Richards Bay, South Africa
Also within 20 km of Richards Bay
- Richards Bay Kite spot · 2 km from Richards Bay
- South Pier Surf spot · 5.9 km from Richards Bay
- Kleiklip Surf spot · 7 km from Richards Bay
Watch this spot We email you when Richards Bay is worth the trip.
About Richards Bay
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces SE (118°), so it takes swell from the SE. The wind blows offshore from the NW (298°). It is exposed to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up. It works in 2–9 ft of swell. The sea floor shelves very gently: 10 m deep about 4.3 km out (1 in 435). On a typical 5 ft, 11 s swell the waves here would spill softly. The sea is about 22°C in July, its coldest month (2 mm shorty), and 27°C in February, its warmest (no wetsuit). For intermediate surfers the best months are usually May, June and July, with about 2 good days in 7; in October and November, about 0. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Richards Bay, 3.4 km away (about 10 min by car). Within 5 km we also list 1 surf spot and 1 wind sports spot.
Water about 22°C: 2 mm shorty. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
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The link holds the trip itself: nothing about you is kept. Check the forecast again before you book.
Book the trip
From Chicago: about 30 h 50 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to RCB, changing at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) and O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB).
See flights MDW → RCB · Skyscanner from about £800 returnAdGetting there. 30 min from the airport to Richards Bay.
Accommodation.
Stay in Richards BayAd
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 Richards Bay (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Richards Bay 6 min by car · rooms from £40 a night · 14 places to stay · where Richards Bay stays
Places to stay in Richards Bay · Booking.com AdMtunzini 60 min by car · rooms from £40 a night · 19 places to stay
Places to stay in Mtunzini · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Richards Bay · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Richards Bay · GetYourGuideAd
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Where it is
Richards Bay on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
The score for experts, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Score for experts | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 17, too small | 5 ft7 smushy | 191kJ | wind from the south-west, 5 knots | 27°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 14, too small | 4 ft9 ssoft | 226kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 6 knots | 35°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 32, poor | 8 ft8 smushy | 618kJ | wind from the south-east, 6 knots | 22°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 18, too small | 4 ft8 smushy | 172kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 8 knots | 29°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 10, too small | 5 ft10 smushy | 383kJ | wind from the south, 12 knots | 24°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 21, too small | 6 ft7 smushy | 297kJ | wind from the south, 9 knots | 23°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 35, poor | 7 ft9 ssoft | 613kJ | wind from the east-north-east, 2 knots | 23°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 14, too small | 3 ft8 smushy | 104kJ | wind from the south-east, 3 knots | 30°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 8, too small | 2 ft8 smushy | 71kJ | wind from the south-west, 13 knots | 24°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 21, too small | 4 ft8 ssoft | 220kJ | wind from the east, 3 knots | 24°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 expert surfers. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Fly MDW to RCB, changing at ATL and JNB, then 30 min by road. About 30h 50 door to door
- Tue 20 OctSurf South Pier
Best 17:00 to 20:00 local time: 8 ft at 8 s, wind 6 kn (11 km/h).
- Wed 21 OctRest day
Too small: 4 ft at best.
- Thu 22 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 18 of 80.
- Fri 23 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 30 of 80.
- Sat 24 OctSurf South Pier
Best 08:00 to 11:00 local time: 7 ft at 9 s, wind 2 kn (5 km/h).
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Fly MDW to RCB, changing at ATL and JNB, then 30 min by road. About 30h 50 door to door
The plan picks the best of 3 spots near Richards Bay each day: Kleiklip, Richards Bay, South Pier.
Rough cost
About £1,125–£2,230 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 RCB, estimated from distance and season, changing at ATL and JNB, full-service airlines, with a hold bag | £800–£1,665 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Taxi | airport and back, shared | £15–£25 |
| 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 | £1,125–£2,230 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Places to eat near Richards Bay
- Romans PizzaItalian · 1.8 km from the centre
- Debonairs PizzaPizza · 1.9 km from the centre
- Galito'sChicken · 1.9 km from the centre
- John Dory'sSeafood · 2.0 km from the centre
- Neighborhood Cafe0.8 km from the centre
- Macs Fish and Chips EssenwoodFish and chips · 1.9 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
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Where to stayAd
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