
Surf Forecasts:
Bonza Bay surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 14 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 8s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 17 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 11s period, E swell with 651 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 14 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 8s 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 14) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 15s. 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 1.7m 11s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 17) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.3m 8s period and expected on Friday (Aug 14) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Fri 14th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Fri 14th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bonza Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right, folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for the next couple of weeks.
Honestly, it’s been a rough stretch for Bonza Bay. We’re lookin’ at a long, lean spell here. Most of the time, the wind is just wrong – cross-shore junk or fresh cross-onshore chop that’s tearin’ the waves apart. The numbers are ugly, and the conditions are just plain poor. It’s gonna take a while to get a proper session.
The one real glimmer in this whole outlook comes on Saturday, August 15th, in the morning. That’s our standout. The swell settles to a clean 5ft from the East, with a short period of 8 seconds. But the wind? Dead glassy. That’s a massive positive. The combined energy is moderate (274), but the lack of any wind chop means the surface will be clean. It’s the only time the “expect good surf conditions” note pops up. It’s a small, short-period east swell, so don’t expect anything with serious punch, but for a Saturday morning paddle, it’s the best we’ve got. The water temp is about 67°, which is a touch cooler than usual for this time of year, but nothing wild.
After that, it’s back to the slog. The wind comes up again, and we’re left with lumpy, cross-shore slop for days. The second week of the forecast is a write-off – no real standout windows, just persistent wind and poor quality. The setups are all beach and river, so with the strong cross-winds on offer, this is looking more interesting for kite surfers than paddle surfers for a lot of the period.
We hit a few days in late August where the swell direction is from the South, but the wind is ripping, so it’s still messy. Just a tough run for Bonza Bay.
Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 22°C on Fri afternoon, min 14°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NE on Thu afternoon, light winds from the N by Fri night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Sun afternoon, min 16°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | SSW 20 | SSW 18 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 10 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
588 | 469 | 508 | 265 | 339 | 270 | 276 | 470 | 355 | 229 | 114 | 284 | 102 | 246 | 651 | 333 | 274 | 200 | 153 | 111 | 185 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:45PM2.06m | 4:00AM2.01m | 4:22PM2.13m | 4:35AM2.02m | 4:58PM2.14m | 5:09AM1.99m | 5:31PM2.10m | 5:40AM1.92m | 6:03PM2.01m | 6:10AM1.82m | 6:34PM1.89m | 6:40AM1.70m | 7:05PM1.75m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:30AM0.38m | 9:53PM0.40m | 10:06AM0.31m | 10:30PM0.36m | 10:39AM0.28m | 11:03PM0.37m | 11:11AM0.30m | 11:35PM0.43m | 11:41AM0.37m | 00:07AM0.52m | 12:12PM0.47m | 00:38AM0.63m | 12:42PM0.60m | 1:11AM0.76m | |||||||
6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | |
— | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | |
mm | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 17 | 20 | 22 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 24 | 25 | 22 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 21 | 20 | 18 |
Feels °C | 11 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | SE 8 | E 9 | SSW 17 | SSW 20 | SSW 18 | E 7 | SSW 15 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 10 | E 7 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 |
195 | 191 | 427 | 255 | 339 | 270 | 276 | 93 | 355 | 229 | 114 | 284 | 100 | 246 | 651 | 333 | 274 | 200 | 153 | 111 | 185 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 23 | S 11 | SE 8 | SSW 22 | SSW 16 | S 9 | SSW 16 | S 9 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | E 10 | SSW 13 | E 10 | SSW 12 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSE 4 | S 6 | S 6 | SSE 6 |
106 | 151 | 77 | 265 | 138 | 15 | 99 | 2 | 43 | 41 | 89 | 17 | 66 | 14 | 24 | 23 | 41 | 7 | 36 | 25 | 26 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | SSW 21 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 12 | S 9 | S 11 | S 9 | S 14 | SSW 14 | S 12 | E 12 | S 10 | SW 16 | — | — | SW 13 | SSW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 |
28 | 180 | 106 | 31 | 17 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 18 | 11 | 102 | 2 | 10 | — | — | 40 | 42 | 47 | 42 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 6 | E 7 | ENE 7 | E 8 | ENE 8 | — | — | ENE 7 | — | E 7 | — | SW 6 | SSW 6 | — | NE 2 | E 5 | SW 4 |
588 | 469 | 508 | 253 | 269 | 250 | 444 | 470 | 607 | — | — | 118 | — | 138 | — | 69 | 47 | — | 1 | 65 | 13 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 404 | 492 | 24 | 349 | 435 | 273 | 54 | 255 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 54 | 19 | 24 | 52 | 23 | 19 | 23 | 52 | 5 |
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.











