Surf Forecasts:
Bonza Bay surf forecast from 30 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 4 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 12s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 18ft (5.5m), 12s period, S swell with 8,735 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 31 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 10s 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 Monday (Aug 31) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m 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 5.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.1m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 03) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Mon 31st Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Fri 4th Sep) | 16ft (5.0m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Fri 4th Sep) | 18ft (5.5m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bonza Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s talk Bonza Bay. It starts quiet – Sunday the 30th is a no-go with waist-high slop, a short period, and a cross-off breeze messing the surface. Don’t bother.
Monday the 31st is your first real look. Monday morning is glassy – not a breath of wind – and you’ve got 3ft from the east with a clean 10-second period. The combined wave energy is moderate at 291, and the water sits at 66°, a bit colder than usual for this time of year. It’s small, but it’s clean. That’s your best shot in the first week.
After that, Tuesday the 1st and Wednesday the 2nd turn messy. Wednesday morning brings 6ft from the SSW with a longer 14-second period, and energy jumps hard to 1209, but it’s cross-onshore and choppy. Good shape underneath, but you’ll be fighting the wind.
Then there’s a big gap. From Thursday the 3rd all the way to Sunday the 14th, nothing really lines up for Bonza Bay. Wind is mostly cross or cross-onshore, and when the swell gets big – like Friday the 4th with 18ft from the south and huge energy (8735) – it’s onshore and ugly. That’s kite-surfing weather. Even the cleaner days have the swell too big for this river mouth, like Saturday the 5th morning with 10ft from the SE – great energy (2564) but just too much for the break.
Later in the second week, Wednesday the 9th afternoon shows another 10ft east swell, again too big despite good wind and tide. Energy is strong (1765), but only experts would even look at it, and even then it’s pushing it.
Monday the 14th morning gives you 5ft from the south with a long 14-second period and fresh cross-shore wind. High energy (1933), but the wind messes the surface.
So the honest call: Monday the 31st morning is your standout – small, glassy, clean. After that, it’s a long stretch of either too much swell or bad wind. Might change, but for now, that Monday morning is the one.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Tue afternoon, min 15°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Fri morning. Warm (max 24°C on Thu morning, min 16°C on Fri morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the SE on Wed morning, strong winds from the SW by Thu afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | SSW 7 | SSW 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | S 12 | SSW 8 | SW 10 | S 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SE 10 | SE 9 | ESE 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
147 | 197 | 239 | 190 | 145 | 117 | 95 | 294 | 504 | 1158 | 1031 | 367 | 131 | 389 | 1255 | 8735 | 7276 | 4046 | 1861 | 1112 | 475 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | off |
High Tide | 5:00PM2.10m | 5:12AM1.96m | 5:31PM2.07m | 5:44AM1.89m | 6:04PM1.98m | 6:18AM1.78m | 6:41PM1.85m | 6:59AM1.63m | 7:27PM1.69m | 7:54AM1.47m | 8:39PM1.51m | 9:44AM1.36m | 10:55PM1.43m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:46AM0.29m | 11:09PM0.34m | 11:15AM0.32m | 11:40PM0.39m | 11:46AM0.39m | 00:14AM0.48m | 12:19PM0.50m | 00:53AM0.62m | 12:59PM0.65m | 1:42AM0.77m | 1:55PM0.83m | 3:05AM0.92m | 3:53PM0.97m | ||||||||
6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | |
— | 5:49 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | |
mm | 2 | 1 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 24 | 21 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 17 |
Feels °C | 14 | 12 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 22 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 10 | SSW 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | ENE 6 | E 7 | E 8 | SSW 10 | ENE 10 | NE 9 | SSE 11 | SE 10 | SE 9 | ESE 9 |
150 | 197 | 239 | 190 | 145 | 117 | 90 | 294 | 504 | 1158 | 1031 | 130 | 131 | 80 | 688 | 80 | 41 | 3559 | 1861 | 1112 | 475 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 11 | ENE 10 | S 9 | SSW 8 | S 8 | S 7 | SSW 13 | ENE 9 | E 9 | E 8 | — | SSW 13 | S 12 | S 11 | ENE 10 | — | ENE 10 | S 15 | S 14 | S 11 | SSW 10 |
37 | 150 | 165 | 90 | 42 | 24 | 95 | 138 | 76 | 51 | — | 367 | 130 | 125 | 163 | — | 20 | 38 | 63 | 114 | 270 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SSE 13 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SW 12 | SW 11 | E 5 | S 11 | — | — | — | ENE 9 | SSW 12 | — | — | — | — | — | S 14 | E 11 | S 14 |
6 | 16 | 24 | 11 | 35 | 31 | 13 | 2 | — | — | — | 26 | 103 | — | — | — | — | — | 101 | 2 | 102 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 7 | — | — | — | E 2 | E 4 | — | SSW 3 | — | — | E 9 | ENE 6 | SW 4 | SSW 8 | SW 10 | S 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSW 9 | SSW 11 | — |
147 | — | — | — | 1 | 8 | — | 2 | — | — | 119 | 320 | 16 | 389 | 1255 | 8735 | 7276 | 4046 | 539 | 571 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 301 | 23 | 4 | 0 | 182 | 0 | 5 | 52 | 0 | 129 | 404 | 54 | 18 | 440 | 53 | 129 | 404 | 301 | 315 | 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.











