
Surf Forecasts:
Bonza Bay surf forecast from 12 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 17 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s period, SSW swell with cross-onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 17 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s period, SSW swell with 4,489 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 12 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 12s period with S 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 Sunday (Jul 12) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m 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 3.5m 13s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 17) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Friday (Jul 17) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Sun 12th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Fri 17th Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Fri 17th Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bonza Bay over the next 16 days.
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Bonza Bay (South Africa).
We got a bit of a quiet start, but look out – Sunday the 12th is where it kicks off proper. The first good session hits Sunday morning with a clean 6 ft south swell glassed in by a tiny ENE breeze. The energy’s churning at 979 (moderate) and with a 12-second period, you’re looking at some nice, lined-up waves. That’s your pick of the opening weekend, no doubt. After that, the wind gets a bit messy in the arvo, so get on it early.
Monday the 13th sees a shift in swell direction to the ESE, still a solid 6 ft, and the afternoon goes dead calm – glassy conditions for a very tidy surf. Tuesday the 14th keeps the good run going with a 6 ft easterly swell and another glassy start. Lovely.
Now, Wednesday the 15th and Thursday the 16th get a bit average. The swell drops and the wind picks up, making things choppy and weak. Not worth paddling out for. There’s a bit of a lull there.
Friday the 17th sees the swell jump to 8 ft from the SSW, with strong energy (2361), but a cranking cross-wind makes it a messy one – more of a wrestle than a cruise. Saturday the 18th keeps that 8 ft south swell pumping (2569 energy), but with rain squalls and cross-shore winds, it’s still pretty scrappy. Better suited for a kite than a paddle session, if you ask me.
Sunday the 19th through Tuesday the 21st is mostly blown out or tiny – a real low point. The wind just won’t let up. Surf’s pretty much unsurfable during those days.
We get a bit of hope again Wednesday the 22nd, with a clean 4 ft SSW groundswell (1051 energy), but the wind is still strong offshore. Clean, but bumpy.
Now here’s the real standout – and it’s a long way off, but worth noting. Friday the 24th: absolute perfection on the cards. Morning session has a glassy 5 ft SSW swell with a very long 15-second period, producing 1308 energy. This is groundswell, folks – proper power and shape. This one’s for experienced surfers, as it’ll be pitching and hollow. Saturday the 25th is nearly as good: a 6 ft SSW swell, offshore WNW breeze, 1669 energy – clean and meaty. Keep an eye on these two days. They’re the real deal.
Water temp is sitting about average for this time of year, so nothing wild there. Bonza Bay can get a few heads in the water, so expect a few others out on the good days, especially the weekend.
So, if I had to pick: Sunday morning the 12th for the immediate clean start, and Friday morning the 24th for the long-range gold. Mark your calendar.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon afternoon, min 14°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Thu afternoon, min 15°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WNW on Wed night, fresh winds from the SW by Fri afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Sat 18 | |||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | E 7 | ESE 8 | E 8 | ESE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 10 | SSW 12 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
819 | 778 | 371 | 429 | 308 | 374 | 339 | 529 | 484 | 427 | 334 | 293 | 318 | 282 | 389 | 277 | 661 | 2267 | 2863 | 2491 | 1840 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross | glassy | off | glassy | on | cross-off | cross | cross | off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 1:42AM1.87m | 2:19PM1.78m | 2:37AM1.95m | 3:10PM1.91m | 3:26AM2.01m | 3:56PM2.01m | 4:11AM2.03m | 4:40PM2.08m | 4:53AM2.02m | 5:21PM2.09m | 5:33AM1.97m | 6:01PM2.06m | 6:11AM1.89m | 6:41PM1.98m | |||||||
Low Tide | 8:08AM0.62m | 8:22PM0.65m | 8:57AM0.51m | 9:14PM0.55m | 9:41AM0.42m | 10:01PM0.49m | 10:21AM0.37m | 10:45PM0.46m | 11:00AM0.36m | 11:26PM0.48m | 11:38AM0.39m | 00:06AM0.54m | 12:14PM0.46m | ||||||||
— | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | |
5:15 | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:17 | — | — | 5:17 | — | — | 5:19 | — | — | 5:19 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:20 | |
mm | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 |
Temp °C | 16 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 16 | 16 |
Feels °C | 15 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | E 8 | ESE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 |
819 | 778 | 371 | 284 | 308 | 374 | 339 | 529 | 484 | 427 | 334 | 293 | 318 | 282 | 277 | 233 | 156 | 94 | 2863 | 2491 | 1840 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | — | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | E 8 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | SSE 10 | SSW 6 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | — | — | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 |
6 | 6 | — | 289 | 188 | 175 | 190 | 70 | 67 | 32 | 17 | 19 | 23 | 212 | 389 | 277 | — | — | 92 | 66 | 68 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | ENE 9 | — | SW 16 | — | SW 15 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SSW 9 | SSE 9 | SSW 9 | SE 11 | S 10 | — | — | — | SW 18 | SSW 16 |
— | 15 | — | 10 | — | 8 | 50 | 30 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 7 | 8 | 52 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | 12 | 25 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 7 | ESE 7 | E 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 3 | — | — | ENE 4 | SW 3 | SSW 10 | SSW 12 | — | — | — |
— | 195 | 218 | 429 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 14 | 2 | 661 | 2267 | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 404 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 107 | 0 | 23 | 23 | 0 | 19 | 19 | 4 | 301 | 301 | 52 | 404 | 455 |
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.











