Surf Forecasts:
Bonza Bay surf forecast from 26 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 9s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 14s period, S swell with 2,372 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 28 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 9s period with E 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 Friday (Aug 28) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 1.3m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Bonza Bay in the next 16 days are 2.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 9s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 27) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bonza Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what Bonza Bay has got cooking for us over the next couple of weeks. It’s a bit of a mixed bag with a long quiet spell to start, but there’s a huge pulse of energy lurking way out in the forecast that could make things very interesting for the experienced crew.
Right now, there’s nothing doing. The first half of the window is a write-off for any decent waves. We’ve got a stretch from Wednesday the 26th of August right through until Tuesday the 1st of September where the conditions are no good. That’s a solid week of flat or messy, windy slop. There are a couple of windows on Friday the 28th morning where a 6ft easterly swell shows up with a light cross-offshore breeze that cleans things up, which is promising, but the wave energy is still only moderate (1034) and it's not enough to get excited about. The rest of that period is just blown out.
Finally, things start to look a bit more interesting on the morning of Wednesday the 2nd of September. We’ve got a 6ft swell out of the SSW, with a nice long 14-second period pushing in some proper groundswell. The combined energy is a solid moderate (1338), and the wind is a gentle cross-shore, so the shape should be there for a decent session. It’s still a bit marginal, but it’s the first real glimmer of hope.
Now, the big one. If you’re an expert surfer and you can wait, mark your calendar for Friday the 4th of September through to Sunday the 6th of September. This is where things get wild. The swell absolutely lights up. Friday the 4th morning is showing a massive 26ft swell from the south with a 14-second period – the wave energy is enormous (22871) – but it’s just too big for a safe paddle at this spot. The same goes for Saturday the 5th, with a 21ft SSE swell and morning offshore winds that would be perfect... if it wasn’t for the sheer size. The waves are firing, but only for the absolute best. On Sunday the 6th, it’s still pumping at 12ft from the SSE with cross-offshore winds, but again, it’s expert territory only. These are massive, powerful, very long-period swells that will be breaking straight at a beach setup, so you’d want a point or a reef to tame them. Still, for the few who can handle it, that Saturday the 5th morning with glassy offshore breezes and a clean face is the standout of the whole forecast.
After that, things settle back down to small, lukewarm leftovers for the second week. Not worth writing home about.
The water temp at Bonza Bay is sitting at 67°F, which is just about normal for this time of year. No surprises there.
So, to wrap it up: a long, dull stretch to start, then a tease mid-week, and then a massive, dangerous clean-up for the experts right at the end of the first week. Hold tight.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 34°C on Fri morning, min 17°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the ENE on Thu afternoon, light winds from the NNE by Fri morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sat night, min 15°C on Mon morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Sun morning, calm by Mon night). | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | ||||||||||||||
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) | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SSE 11 | S 11 | SSW 7 | SSW 8 | SSW 10 | SW 10 | SSW 8 | E 10 | SSW 11 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
1866 | 797 | 787 | 575 | 602 | 627 | 653 | 666 | 133 | 62 | 255 | 388 | 408 | 614 | 186 | 117 | 101 | 261 | 297 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:18AM1.85m | 3:38PM1.95m | 3:46AM1.93m | 4:04PM2.03m | 4:14AM1.98m | 4:31PM2.09m | 4:43AM1.99m | 5:00PM2.10m | 5:12AM1.96m | 5:31PM2.07m | 5:44AM1.89m | 6:04PM1.98m | |||||||
Low Tide | 9:16PM0.55m | 9:25AM0.43m | 9:44PM0.45m | 9:52AM0.35m | 10:11PM0.37m | 10:18AM0.30m | 10:39PM0.34m | 10:46AM0.29m | 11:09PM0.34m | 11:15AM0.32m | 11:40PM0.39m | 11:46AM0.39m | 00:14AM0.48m | ||||||
— | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | |
5:45 | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 34 | 31 | 29 | 31 | 27 | 23 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 22 | 21 | 21 |
Feels °C | 13 | 14 | 15 | 19 | 31 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 24 | 21 | 14 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 21 | 20 | 21 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SSE 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | E 10 | S 8 | E 10 | SSW 13 | E 8 |
1866 | 797 | 787 | 742 | 602 | 627 | 653 | 666 | 133 | 450 | 255 | 212 | 408 | 180 | 120 | 105 | 90 | 261 | 165 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSW 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | SSE 12 | SW 14 | S 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 12 | E 11 | E 10 | SSE 10 | E 10 | SSW 11 | ENE 6 | SSW 12 |
— | 192 | 421 | 575 | 403 | 274 | 260 | 228 | 8 | 62 | 22 | 14 | 229 | 161 | 33 | 117 | 101 | 33 | 297 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 17 | — | — | SSE 15 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | SW 14 | SW 10 | SSE 14 | SW 14 | S 10 | SSE 11 | SE 10 | — | SSW 8 | S 8 | E 9 | SSE 7 |
— | 197 | — | — | 93 | 125 | 120 | 7 | 15 | 18 | 8 | 2 | 11 | 4 | — | 40 | 41 | 61 | 5 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 5 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | SW 5 | SSW 7 | SSW 8 | — | SW 10 | SSW 8 | — | ENE 4 | ENE 6 | — |
78 | 457 | 952 | 1372 | 979 | 1137 | 1299 | 1367 | 896 | 58 | 236 | 388 | — | 614 | 186 | — | 5 | 62 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 428 | 249 | 273 | 34 | 0 | 19 | 21 | 24 | 301 | 53 | 440 | 440 | 0 | 4 | 52 | 18 | 19 | 99 | 18 |
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.











