Ponta Preta is a gnarly but incredible wave spot, with a wave that breaks close to the rocks and with offshore wind, so it’s definitely for advanced kitesurfers only! If you are at a level to take this one on you’ll be stoked with the long pumping waves and perfect cross offshore wind direction. The waves can get really big here, and the launch isn’t exactly the easiest with a big shore break to get through, but it’s totally worth it for the kitesurfing conditions once you get out. The wave kitesurfing world tour has stopped here more than once, and it’s home to Mitu Monteiro and Airton Cozzolino, two of the best wave kitesurfers in the world. If you could name a reason they got so good, it might be having Ponta Preta on their doorstep!

Ponta Sino lies at the Western end of Kite Beach in Cape Verde, offering a mid size wave generally more suited to intermediate and advanced kitesurfers. The wind here blows cross or cross off shore so be careful not to kitesurf too far out past the point and into the open ocean. It’s one of the kite spots which is popular for jumping and freestyle, due to the waves breaking over a shallow reef with flat spots in between the waves. Kitesurfers wanting to jump should watch out for wave riders and vice versa. Cape Verde itself is well known for its kitesurfing, and there are multiple local riders competing on the kitesurfing world tour. If you’re lucky you’ll get to see them in action in the waves, and if conditions are perfect you can head to Ponta Preta to watch or partake in some serious wave riding. Santa Maria is the local town where there is generally a really good vibe with all the kitesurfers hanging out in the evening, and the local seafood is as fresh as can be!

Kite Beach in Sal is one of the most popular kite spots on the island, with a mix of waves and flat water, and is also one of the only places on the island where you can learn to kitesurf. It is located a short distance from the main town of Santa Maria, and due to the pretty friendly kitesurfing conditions and the fact you can choose to kite with either your surfboard or twintip, it tends to be one of the busiest spots in Sal. The island is home to multiple world champion wave kitesurfers, and kite beach is the place where a lot of people hone their skills before hitting the more aggressive wave spots around the island. The wind blows cross onshore, so it’s perfect if you aren’t super comfortable with the waves as you know you will always be blown back to the beach.

Namibia is known for cranking wind and speed records, but Walvis Bay Lagoon has a little something for everyone, with some great waist deep flat water areas perfect for beginner kitesurfers and freestylers, but also endless waves on the outside if that’s your jam. The water is cold and the landscape is rugged, but if you want a pure kitesurfing experience and don’t care about palm trees and infinity pools you’ll have a great time here. It’s long been a haven for windsurfers and hosts a yearly speed competition where speed records are constantly being broken as the wind accelerates over the sandbar, creating butter flat water behind.

Donkey bay aka Skeleton bay in Namibia is a wave spot for advanced kitesurfers only, with cross offshore wind and pumping swell in the middle of the Namibian desert. You’ll need a 4x4, and a local guide is helpful to find your way to Donkey bay without getting stuck in any sand dunes. Once you arrive on the beach you’ll find a surfing and wave kitesurfing paradise, with peeling left handers and strong wind, and most likely not many other people in sight. As it’s a remote spot you’ll definitely want to be comfortable with self rescue, as you are on your own if something goes wrong while kitesurfing. The waves generally are medium sized and are fast and powerful, so you’ll want to be confident riding in waves before you venture out kitesurfing at Donkey bay. It can also get really big on occasion, so on those days really be careful.

Sunset Beach is a popular kitesurfing and windsurfing spot which generally is the first spot in Table bay where the wind kicks in and the waves pick up, but it can also get blown out when the wind gets really strong. The waves here can be a lot of fun for all levels of kitesurfers, just depends on the wind strength and swell size, so check the local live wind feeds before you head down for your kite session. You can kitesurf with a surfboard or a twintip here, it's really up to you depending on what kind of kite session you are after. Sunset Beach is also a popular starting point for guys doing downwinders, and a few of the local kite schools even offer downwind shuttles so you can kitesurf your way down the coast enjoying the waves.

Big Bay offers big clean waves and pumping wind for more experienced kitesurfers, which is why the yearly Red Bull King of the Air competition was originally held there before it moved up the road to kite beach. It’s also a popular spot for surfers and windsurfers so it can get quite busy, but on perfect days it doesn’t get much better than kitesurfing at Big Bay. There is a promenade with cafes, bars and kite shops, and a grassy green overlooking the beach itself which is a great place to sit and watch the pros even if you aren’t out kiteboarding yourself. Big Bay is only an hour or so from Cape Town, ‘The Mother City’, and South Africa offers a whole lot more than just kitesurfing, which is why kitesurfers from around the world descend here in large numbers from December until March every year.

Shark Bay (don’t worry, no dangerous sharks) near Langebaan is a great spot to learn kitesurfing or for more advanced riders to practice their freestyle. The water is mainly waist to chest deep here and at low tide there are various sand bars which create mini flat water kitesurfing spots that are perfect for practicing tricks. It’s a popular spot among freeride kiters and there are also various kite schools who operate here, so it can get really busy on the beach. Luckily there is a big area to kitesurf in if you don’t care about having the flattest water or showing off to the spectators on the beach, and kiting a bit further upwind or out into the bay will give you plenty of room.