Surfing stays that support National Sea Rescue Institute
30+ results in South Africa
Every one of these stays is within reach of a surf break, and every booking at one of them sends a share of the host commission to the National Sea Rescue Institute, the volunteer crews who go out when a surfer, a swimmer or a boat is in trouble anywhere on the South African coast. If you surf here, the NSRI is your safety net; this is a way to fund it while you travel.
The stays run the length of the coast the NSRI covers: the Cape Peninsula from Muizenberg to Kommetjie, the Overberg and Garden Route towns, and the points of the Eastern Cape. Winter, May to August, brings the big Southern Ocean swells and offshore mornings; summer is smaller, warmer and better for learning.
Pair a surf trip with whale watching in spring, the penguin colonies of False Bay and Betty's Bay, or a night in one of the sea-rescue towns in the Sea Rescue Coast guide.
- How does my booking support the NSRI?
- Hosts pay one commission on each booking and a share of it goes to the cause the stay is linked to. Guests pay no service fee, so there is no extra cost to you. The NSRI is a volunteer organisation funded by donations, and this is one more stream.
- Which coast is best for surfing?
- The Cape Peninsula for variety and for learners at Muizenberg, the Garden Route for Victoria Bay and Plettenberg Bay, and the Eastern Cape for Jeffreys Bay. Winter swells are largest; summer is gentler and warmer. Hosts on this page can tell you which break is working.
- Is it safe to surf on the South African coast?
- At the popular breaks, yes, with normal care: surf where others are surfing, ask locals about rips and rocks, and check the wind and swell before paddling out. Cold water on the Atlantic side calls for a proper wetsuit. Sharks are present and the NSRI and shark spotters post warnings at some beaches; heed the flags.