Buffalo Bay (Bert rock), South Africa
Also within 20 km of Knysna
- Knysna Yacht Club Sailing spot · 0.9 km from Knysna
- The Heads Surf spot · 4.9 km from Knysna
- Lagoon Wedge Surf spot · 5.5 km from Knysna
- The Heads (Back Reef) Surf spot · 5.7 km from Knysna
- The Heads (Rock spot) Surf spot · 5.8 km from Knysna
- Yonders Surf spot · 6.1 km from Knysna
- Buffalo Bay Surf spot · 8.2 km from Knysna
- Buffalo Bay (Murpheys) Surf spot · 8.6 km from Knysna
Watch this spot We email you when Buffalo Bay (Bert rock) is worth the trip.
About Buffalo Bay (Bert rock)
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces SW (207°), so it takes swell from the SW. The wind blows offshore from the NE (27°). It is exposed to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up. It works in 2–8 ft of swell. The sea floor shelves moderately: 10 m deep about 350 m out (1 in 37). On a typical 5 ft, 11 s swell the waves here would crumble. The sea is about 16°C in July, its coldest month (3/2 wetsuit), and 21°C in January, its warmest (2 mm shorty). For intermediate surfers the best months are usually April, May, June and July, with about 1 good days in 7. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Knysna, 10 km away (about 20 min by car). Within 5 km we also list 13 surf spots.
Water about 17°C: 3/2 wetsuit. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
Save this trip A link to come back to, or to send to the group.
Book the trip
From Chicago: about 30 h 45 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to GRJ, changing at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) and Cape Town International Airport (CPT).
See flights MDW → GRJ · Skyscanner from about £780 returnAdGetting there. 1 h 15 from the airport to Buffalo Bay (Bert rock).
Accommodation.
Stay in KnysnaAd
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.
Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).
See all places to stay in Knysna (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Brenton on Sea 11 min by car · rooms from £40 a night · 25 places to stay
Places to stay in Brenton on Sea · Booking.com AdKnysna 18 min by car · rooms from £40 a night · 131 places to stay · where Buffalo Bay (Bert rock) stays
Places to stay in Knysna · Booking.com AdSedgefield 29 min by car · rooms from £40 a night · 40 places to stay
Places to stay in Sedgefield · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Knysna · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Knysna · GetYourGuideAd
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Where it is
Buffalo Bay (Bert rock) on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
The score for intermediates, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Score for intermediates | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 0, too big | 9 ft9 ssoft | 1,086kJ | wind from the south-west, 3 knots | 15°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 0, too big | 6 ft9 smushy | 645kJ | wind from the west-north-west, 10 knots | 17°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 46, fair | 5 ft8 smushy | 283kJ | wind from the west-south-west, 4 knots | 17°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 0, too big | 8 ft9 ssoft | 835kJ | wind from the north-north-west, 1 knot | 22°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 0, too big | 8 ft8 smushy | 794kJ | wind from the west, 10 knots | 18°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 0, too big | 9 ft8 ssoft | 979kJ | wind from the north-west, 1 knot | 19°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 55, good | 4 ft8 ssoft | 248kJ | wind from the south-west, 2 knots | 22°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 40, fair | 3 ft7 smushy | 68kJ | wind from the south-west, 4 knots | 20°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 46, fair | 4 ft4 smushy | 52kJ | wind from the south, 4 knots | 19°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 43, fair | 4 ft5 smushy | 89kJ | wind from the east-south-east, 3 knots | 20°C |
Day scores here are the conditions out of 80; a trip's score on the results is the same conditions out of 100. The journey never scores. The forecast reaches about 10 days. Energy is the swell's power in kJ per metre of wave, from its height and interval: it grows with the square of each, so a long-period swell hits far harder than a short one the same size. The word under the swell is the wave's shape, our estimate from the sea floor. Wind is in knots: 10 kn is about 19 km/h. The arrow points where the wind blows to; offshore wind, blowing from the land out to sea, is green and says so.
Your trip, day by day
6 nights from Mon 19 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for intermediate surfers. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Fly MDW to GRJ, changing at ATL and CPT, then 1h 15 by road. About 30h 45 door to door
- Tue 20 OctSurf Buffalo Bay (Opies)
Best 17:00 to 20:00 local time: 5 ft at 8 s, wind 4 kn (7 km/h).
- Wed 21 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 0 of 80.
- Thu 22 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 0 of 80.
- Fri 23 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 0 of 80.
- Sat 24 OctSurf Buffalo Bay (Opies)
Best 17:00 to 20:00 local time: 4 ft at 8 s, wind 2 kn (3 km/h).
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Fly MDW to GRJ, changing at ATL and CPT, then 1h 15 by road. About 30h 45 door to door
The plan picks the best of 18 spots near Knysna each day: Buffalo Bay, Buffalo Bay beachbreak, Buffalo Bay (Bert rock), Buffalo Bay (Bowls), Buffalo Bay (Murpheys), Buffalo Bay (Opies), Buffalo Bay (Oyster Banks), Buffalo Bay (Reef), Buffalo Bay (Rock), Buffalo Bay (Wildside Shorey), Fish Boma, Lagoon Wedge, Noetsie (De Hoop Reserve), The Heads, The Heads (Back Reef), The Heads (Rock spot), Wild Side, Yonders.
Rough cost
About £1,140–£2,240 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing a room. A guide from typical prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book.
| What | How we worked it out | Each |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | return MDW to GRJ, estimated from distance and season, changing at ATL and CPT, full-service airlines, with a hold bag | £780–£1,615 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Hire car | 6 days, shared | £50–£85 |
| Stay | 6 nights, a mid-range double, shared | £110–£185 |
| Food | 7 days eating out | £115–£210 |
| Board and wetsuit | 5 days, or about £85 to fly your own | £50–£80 |
| Total | £1,140–£2,240 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Places to eat near Knysna
- Hungry Lion KnysnaChicken · 0.1 km from the centre
- Anchorage Restaurant CCSeafood · 0.4 km from the centre
- Bow Tie Chinese restaurant, knysnaDim sum · 0.4 km from the centre
- ChattersPizza · 0.4 km from the centre
- Debonairs Pizza Milkwood SquarePizza · 0.4 km from the centre
- Nando'sHalal · 0.4 km from the centre
Within 2 km of the town centre, listed by how complete the listing is (website, opening hours, cuisine) and whether two sources name it. Not a judgement of the food: we have no reviews. Listings © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps Foundation. Credits
Book the trip
Where to stayAd
Places to stay · Booking.com (ad)Links marked Ad may pay us a small commission if you book. You pay the same price, and it never changes a score.