Located on the Cape Peninsula, South Africa, on Robben’s Island, Madiba’s Hat is a fun right-hand reef that throws up fast, rippable walls. The waves here require a bit of skill to surf and break for up to 150 meters (492 feet) over a rock bottom.
What are the best surf conditions for Madiba’s Hat?
Madiba’s Hat gets good between chest-high and double overhead. We recommend riding a longboard if smaller and a shortboard then as a step up as the size picks up. This break is good for intermediate and advanced-level surfers. The surf here is consistent (7/10) and will get busy at peak times (5/10). The best winds are from the East. The best swells are from the Northwest and West. It works best on a mid to high tide.
We recommend wearing a 3/2 in the summer when water temperatures rise to 19 degrees Celsius (66°F). In winter, a 4/3 is best when temps drop to 15 degrees Celsius (59°F). See the temperature chart below for more data on this.
