Tofo has built a solid reputation as one of southern Africa's more accessible surf destinations. The bay generates consistent swells from the Indian Ocean, with a main reef break that works well at mid to high tide. The waves are generally in the fun-to-solid range — good for intermediate surfers, though experienced riders will find the reef break rewarding on larger days.
Several surf schools in town offer lessons for complete beginners on smaller beach break waves, with boards for hire. The best conditions are typically in the southern hemisphere winter months (May to August) when groundswells are most consistent. The summer months (November to February) are surf-able but can be choppy and less predictable. If you're primarily coming to surf rather than to dive, the May-August window is significantly better, though you'll miss the peak of whale shark season.