
Surf Forecasts:
Bonza Bay surf forecast from 6 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 9s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 17s period, S swell with 5,516 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 3.0m 17s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 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 | 8AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 8ft (2.5m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Mon 7th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bonza Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s break down what Bonza Bay has in store over the next couple weeks. It’s a river mouth spot, open to south swells, and the water temp is 66°, right around average for this time of year – no surprises there.
Right now, Sunday the 6th, it’s pretty grim. A 0.8m (3ft) SSW swell with a very long 23-second period, but that ESE wind at 20 km/h (12 mph) is cross-onshore and choppy. The combined energy is 969 (moderate), but the conditions are poor – not worth it. Afternoon sees 1.5m (5ft) but still cross-onshore and marginal.
Monday the 7th is a write-off. Swell around 2.1m (7ft) from the south, period 15 seconds, but the wind’s howlin’ ENE at 35 km/h (22 mph) – lumpy and messy. Tuesday the 8th is similar: 1.7m (6ft) east swell, short 9-second period, cross-onshore winds, and choppy. Energy’s moderate (696 and 612), but it’s marginal at best.
Then we hit a dry patch from Wednesday the 9th through Saturday the 12th. Swell’s tiny – 0.5m (2ft) or less – or when it shows up, the wind’s no good. Combined energy stays under 100 or just barely into triple digits (62, 44, 79, 152). It’s flat and messy for days.
But Sunday the 13th is the gem. That morning we’ve got a solid 2.3m (8ft) E swell with a 9-second period, and the wind is glassy – dead calm. Combined energy jumps to 1423 (strong), and it’s rated excellent for experienced surfers. That afternoon stays clean with a light cross-offshore NNE breeze at 15 km/h (9 mph) and the swell at 2.0m (7ft), energy 1014. This is the one. Crowds are ‘sometimes’ at Bonza Bay, so you might see a few others, but that glassy mornin’ is worth the early alarm.
Monday the 14th drops off – 1.2m (4ft) and 1.7m (6ft) but the wind’s cross-off or cross, only marginal. Tuesday the 15th through Thursday the 17th keeps up the poor-to-marginal trend with onshore winds and chop. Nothin’ special.
Long-range: Saturday the 19th brings a monster 3.5m to 4.0m (12ft to 13ft) SSE swell with combined energy of 4099 to 5487 (very strong). The morning’s glassy, but it’s flagged as too big for Bonza Bay – expert-only if you’re keen, but more likely a mess. Sunday the 20th still huge at 3.0m (10ft) with strong cross-offshore winds, but again, probably too much.
The second week’s real standout is Monday the 21st: a 2.5m (8ft) SE swell, period 10 seconds, combined energy 1160 (strong), and glassy in the mornin’. That’s excellent for experienced surfers. It’s further out, so keep watch.
So to sum up: Sunday the 13th is your best bet – glassy, solid swell. Monday the 21st is a promising long-range option. Everything else is forgettable.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Sun morning. Warm (max 25°C on Tue morning, min 16°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NE on Mon afternoon, light winds from the NNE by Tue night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Fri night. Warm (max 29°C on Wed morning, min 18°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the S on Thu night, fresh winds from the NE by Fri night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | |||||||||||||||
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 23 | SSW 20 | S 17 | S 15 | S 14 | S 11 | E 9 | E 9 | SSE 10 | S 10 | SSE 10 | E 9 | SSW 6 | SSW 17 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | E 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
623 | 1786 | 5516 | 1924 | 1281 | 229 | 432 | 452 | 85 | 51 | 31 | 275 | 47 | 119 | 405 | 223 | 183 | 396 | 512 | 669 | 1009 | |
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-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 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 | 4:28PM2.13m | 4:39AM1.98m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 10:11AM0.24m | 10:34PM0.30m | ||||||||
6:20 | — | — | 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 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | 7 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 29 | 28 | 25 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 20 |
Feels °C | 16 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | SSW 20 | S 17 | S 15 | S 14 | S 11 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 9 | SSW 15 | SSE 7 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 16 |
204 | 1786 | 5516 | 1924 | 1281 | 229 | 432 | 452 | 363 | 318 | 326 | 275 | 169 | 138 | 405 | 79 | 138 | 81 | 111 | 126 | 669 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 23 | S 10 | E 9 | — | — | SSW 13 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSW 17 | S 6 | SSW 14 | SE 13 | SE 15 | SE 13 | SSW 19 | SSE 8 |
623 | 198 | 61 | — | — | 229 | 198 | 110 | 85 | 51 | 31 | 17 | 17 | 119 | 47 | 223 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 74 | 53 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | S 13 | — | — | — | — | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSE 12 | SW 13 | SSW 12 | SSE 9 | ENE 9 | E 10 | — | SE 12 | S 22 | SSW 16 | S 10 |
108 | 121 | — | — | — | — | 66 | 50 | 27 | 11 | 13 | 46 | 15 | 8 | 108 | 115 | — | 6 | 9 | 49 | 80 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 4 | E 10 | E 9 | E 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | SW 4 | SSW 6 | SSW 5 | — | — | SE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | E 8 |
34 | 204 | 240 | 217 | 385 | 416 | 699 | 657 | 631 | 749 | 525 | 8 | 47 | 25 | — | — | 183 | 396 | 512 | 669 | 1009 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 492 | 455 | 420 | 427 | 435 | 99 | 19 | 249 | 19 | 19 | 99 | 23 | 53 | 52 | 52 | 404 | 404 | 456 | 439 | 435 | 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.










