Tafelberg Reef, South Africa
Also within 20 km of Hout Bay
- Hout Bay Harbour Wall Surf spot · 0.8 km from Hout Bay
- Hout Bay Surf spot · 1.7 km from Hout Bay
- Secrets (Chapmans Peak Shorey) Surf spot · 2.5 km from Hout Bay
- Sandy Bay south Surf spot · 3.2 km from Hout Bay
- Dungeons (The Slab section) Surf spot · 3.3 km from Hout Bay
- Sandy Bay Surf spot · 3.3 km from Hout Bay
- Chapman's Peak mystery lefts. Surf spot · 3.4 km from Hout Bay
- Dungeons Surf spot · 3.4 km from Hout Bay
Watch this spot We email you when Tafelberg Reef is worth the trip.

About Tafelberg Reef
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces W (261°), so it takes swell from the W. The wind blows offshore from the E (81°). It is exposed to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up. It works in 2–8 ft of swell. The sea is about 15°C in August, its coldest month (4/3 wetsuit and boots), and 18°C in January, its warmest (2 mm shorty). The town to stay in is Hout Bay, 4.8 km away (about 10 min by car). Within 5 km we also list 7 surf spots and 1 dive site.
Water about 16°C: 3/2 wetsuit. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
Saved: this link opens the same trip
The link holds the trip itself: nothing about you is kept. Check the forecast again before you book.
Book the trip
From Chicago: about 26 h 40 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to Cape Town International Airport (CPT), changing at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).
See flights MDW → CPT · Skyscanner from about £765 returnAdGetting there. 50 min from the airport to Tafelberg Reef.
Accommodation.
Stay in Hout 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 Hout Bay (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Hout Bay 8 min by car · rooms from £40 a night · 49 places to stay · where Tafelberg Reef stays
Places to stay in Hout Bay · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Hout Bay · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Hout Bay · GetYourGuideAd
Where it is
Tafelberg Reef 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 | 10 ft9 s | 1,640kJ | wind from the south, 11 knots | 14°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 0, too big | 8 ft8 s | 741kJ | wind from the south-west, 5 knots | 14°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 12, poor | 5 ft8 s | 298kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 8 knots | 14°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 0, too big | 10 ft9 s | 1,323kJ | wind from the north-west, 17 knots | 16°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 0, too big | 9 ft8 s | 800kJ | wind from the west, 6 knots | 15°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 0, too big | 7 ft8 s | 662kJ | wind from the south-east, 6 knots | 18°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 41, fair | 4 ft8 s | 138kJ | wind from the south-south-west, 7 knots | 18°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 13, too small | 2 ft7 s | 44kJ | wind from the south-south-east, 15 knots | 19°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 44, fair | 4 ft8 s | 195kJ | wind from the south-east, 12 knots | 21°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 31, too small | 3 ft8 s | 85kJ | wind from the north, 2 knots | 18°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. 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 CPT, changing at ATL, then 50 min by road. About 26h 40 door to door
- Tue 20 OctSurf Hout Bay
Best 08:00 to 11:00 local time: 5 ft at 8 s, offshore wind.
- 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 The Bluff left
Best 08:00 to 11:00 local time: 4 ft at 8 s, wind 7 kn (13 km/h).
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Fly MDW to CPT, changing at ATL, then 50 min by road. About 26h 40 door to door
The plan picks the best of 12 spots near Hout Bay each day: Chapman's Peak mystery lefts., Dungeons, Dungeons (The Slab section), Hout Bay, Hout Bay Harbour Wall, Mac's spot, Sandy Bay, Sandy Bay south, Secrets (Chapmans Peak Shorey), Tafelberg Reef, The Bluff left, The Hoek.
Rough cost
About £1,125–£2,210 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 CPT, estimated from distance and season, changing at ATL, full-service airlines, with a hold bag | £765–£1,585 |
| 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 | £1,125–£2,210 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Places to eat near Hout Bay
- Dunes Beach Restaurant and BarSeafood · 0.4 km from the centre
- Bucca BugattisPizza · 0.5 km from the centre
- Dario's CafeItalian · 0.5 km from the centre
- Delish RestaurantBreakfast and brunch · 0.5 km from the centre
- Papino's RestaurantPizza · 0.5 km from the centre
- Souvla StixMediterranean · 0.5 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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