hundred meters off the coast of Dakar on the mainland.

The best wave on the island, the N'Gor Right is one of the classical surfing spots featured in the 1964 surfing movie 'Endless Summer'. Today N'Gor Island is a trendy, but not too crowded, surfing getaway with pretty cobbled streets, restaurants, bars, and of course, beaches. The N'Gor left is also considered a great wave for experienced surfers.

• The best time for surfing in Senegal is winter from November to March for big waves - as the winter swells come in from the stormy North Atlantic Ocean and in autumn from August to September there are smaller but consistent swells in the 3 to 6-foot range.
• Pros: Escape the crowds and the sharks (no shark attacks recorded here) at a huge variety of quality spots that are all easily accessible. Many of the surfing spots are within walking distance of each other, as well as being incredibly picturesque with stunning backdrops. Senegal is also a cheap surfing destination with good infrastructure.

Find out more: WannaSurf or GoSurf

South Africa - consistent world-class surf

From east to west all along the almost 3,000-kilometre coastline are great to fantastic spots to be surfed making South Africa the surfing paradise it is.

4. Jefferys Bay - surfing mecca of South Africa

Jeffreys Bay is one of the most famous surfing destinations in the world, hosting the annual Billabong Pro surfing challenge at Supertubes in July. Located in the rugged Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, about an hour’s drive southwest of Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), the waves are best during the winter months of June to August. Supertubes in J-Bay is said to be one of the fastest and most perfectly formed waves in the world. The top spot is Super Tubes, with other favourites including Boneyards, Kitchen Windows, Magna Tubes, Point and Albatross.

5. Dungeons (Hout Bay, Cape Town) - legendary surf spot for the brave

Classed as one of the world's “big wave” spots, a leg of the Red Bull Big Wave competition is held here. Dungeons only pumps during winter storms when 15 to 30-foot swells break over the shallow reef. Located on the ocean side of Hout Bay Dungeons is only accessible by boat and is only suitable for experienced surfers. 

6. Long Beach (Kommetjie, Cape Town) - one of the most consistent waves

Long Beach offers one of the most consistent waves in the country and is very popular with surfers. Located about a 40-minute drive from Cape Town city, the wave here breaks to the left and the right. This spot is best when the south-easter blows (summer) and is suitable for intermediate to experienced surfers with its small to medium yet well-formed waves. 

7. Elands Bay (West Coast) - West Coast surfing gem

This surf gem of the West Coast is about a three hour's drive up the coastline from Cape Town. The wave is best in summer here when the south-easter holds a westerly creating a perfect left point break. This wave is ideal for the more experienced surfer.

8. Wild Coast - wild and remote with classic waves

Ntlonyane (Breezy Point) is a regional classic with an exposed point break with very reliable surf. The long, tubing right-hand point break here is comparable to Jeffrey's Bay. This spot is best surfed when the swell approaches from the south and the winds from the west or southwest. Sharks are a risk here, especially when the rivers flood in summer and during the winter Sardine Run. Port St Johns or Coffee Bay, also has great surf.

9. Durban - 'The Bay of Plenty' - South Africa's surfing capital

Durban hosts the most consistent waves in South Africa, with regular swells and good wind conditions creating good-quality surf. The swell generally gets bigger the further north you travel, and there are plenty of world-class waves for all levels of experience. The beaches of Durban are a great place to get loads of surfing in, as there are waves working in most spots on most days. Other pros include the warm Indian Ocean waters and the hot weather which make surfing for longer and more often comfortable. 

Top surf spots: New Pier (careful for the locals) with a right and left break for experienced surfers. Ansteys Beach, Baggies, Brighton - Bluff, Cave Rock, Getaway Wavehouse, North Beach, Dairy Beach, Vetchies Reef and many more!

Other South African Surf Spots

• Muizenburg - for beginners in Cape Town.
• Dunes - For experienced surfers. Expect solid six to eight-foot waves offering world-class tubes when the south-easter blows.
• Nahoon Reef - world-class waves and the warm waters of East London in the Eastern Cape. Described by some pro surfers from Hawaii as the closest wave to Sunset Beach (outside of Hawaii).
• Cape St Francis - barrels that roll for kilometres and a variety of point breaks.
• Outer Kom - near Kommetjie, is one of the best big wave spots in South Africa.

Don't miss the chance to see more of 'the World in One Country' as sunny SA is known - take your pick from our pocket-friendly South African Tours.

Mozambique - warm water surfing & world-class waves

10. Tofinho Point - world-famous right-hand reef break

Tofinho at Tofo, near the town of Inhambane, is considered the best surf spot in the country, known for its immaculate reefs and offering a wide variety of waves for every level of experience. The best time to surf in Mozambique is winter (June, July, and August), which still has good beach weather. Pros include the warm waters, friendly locals, great waves, and affordability.

Ponta do Ouro (Point of Gold), just north of the border with South Africa boasts long waves and Mozambique's best-known right pointbreak and is easily accessible via Maputo or the South African border at Kosi Bay.

Check out our affordable Mozambique Tours.

Hidden Surfing Gems - underground surf spots

Robertsport in Liberia - the best secret surf spot in West Africa

Robertsport, 50 km north of Monrovia, Liberia’s capital, features stretches of disserted beaches with world-class waves. It is reputed to be West Africa's best unknown surf spot (in season) and is accessible from Monrovia by a dirt road.

Skeleton Coast of Namibia - surfing world's best-kept secret 

Skeleton Bay in Namibia has the best lefthander in the world, or near the top depending on opinion. This is a remote, untamed and epic surf spot.

Video: Marc Lacomare, Alain Rioua and Aritz Aranburu score an endless diamond tipped left on Namibia’s Skeleton Coast.

One of the last frontiers of the surfing world, Namibia's Skeleton Coast has 6 perfect, long lefthand pointbreaks that are a mission to access, if not inaccessibly located off private diamond mining property.

One of these, Ovahimba Point, near the Ovahimba village of Okandjombo, could be one of the best surf spots in the world, as well as one of the most inaccessible. Then there's Angras Juntas, Elizabeth Bay, Hottentot Bay, Spencer Bay and the classic righthand-breaking Luderitz Wedge.

More about the Skeleton Coast surf or see the All Waves post about Skeleton Bay, Namibia

Other favourite spots in Namibia: Walvis Bay, Swakopmund and Cape Cross, more into the wilderness with a continuous left break hundreds of meters long at times.

Icy waters, sharks, inaccessibility and lack of infrastructure are major challenges to surfing the Skeleton Coast.

Why not take a Budget Namibia Tour to see some wildlife, culture and scenery while you're there to surf?

African Surfing Destination Wrap-up

For the most variety in surf and locations, South Africa is the single destination with the best to offer in Africa, for convenience and renown it's Morocco and for fewer crowds and world-class surf go to Senegal. If pretty beaches and good weather matter, as well as budget, then Mozambique's your place and if you're looking for a challenge and a mission then Namibia's Skeleton Coast is calling.

Talk to one of the surfers in our team of African travel experts based in Cape Town for more insider tips and travel advice.