by Asia Kaczmarczyk
written by Asia Kaczmarczyk
Surfing in Muizenberg is great for beginners and casual surfers looking for something easy to get them started in South Africa. The waves are usually chest-high and forgiving. The surf scene is fun. The beach is pretty. Just beware of sharks!
An introduction to Surfing in Muizenberg
This seaside village in Cape Town isn’t just eye candy with its technicolor beach huts – it’s where beginner surf dreams take flight. Here, the Indian Ocean brings consistent, playful swells from the SW, ideally meeting those offshore northeast winds, offering up clean, mellow waves that peel and crumble like they were tailored for the starters.
Surfer’s Corner is the mainstay draw. It serves up gentle right and left-handers that roll in real slow. Perfect for groms, longboard riders, or any soul surfer looking to glide and slide. Track up the beach from that and watch as the swell picks up a little size as the beach becomes more exposed.
The best season to surf in Muizenberg is the winter, when cold fronts brush over the Southern Ocean and send strong SW pulses straight into the bay. Summers are rarely flat, though, and there’s usually a surf camp or school out there plucking away at the peelers.
Upsides here are the ease of it all – this has to be one of the most accessible and beginner-friendly spots in Africa. Downsides? Sharks. Lots of em’. Muizenberg has some of the worst shark attack stats going.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
This guide is just one part of our complete guide to surfing in South Africa
Surfing in Muizenberg at a glance
The good…
- Close to Cape Town
- Great for learners
- Gorgeous views of Table Mountain
The bad…
- Shark attacks!
- Some busy sections but it’s good vibes usually
What’s in this guide to Surfing in Muizenberg?
Where is Muizenberg?
Muizenberg is a beach-side suburb of Cape Town, South Africa. It’s located on the Cape Peninsula, to the south of the city center. This coastal village is nestled alongside the shore of the Atlantic Ocean and sits at the foot of a range of mountains that are part of Table Mountain National Park.
How to get to Muizenberg?
Getting to Muizenberg depends on where you’re starting from, but here are some general ways:The nearest airport to Muizenberg is Cape Town International Airport (CPT). This airport is serviced by numerous international and domestic airlines. After landing, you can hire a taxi, use ride-hailing services, or rent a car to reach Muizenberg, which is approximately a 30-minute drive away, depending on traffic.
We use Skyscanner to check for flights in and out of SA usually – it’s a got a great interface that we like.
If you’re already in Cape Town or nearby, you can drive to Muizenberg. It’s located about 27 km south of Cape Town city center along the M4 highway. You can also get to Muizenberg by train. Metrorail operates a service from Cape Town city center to Muizenberg. The journey takes around 45 minutes to an hour. Be aware of your safety, especially during off-peak times, as petty crime can be an issue. By Bus: The MyCiTi bus service also connects parts of Cape Town with Muizenberg.
Do I need to hire a car to surf in Muizenberg?
That all depends.
If you’re aim is to fly into Cape Town and stay there, then no. It’s easy enough to catch a bus out to Muiz when you want to surf.
Our hunch is that 99% of travelers won’t be doing that. Cape Town is the start of the epic Garden Route drive, after all. It’s the stuff of bucket lists, with white-sand beaches, whale watching, and penguin colonies to get through. A car is the only real way to see it to the full, so get booking!
We use RentalCars.com for basically all our car hires. We just love the interface.
Muizenberg surf spots
Cape Town
Cape Town is the gateway to Muizenberg but also the gateway to the whole of the Cape Peninsula. When you jet in, you can choose: Will it be a trip to this charming seaside town for the beginner sets; or will you track down the peninsula on the hunt for the bigger breaks that come courtesy of the Atlantic W swell channels almost all year round. There are tones of spots open to those with thier own car, check out our complete guide…
We have a complete guide to surfing in Cape Town
Stoney’s Beach
Stoney’s Beach is so sheltered that it’s not normal for any direction S swell to make an impact. There are some locals that tell of occasional wedgy rights here but we’ve never seen them.
Simon’s Town
Simon’s Town itself is not a surf spot but a town located south of Muizenberg. The region is better known for its naval base and penguin colony. However, there are surf spots in the vicinity. For example, Kalk Bay Reef near Simon’s Town is a renowned right-hand point break. It’s best surfed with a NW swell and S wind. Remember, Kalk Bay Reef is a spot for experienced surfers due to its heavy waves and sharp reef bottom.
Fish Hoek
Fish Hoek, similar to Simon’s Town, is a coastal town located south of Muizenberg and is not typically known for its surf. The beach at Fish Hoek is more protected and tends to offer calmer waters, often making it better suited for swimming or sailing rather than surfing. However, when a strong enough SW swell comes in, it can generate surfable waves, particularly at the southern end of the beach.
Danger Beach
Danger Beach, also known as Kalk Bay Reef, is located near Muizenberg and is known for its challenging right-hand point break. It’s an advanced surf spot that comes alive with a solid NW swell, offering long, barreling waves. The spot functions best with a S wind and at low to mid-tide. It’s crucial to be cautious of the sharp reef and strong currents, and local knowledge is beneficial due to its unpredictable nature.
Muizenberg Corner
Muizenberg Corner, a segment of Muizenberg Beach, is a beginner-friendly beach break with gentle left and right-handers. It works best with a SW swell and a NE wind, delivering manageable waves that are ideal for learning and practicing skills. The break is most productive around mid-tide and is favored for its consistency and the relatively safe, sandy bottom. Given its reputation as a beginner’s paradise, it can get crowded,
Surfer’s Corner
Surfer’s Corner is the main surf spot in Muizenberg, offering mellow beach break waves perfect for beginners and longboarders. The spot consistently produces rideable waves with a SW swell and offshore NE winds. It can be surfed at all tides but tends to offer longer rides around mid-tide. Surfer’s Corner is known for its gentle, long-rolling waves. Basically, the beautiful thing here is that Surfer’s Corner is at the sweet spot on the main beach. It’s just about where the best S-angle swells come in to offer chest-high A-frames high enough to be good fun without being hardcore. Reminds us a lot of an Algarvian south coaster when it’s working at its best – AKA, great for learning.
Surf camps in Muizenberg
Surf camps are a great option for the total beginners out there becuase they basicially mean 3-7 days of pure surf in the Cape Town area. Usually, packages include accomodation and all your gear, plus lessons with pros. The best ones around are probably:
- African Soul Surfer: 7 Day Beginner Surf Camp on the Beach in Cape Town – It might say Cape Town but this whole camp takes place in a hostel-style lodge that’s literally over the tram tracks and road from Surfer’s Corner. It’s among the best beginner packages in the whole of South Africa, offering all the bare bones: Your equipment, 7 surf lessons, and breakfast each day.
- Cape Town Surf Yoga: 3 Day Surf and Yoga Holiday in Cape Town – A shorter option for people who only have a couple of days in the Cape Town region, this camp usually makes use of Muzie alone for lessons, especially if you’re on the beginner end of the scale. It’s balanced nicely with yoga classes, which take place each day. Accommodation is in sea-view pads in Muizenberg itself.
A note on why we partner with BookSurfCamps.com: Book Surf Camps are probably the biggest online aggregator of surf camps and surf-yoga packages in the world. We sounded out a quite a few potential partners before we affiliated with them. But, in the end, the abundance of choice for beginners, intermediates, and female-only surfing sealed it. We also love the simplicity of their booking system and the trusted brand name, along with the focus on connecting with homegrown local businesses on the ground.
Want more Surfing in Muizenberg camp options? Search the whole shebang below right now and book in a few clicks.
Where to stay when surfing in Muizenberg?
The other option open to travelers who don’t want to book a complete week’s surf camp here is an accommodation right by the beach. What’s awesome about Muizenberg is that you can get stays literally steps off Surfer’s Corner – the main break. Loads of beginners do precisely that and simply rent boards when they’re in town. You can just surf to your heart’s content that way. And there are some LOVELY pads too…
- Surferscorner Self Catering Apartment – The clue’s in the name here. These spacious apartments have front-row views over the main surf spots. You can chill on the balconies and watch people cruising and trimming all day long. They’re a bit bougie, and have prices to match. But hey – this is holiday time, eh?
- THE PLACE Muizenberg – We have a lot of love for THE PLACE. It reminds us of one of those uber-cool multifunctional hotel spaces you get in Bondi or London. There’s a café here, there are boho-styled rooms, there are plush lounges. Oh, and the beach is 400 yards away.
- On The Beach at Surfers Corner – A quiet but beautifully done up self-catering apartment. Location is great and it’s spacious. A top choice for couples.
Step-by-step guide to planning your Surfing in Muizenberg trip right now
Step one: Book flights to the Surfing in Muizenberg…Lately, we like Omio for searching flights. It’s a nice interface and has lots of airline options. We also use Skyscanner because that sometimes offers deals that even beat going direct to the carrier!
Step two: Book your surf camp Book Surf Camps is the numero uno online booking platform for fully-fledged surf-stay packages on the internet right now. Then there’s Booking.com. That has consistently unbeatable rates for hotels and a nifty map feature that lets you check EXACTLY how close your hotel is to a surf break.
Step three: Get insuranceThis is kinda’ important. Not just for surf trips but for any trips. SafetyWing is great for nomad travelers. They offer rolling contracts that cover amateur surfing.
Step four (optional): Rent a car If you’re surf camping then you might not need wheels. If you’re not then we’ll just say this: We’ve never been on a surf trip that wasn’t improved by having our own car. Use RentalCars – they’re the best.
Step five: Enjoy!
For paying for stuff when you’re traveling – Get a Wise borderless card/account. They charge NOTHING for POS payments in any country and have some of the best FX rates around in our humble opinion.
When to surf in Muizenberg?
Muizenberg is a year-round surf spot, but the best surf seasons usually kick in during the winter months, from May through August. During this period, powerful cold front systems passing in the Southern Ocean generate long-period SW swells that light up the region. The beach break at Surfer’s Corner is optimized when these swells meet with offshore NE winds, producing clean, well-shaped waves suitable for all levels of surfers.
However, even in the summer months (November through February), the surf in Muizenberg can still be enjoyable. While the waves are often smaller and less consistent due to dominant SE winds, the spot can work well on a solid SSW swell with a N or NW wind, providing fun, rideable waves.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
Asia Kaczmarczyk
Having been through Sri Lanka, Bali, Portugal, and the UK, Asia is a seasoned traveller and surfer. Her expertise is in finding hidden surf towns and secret breaks, but she also loves hitting the tried and tested spots. Favourite surf destination: La Caleta de Famara in Lanzarote.
