Surf Forecasts:
Bonza Bay surf forecast from 6 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 6 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 18s period, S swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 6 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 18s period, S swell with 5,281 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 6 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 18s 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 (Sep 06) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.7m and 4s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Bonza Bay in the next 16 days are 3.0m 18s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 06) 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 2.4m 8s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Sun 6th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Sun 6th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Sun 6th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bonza Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s in the water for Bonza Bay.
Water temp is about normal for the season, nothing to write home about. This river mouth spot faces south, so it’s all about the southern swells.
The first real chance of a decent wave doesn’t show up until Monday, September 14th. The morning of the 14th is the one. The wind goes glassy, and we’re looking at a 5ft SSW groundswell with a very long 12-second period. The combined energy is moderate (831). That’s clean, solid lines with some real push. It’s a good size for a mid-length or a longboard, and the conditions will be buttery. The afternoon on the 14th holds at 5ft from the same direction, but the wind gets a little cross-onshore, so it won’t be as pristine.
The week before that is a total bust. Sunday the 6th kicks off with a choppy 3ft cross-on wave, and it just gets uglier. There’s a big pulse of energy on Monday the 7th with 7ft surf, but a 35 km/h cross-shore wind makes it a complete washing machine. Big surf, no quality. That’s kiteboard territory.
The standout is absolutely the Monday morning, September 14th. It’s the only window where a decent groundswell and glassy conditions line up. The rest of the run is either too windy, too choppy, or just too small. The period around the 17th and 18th has some size again (6ft to 7ft), but the wind is either cross-off or cross-on, so the quality is only so-so. For a river break, a long period swell like that can sometimes run straight down the bank, so keep that in mind.
After the 14th, the forecast drops off into a long stretch of poor to marginal conditions, with only a brief, average-looking window on the 21st of September.
So, bottom line: if you’re going to paddle out, make it the morning of Monday, September 14th. It’s your best shot at clean, fun waves in this whole 16-day outlook. The rest is a lot of chop and frustration.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 25°C on Tue morning, min 17°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NE on Mon afternoon, light winds from the NNE by Tue morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 30°C on Wed morning, min 19°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | ||||||||||||||
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 11 | SSW 23 | SSW 20 | S 17 | S 15 | S 14 | S 11 | E 8 | SSE 10 | S 10 | E 9 | SSE 10 | SW 13 | SW 6 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | E 9 | E 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 326 | 623 | 1786 | 4845 | 2107 | 1281 | 242 | 415 | 108 | 49 | 311 | 31 | 46 | 35 | 147 | 348 | 183 | 196 | 202 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 10:55PM1.43m | 12:10PM1.43m | 00:47AM1.52m | 1:25PM1.62m | 1:47AM1.67m | 2:12PM1.81m | 2:31AM1.81m | 2:51PM1.97m | 3:07AM1.91m | 3:25PM2.08m | 3:40AM1.98m | 3:57PM2.13m | 4:11AM2.00m | ||||||
Low Tide | 5:44AM0.92m | 6:35PM0.89m | 7:13AM0.77m | 7:44PM0.71m | 8:01AM0.60m | 8:28PM0.54m | 8:38AM0.45m | 9:04PM0.41m | 9:11AM0.34m | 9:36PM0.32m | 9:42AM0.27m | 10:06PM0.29m | |||||||
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |  | | |
 | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — |
 | 5:52 | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — |
mm | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
Temp °C | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 30 | 28 | 26 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 |
Feels °C | 16 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 29 | 27 | 26 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | S 10 | SSW 20 | S 17 | S 15 | S 14 | S 11 | E 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | E 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | S 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 |
| kJ | 326 | 245 | 1786 | 4845 | 2107 | 1281 | 242 | 415 | 393 | 355 | 311 | 326 | 326 | 165 | 132 | 135 | 74 | 75 | 197 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 7 | SSW 23 | S 10 | — | — | — | SSW 13 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SW 13 | SSE 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | ENE 9 | SSW 13 | E 9 |
| kJ | 64 | 623 | 198 | — | — | — | 229 | 198 | 108 | 49 | 56 | 31 | 46 | 17 | 147 | 348 | 118 | 99 | 202 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 28 | SSE 13 | S 13 | — | — | — | — | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSE 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSE 9 | SSW 12 | SSE 12 | S 6 | SSW 14 | SE 12 | SSW 12 |
| kJ | 15 | 18 | 121 | — | — | — | — | 66 | 50 | 26 | 11 | 11 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 35 | 183 | 6 | 83 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | ESE 7 | E 10 | E 9 | E 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | SW 3 | SW 6 | SSW 5 | — | SSE 7 | E 9 | ENE 9 |
| kJ | 125 | 125 | 239 | 201 | 169 | 374 | 472 | 606 | 621 | 616 | 716 | 579 | 6 | 35 | 24 | — | 85 | 196 | 276 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 192 | 455 | 455 | 455 | 470 | 435 | 99 | 19 | 249 | 22 | 19 | 99 | 23 | 52 | 52 | 4 | 273 | 321 | 124 |
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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