Surf Forecasts:
Bonza Bay surf forecast from 7 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, E swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 16s period, S swell with 3,710 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 9 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 10s period with SSE 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 Wednesday (Sep 09) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 10s period. 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 16s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.5m 9s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 13) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Wed 9th Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Mon 7th Sep) | 8ft (2.5m) 16s |
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’s coming up for Bonza Bay. To be straight with you, the first week and a half is a bit of a write-off, but there’s a couple of flashes of real potential if you’re patient.
The pattern starts off pretty grim. Monday the 7th is a total no-go with a strong cross-shore wind and lumpy, choppy conditions. That swell is there at 7ft from the south, but with a fresh breeze and a poor quality rating, it’s not worth a paddle. That rubbish carries right through the middle of the week. Tuesday the 8th is a washout with cross-onshore winds, and by Wednesday the 9th, the swell drops right off to a tiny 2ft, with combined energy sitting at a weak 80. It’s basically flat and messy.
We get a bit of a tease on the morning of the 16th of September. The wind goes glassy, and we see a nice 4ft SSW groundswell with a long 15-second period. The combined energy reading of 943 is moderate, and the water temp is about average for this time of year. The river break (Bonza Bay) likes a bit of direction, and that long period could make for some nice, lined-up waves, though it might be a bit straight at the beach. This is your standout moment – clean, quiet, and worth a dawny. But don’t get too excited, the afternoon goes to hell with a fresh cross-shore, so it’s a short window.
Then things get wild. On the 17th and 18th of September, we’ve got a massive 15ft southerly swell rolling in, with wave energy going through the roof at 4665. That’s way too big for this spot, really only for the most experienced crew. The wind is messy, and the forecast says it’s too big for this break. There’s a chance of a clean window on the 18th morning with a cross-offshore wind and a 12ft swell, but that’s still expert territory. After that, the swell drops back into the 6-8ft range, but the wind stays wonky, so it’s a marginal call at best.
So, to sum it up: the first week is a bust. The best bet is that glassy morning on the 16th of September. The big stuff at the end of the second week is for the brave and the experienced only. Patience is the name of the game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Wed morning, min 16°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the ENE on Mon afternoon, light winds from the ENE by Wed morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 25°C on Wed night, min 18°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSE on Fri morning, fresh winds from the ENE by Sat morning). | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | ||||||||||||||
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 17 | S 15 | S 14 | S 11 | E 8 | E 9 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | E 9 | E 9 | SSW 19 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SE 6 | E 7 | E 8 | E 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 4845 | 2111 | 1281 | 229 | 422 | 432 | 85 | 57 | 33 | 325 | 246 | 143 | 366 | 236 | 220 | 133 | 460 | 674 | 1165 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 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 | 4:28PM2.13m | 4:39AM1.98m | ||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 10:11AM0.24m | 10:34PM0.30m | |||||||
 |  |  |  | | | | | | | | |  | | | |  |  | | |
 | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — |
 | 5:52 | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:57 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 26 | 24 | 24 | 29 | 25 | 25 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 20 |
Feels °C | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 28 | 25 | 25 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 17 | S 15 | S 14 | S 11 | E 8 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 9 | S 7 | SSE 7 | SE 6 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 17 |
| kJ | 4845 | 2111 | 1281 | 229 | 422 | 432 | 412 | 326 | 380 | 325 | 246 | 173 | 141 | 57 | 77 | 126 | 113 | 107 | 381 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SSW 13 | SSE 11 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSW 19 | SSW 16 | ENE 10 | E 9 | SSW 13 | SE 13 | SSW 16 | S 11 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 229 | 202 | 98 | 85 | 57 | 33 | 39 | 18 | 143 | 366 | 120 | 83 | 133 | 7 | 50 | 62 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSE 12 | SSE 10 | SSW 12 | SSE 9 | S 6 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | E 9 | SE 13 | SE 13 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 66 | 50 | 27 | 23 | 15 | 40 | 15 | 8 | 33 | 236 | 220 | 83 | 7 | 7 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | SW 13 | SW 6 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | — | E 4 | — | E 7 | E 8 | E 9 |
| kJ | 201 | 169 | 432 | 416 | 682 | 722 | 705 | 579 | 579 | 46 | 58 | 38 | 47 | — | 10 | — | 460 | 674 | 1165 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 360 | 455 | 492 | 242 | 19 | 249 | 19 | 19 | 239 | 18 | 237 | 52 | 0 | 52 | 457 | 404 | 455 | 455 | 435 |
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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