I just recently watched The Endless Summer for the first time. Any images from that immediate postcolonial period in West Africa are to be treasured, and this film offers a unique angle with a sport that many West Africans on the coast were likely seeing for the first time.

Enterprising surfers have long been combing the West African coast for reliable waves. They have found plenty, and many of them are now well documented. As this article from the Guardian notes, Senegal just had their first pro surf competition, some fifty years after The Endless Summer premiered. In this article, we will point you in the direction of some great resources so that you can organize the surf trip you want – whether you have been surfing for years or you want to try it for the first time.

Start in Senegal

One of the most accessible countries in the region, Senegal also happens to have the most developed surf “infrastructure.” There are surf camps, schools, and plenty of waves. Most of the most well known spots are right in the capital. The Almadies peninsula juts out into the Atlantic and helps form a natural break in nearly every direction. Regardless of which way the wind is blowing, you will find something every day.

Novice surfer? Complete beginner?

A great place to start would be Ecole Surf Attitude. They are partnered with Quicksilver and have a great team capable of teaching any level and any age – yes, there are even plenty of children learning how to surf with them. Here is a great testimonial from a Dakar resident who has used the school for her whole family.

Experienced and ready for a proper surf holiday?

The Ngor Island Surf Camp offers packages that include lodging, meals, guiding, and transport to and from surf spots, even if a boat is needed. From their website:

Every day one of our local surf guides will take you to the best of 21 spots depending on your level. Located on the most Western point of Africa the nearby mainland peninsular attracts swell from the North, West and South offering potentially Africa’s largest and most consistent swell window.

Here is a video they produced:https://www.youtube.com/embed/4OnuEpjeink

If you get bored of the waves off Ngor, check out these 16 other spots charted by magicseaweed.com on the Almadies Peninsula alone.

Another great resource for Senegal and beyond is Go Surf Africa. While some of the information is a bit thin, they have a great overall guide that covers the whole coast of West Africa. In their Senegal guide, they also recommend the Yoff based Malika Surf Camp which also has their own surf school.

Where else in West Africa is there a strong surf community?

After Senegal, Ghana has perhaps the strongest community and the most surf schools and camps. From Côte d’Ivoire over to Benin, there is a strong swell that comes from the south. The waves vary once they hit the coast, and your luck may be firmly tied to the winds and the season.

In Ghana, the area around Busua is perhaps the most well known. In addition to Mr. Bright’s Surf School, you have places like the Busua Inn, which along with their sister location Ezile Bay, can take you to the best breaks east and west of the famous Cape Three Points. This is the best area in Ghana for surfing in terms of both waves, and community and accommodation. Not to mention the fact that the beaches are stunning and mostly quiet.

Magic Seaweed has a good dynamic map of all the breaks along this stretch of coast, including those in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo and Benin.

Want a true surfing adventure?

Sierra Leone and Liberia have some of West Africa’s most promising surfing destinations. Both countries are facing serious development challenges, but they are far removed from the civil wars that seem to perpetually overshadow all of the positive steps both countries have taken in order to attract visitors.

There is far less infrastructure in both countries when compared to Senegal and Ghana, but there is at least one surf school/camp in each: the Bureh Beach Surf Club in Sierra Leone and the Kwepunha Retreat in Liberia. And there are plenty of adventurous surfers that have found reliable breaks in rarely visited parts of both countries.

For a basic overview for both Sierra Leone and Liberia, we would recommend Go Surf Africa and WannaSurf.com. Magic Seaweed doesn’t have quite as much info on these countries compared to the detailed knowledge base they have for Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo and Benin.

Have some West African surfing tips or experiences you want to share? Drop them in the comments below.

Photo credit at the top: https://www.flickr.com/photos/attawayjl/5294649856/in/photolist-94SsWu