Map › South Africa › Nahoon Beach
Southern & East Africa + Indian Ocean Islands · East London
Nahoon Beach
also known as Nahoon Reef
Nahoon Beach has no other spot on this map within 40 km of it. straight-line distance
When it fills in
Afternoon reinforcement is reported for SW thermal wind; an early-morning east wind can also build strongly.
The wind
locals call it East London summer easterlies / south-westerly coastal wind
Direction
Kite sizes
metres · typical quiver highlighted
Character
mixed
fills in: Afternoon reinforcement is reported for SW thermal wind; an early-morning east wind can also build strongly.
Typical strength
22-28 knots in October-November on stronger E/NE days; 12-20 knots December-March with occasional stronger days
The quiver, in words
No local quiver guidance exists for this beach. Indicative for a 75-85 kg rider: 7-9 m on the strong October and November east and north-east days of 22-28 kt, 9-12 m through the 12-20 kt of December to March, and a 12 m or larger when it is marginal. Derived from the recorded wind range, not from a local measurement.
Direction to shore
NE/E works for the river-mouth beach; SW is side-onshore at the south-facing reef
Dominant direction
NE, ENE and E for the river-mouth beach, which is what most spot records give; SW, SE and S also come up for the wider Nahoon beach and reef coast, and the two readings have not been reconciled.
Forecast
Month by month
- Jan, riders' month68
- Feb, riders' month73
- Mar, riders' month73
- Apr59
- May52
- Jun, riders' month61
- Jul, riders' month55
- Aug, riders' month70
- Sep77
- Oct, riders' month83
- Nov, riders' month74
- Dec, riders' month71
per cent of the month at force 4 or more
Ringed months are the ones riders and schools name: Jan, Feb, Mar, Jun, Jul, Aug, Oct, Nov, Dec.
- 13Jan18°
- 14Feb19°
- 14Mar19°
- 13Apr20°
- 11May20°
- 13Jun19°
- 13Jul19°
- 14Aug19°
- 14Sep18°
- 14Oct18°
- 14Nov19°
- 14Dec20°
avg knots per month · water °C below · season highlighted
| Month | Force 4+ | Knots | From | Air | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 68% | 13.4 kt | ENE | 22.4°C | 18.1°C |
| Feb | 73% | 13.6 kt | SW | 22.7°C | 18.9°C |
| Mar | 73% | 13.6 kt | NE | 22.2°C | 19.1°C |
| Apr | 59% | 12.6 kt | WSW | 19.6°C | 20°C |
| May | 52% | 11.4 kt | WSW | 18.4°C | 19.6°C |
| Jun | 61% | 12.8 kt | W | 16.4°C | 19.1°C |
| Jul | 55% | 12.9 kt | WSW | 15.9°C | 19°C |
| Aug | 70% | 14.1 kt | WSW | 16.6°C | 19°C |
| Sep | 77% | 14.3 kt | WSW | 17.1°C | 18.4°C |
| Oct | 83% | 14.4 kt | NE | 18.5°C | 18.1°C |
| Nov | 74% | 13.8 kt | SW | 19.8°C | 18.9°C |
| Dec | 71% | 13.9 kt | SW | 21.2°C | 19.9°C |
modelled
A weather model's cell over this place, not a station on it. Good for comparing places, weaker for one beach.
Modelled from weather reanalysis on a 10–25 km grid (2022-2024), not a ground station: reliable for trade and synoptic winds, understates thermal sea breezes and valley winds. The typical daily max and the direction are columns of the table above, month by month. Highlighted months are the riding season from the spot record.
ERA5 reanalysis grid point (modelled) · Open-Meteo historical weather API — ECMWF ERA5/ERA5-Land reanalysis, not a ground station · 2022-2024
The water
Type
mixed
Standing depth
Shallow flat water is reported in the river and river mouth, with wave riding farther out. No measured depth range is published.
Tides
Nahoon Beach reportedly works very well on NE wind with an incoming tide. Low tide widens the sand and makes launching easier, high tide narrows the usable strip. The nearby reef reportedly works best around mid-rising tide and low tide exposes dangerous reef, but that reef guidance is not identical to the river-mouth beach spot.
Temperature
20-25°C summer · 18-20°C winter
Wetsuit
A shorty or summer suit covers most days, and some riders go without. In August 2026 the water was around 18 C, which is summer-wetsuit territory; a spring suit is the sensible call in the colder months.
Currents
Coastal currents and strong reef currents are reported; river-mouth flow may change with tide and rainfall, but no measured current data was found.
Your level
The scene
What riders come here for
Launch and rules
three ways on to the water, and what each one asks of you
With a school or a boat
No school names this spot
Nobody has been recorded teaching or running a boat here.
On your own
Room to launch: huge
Somewhere else
No neighbour on record
No other spot in the atlas sits within reach of this one.
Rescue
Launch
About 1 km of sand with no launch or landing problems, grass at the car park to rig on, and car guards who will often help with pumping, launching and landing.
Space
huge
Rules & access
Access rules drift faster than anything else we hold — check locally, and propose an edit if this has changed.
Rider tips
- Stay in the river-mouth beach area for flat-water and early riding, and do not drift down into the surfers or the reef.
- Line up NE wind with an incoming tide; that is the beach's baseline combination.
- Treat Nahoon Reef as expert-only and give surfers the wave every time.
- Check Buffalo City notices after heavy rain, a sewage alert, dangerous surf or a shark sighting before you commit to the drive.
- Bring your own support: pump, spares and a buddy. No active local kite school is on record.
- Do not count on a shark barrier here. South Africa's nets and drumlines are a KwaZulu-Natal programme and this coast has none.
- An east wind that is already up early in the morning is the sign of a strong day; the SW instead builds through the afternoon.
- Rig on the grass at the car park, and the car guards will often help with pumping, launching and landing.
Getting there
Airport
East London Airport (ELS)
Route
Drive to the Nahoon beachfront in East London/KuGompo City, between the Buffalo River and Nahoon River. Road access is from the coastal road/Fleet Street area to the beachfront; parking is at Nahoon Beach.
Transfer
30 min
Cost level
low-medium
Staying
Guesthouses, apartments and hotels in Nahoon, East London and Beacon Bay; no kite schools were found in the zone, so plan equipment and instruction independently.
No-wind days
Surfing at Nahoon Beach/Reef, surf lessons, kayaking or fishing trips on the Nahoon River, Dassie Trail/boardwalk walks, Nahoon Point nature area, East London beachfront and city activities.
Photos
FAQ
When is the best time to kite at Nahoon Beach?
The kite season runs October to March, with stronger E/NE wind more often cited for October and November.
Is Nahoon Beach suitable for beginners?
The river-mouth beach itself is listed as beginner-capable, with shallow flat water, but the nearby Nahoon Reef is a separate expert-only wave hazard that should be avoided by beginners.
What is the wind like at Nahoon Beach?
E, ENE and NE wind is reported around 2-3 days per week from October to March, with 22-28 knots typical in October-November and 12-20 knots December-March.
What hazards should riders know about?
The nearby reef has shallow sharp rock, sea urchins and powerful waves, and beach closures can occur after storms, sewage spills or shark sightings.
Last updated: August 2026