Overview

Mdumbi is a beautiful kite spot on the Wild Coast, at the Mdumbi River mouth. This wild beach offers a paradise setting with warm subtropical waters (20-24°C) warmed by the Agulhas Current. The river mouth creates a calmer sailing zone alongside the open ocean. Accessible to intermediate riders in moderate conditions.

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Spot forecast for Mdumbi

Sunrise 05:17 · Sunset 18:18

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< 7 kn7–12 kn13–20 kn21–30 kn31–40 kn41+ kn Gusts Your minimum: 7 kn

Forecasts provided by Open-Meteo

Swell and waves

Swell and tides over 8 days. Premium members see the swell and tides over 8 days. Without a subscription: 5 days.

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Wave height: < 0.5 m 0.5–1 m 1–2 m 2–3 m ≥ 3 m

Swell data by Open-Meteo Marine

Tides

Heights above lowest astronomical tide, in the spot's local time. Computed 3.3 km from the spot.

Tuesday 20 October Low tide 05:29 · 0.8 m High tide 12:24 · 1.2 m Low tide 18:42 · 0.8 m
Wednesday 21 October High tide 00:34 · 1.2 m Low tide 06:37 · 0.7 m High tide 13:06 · 1.4 m Low tide 19:20 · 0.7 m
Thursday 22 October High tide 01:18 · 1.3 m Low tide 07:15 · 0.6 m High tide 13:37 · 1.6 m Low tide 19:50 · 0.5 m
Friday 23 October High tide 01:51 · 1.5 m Low tide 07:47 · 0.4 m High tide 14:05 · 1.7 m Low tide 20:19 · 0.4 m
Saturday 24 October High tide 02:22 · 1.6 m Low tide 08:17 · 0.3 m High tide 14:34 · 1.8 m Low tide 20:48 · 0.2 m

Mdumbi: when to go?

Rideable days and hours computed for a minimum wind of 7 knots · log in to set your own (foil, twin-tip…)

Season · peak

122h

in September · 16 rideable days

The season runs from August to December, peaking in September: 15 rideable days a month and 122 hours of usable wind, at 23 °C. The low point is May, at 7.5 days.

Rideable days per month

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 75%13-20 knots · 24%21-30 knots · 1%31+ knots · under 1%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 75% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is June, at 21 °C. The wettest month is June, with 142 mm.

Monthly averages: Mdumbi

Monthly averages — Mdumbi — averaged over 2 years of records — Weather data by Open-Meteo.com — How it is calculated
Month	Rideable days	Usable wind	Temperature	Rain
January	12.5	113 h	25 °C	134 mm
February	13.0	116 h	26 °C	94 mm
March	13.5	104 h	26 °C	111 mm
April	11.5	80 h	24 °C	129 mm
May	7.5	57 h	24 °C	9 mm
June	8.5	52 h	21 °C	142 mm
July	12.0	71 h	21 °C	20 mm
August	13.5	95 h	22 °C	5 mm
September	16.0	122 h	21 °C	70 mm
October	15.5	155 h	23 °C	99 mm
November	15.0	155 h	23 °C	110 mm
December	15.5	150 h	25 °C	99 mm

Photo gallery of Mdumbi

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Technical details of Mdumbi spot

The spot works with winds from SE, SSE, S, SSW, SW.

Rideable Not rideable

Spot functioning

The spot works in SW to SE winds. The river mouth offers a flatter sailing zone at low tide, while the open ocean has swell. Tide strongly influences conditions: at low tide, sandbars emerge and the river creates an outgoing current. Best at mid to rising tide.

Spot opening date · Required level

Spot opening date: Open all year round
Required level: Intermediate

On the water

Warm subtropical water (20-24°C), shorty wetsuit or boardshorts sufficient in summer. River zone with flat water, ocean zone with swell. Sandy bottom at the river mouth. Moderate currents in the river channel. Waves for surfing off the beach.

Parking

Access by road from Mthatha via Coffee Bay. Parking near Mdumbi Backpackers. Dirt road, passable by standard vehicle in dry weather. Basic infrastructure but accommodation available.

Wind specificities

The dominant kite wind is the south-west (SW), blowing side-onshore on this south-facing coast. South-east (SE) wind also offers good side-onshore conditions. North-east (NE) winds blow offshore and are not recommended. Thermal reinforcement in the afternoon during summer. Season: October to March.

Hazards

Currents at the river mouth, especially at falling tide. Ocean swell can be powerful. Sharks present (bull sharks). Relatively isolated spot, no professional rescue. Be cautious with shifting sandbars.

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Mdumbi kitesurf, wingfoil and surf spot