Surf Forecasts:
Bonza Bay surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 12s period, SW swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 12s period, SW swell with 2,397 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 14s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Bonza Bay this week:
The surf forecast for Bonza Bay over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Bonza Bay in the next 16 days are 3.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 7s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bonza Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, giving you the lowdown on Bonza Bay for the next couple of weeks.
It’s a real mixed bag. We’ve got a few windows of clean, workable surf, but there are definitely some days where the wind is going to ruin it. The first real chance to get wet is on Wednesday, the 19th of August.
That Wednesday morning is the standout. Bonza Bay is a river mouth, and we’re looking at a solid 4ft SSW groundswell with a 13-second period (moderate combined energy of 612). The wind is a light, clean cross-shore from the NE, which is perfect for keeping the surface smooth. This is a proper long-period swell, so it’ll have some nice shape and power. The water temp is about normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.
The next big one is on Tuesday, the 25th of August. The morning session is the pick. We’ve got a 5ft SSW groundswell with a very long 15-second period (strong energy at 1009). The wind is light and cross-shore from the SSW. That’s a beautiful combination—heaps of grunt and clean lines. It’s a bigger swell, so for the river mouth, the long period will make it powerful, and it’s really for the experienced crew.
After that, it gets patchy. Thursday morning the 20th has clean 6ft WSW swell, but with a short 8-second period, it’ll be weak and fat. Saturday afternoon the 22nd has a solid 8ft SSW swell, but the wind is a strong 45 km/h cross-offshore—clean, but a real battle to paddle out. That’s expert-only territory. From the 26th of August onwards, it’s mostly poor, small, and choppy, with a long stretch of nothing until the 31st when some marginal, small swell tries to sneak in.
So, the two best bets: Wednesday morning the 19th for a fun, clean session, and Tuesday morning the 25th for the experienced crew looking for some real power. The rest is a bit of a gamble.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Wed morning, min 15°C on Wed morning). Winds increasing (calm on Tue night, fresh winds from the WSW by Wed night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sat morning, min 14°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SW on Sat afternoon, light winds from the NW by Sun night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | ||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | S 12 | S 11 | SSW 8 | SSW 10 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | S 11 | S 11 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 117 | 649 | 547 | 563 | 289 | 2397 | 2027 | 1057 | 537 | 432 | 284 | 260 | 798 | 1602 | 1036 | 1108 | 589 | 286 | 238 | 724 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:05PM1.75m | 7:10AM1.57m | 7:38PM1.60m | 7:47AM1.43m | 8:23PM1.45m | 9:02AM1.30m | 10:17PM1.34m | 12:22PM1.30m | 00:43AM1.39m | 1:40PM1.43m | 1:43AM1.50m | 2:17PM1.58m | 2:20AM1.63m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:11AM0.76m | 1:14PM0.75m | 1:49AM0.88m | 1:53PM0.90m | 2:50AM1.00m | 3:07PM1.05m | 5:23AM1.04m | 6:17PM1.07m | 7:15AM0.93m | 7:39PM0.95m | 7:59AM0.79m | 8:18PM0.81m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — |
 | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 17 | 21 | 21 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 23 | 22 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 16 |
Feels °C | 15 | 16 | 20 | 21 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | E 6 | S 11 | E 8 | SSW 10 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | S 11 | S 11 | SSW 14 |
| kJ | 117 | 649 | 547 | 563 | 289 | 338 | 2027 | 1057 | 537 | 432 | 97 | 260 | 33 | 853 | 1036 | 1108 | 589 | 286 | 238 | 724 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | E 9 | E 9 | E 6 | E 8 | SSW 15 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | — | S 12 | ENE 8 | — | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | E 8 | E 9 | S 14 | S 14 | E 10 |
| kJ | 87 | 83 | 60 | 46 | 64 | 179 | 21 | 12 | 12 | — | 284 | 77 | — | 14 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 142 | 206 | 7 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | E 9 | — | SSW 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 7 | E 10 | E 10 | ENE 10 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 39 | — | 119 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 5 | — | ENE 3 | — | SSW 6 | SW 12 | — | — | — | ENE 4 | ENE 7 | SW 5 | SSW 8 | SSW 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 41 | — | 4 | — | 150 | 2397 | — | — | — | 21 | 234 | 76 | 798 | 1602 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 52 | 18 | 19 | 23 | 301 | 52 | 52 | 0 | 249 | 455 | 0 | 330 | 475 | 239 | 52 | 25 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Eastern Cape - Wild Coast | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Bonza Bay Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Bonza Bay provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Bonza Bay can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Bonza Bay surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Bonza Bay) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Bonza Bay may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Bonza Bay is 7 km (4 miles) from the city of East London. If you plan a holiday in Eastern Cape - Wild Coast, look for hotels and other accommodation in East London. East London has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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