
Surf Forecasts:
Bonza Bay surf forecast from 8 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 9 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 14s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 11 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 13s period, SSE swell with 1,992 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 9 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 14s period with SSW 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 (Aug 09) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 10s. Another secondary swell of 0.9m and 6s is also forecast. 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 13s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 11) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.0m 7s period and expected on Friday (Aug 14) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Sun 9th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Sun 9th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Tue 11th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bonza Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, mate, Rusty here. Let's have a look at the next couple of weeks for Bonza Bay. It's a bit of a tricky stretch, to be honest. The river mouth setup needs the stars to align, and right now, they're not lining up all that often. The water is running a bit colder than usual for this time of year, about 3° colder, so you'll want the full rubber.
We start off with a bit of a wait. The only decent window in the near term is Sunday morning, the 9th. We've got a 4ft swell from the SSW with a 14-second period, and the wind is a cross-offshore. It’s not going to be epic, but it might be the cleanest surf we see for a while. The energy is moderate at 673, but the tide and conditions are looking a little iffy, so keep your expectations in check.
The middle of the week is mostly a write-off. The wind swings onshore and the swell gets short and messy. Tuesday the 11th has a bit more size, with 7ft in the morning, but it's blown out with onshore winds. It's one of those days where the paddle-out will be a chore, and the waves will be a battle. Not worth it for a wave count, to be honest.
We get a bit of a tease later in the week. The swell drops right off but the period stretches out. Thursday the 13th has a 3ft swell with a 17 to 20-second period. It's a long-period groundswell, which is great for a river mouth, but the energy is only moderate and the wind is all over it. It’s inconsistent and just not breaking with any real shape.
The following week, from the 16th onwards, there are a few mornings that look slightly better. The east swell is consistent at 5-6ft, and we get some light winds. Sunday the 16th and Monday the 17th mornings in particular have a chance of some clean-ish, albeit weaker, waves. The period is around 8-11 seconds, so it's a mix of windswell and groundswell. It's not a standout, but if you're desperate, it might be your best chance at a few fun ones. The 18th and 19th also have a similar look with lighter winds.
The last couple of days of the window show the swell fading out and the wind getting angry. Friday the 21st looks like a complete blowout with a strong breeze and messy conditions. This setup could actually be more interesting for the kite surfers than us paddle surfers, especially with that strong cross-shore wind.
Overall, it's a poor outlook. The swell is either too small, too short-period, or blown out. There are no real standouts. For a river mouth, we need a long-period swell and clean winds, and we're just not getting that combination. Sometimes it’s like this, a blank run is normal for this area. The forecasts can change, so it's worth keeping an eye on, but I wouldn’t be clearing my calendar for this one.
Stay patient.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 36mm), heaviest during Sun afternoon. Warm (max 20°C on Sat afternoon, min 12°C on Sun night). Mainly strong winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Fri morning, min 14°C on Tue afternoon). Mainly fresh winds. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | ||||||||||||||
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 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 8 | SSE 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 11 | SSE 10 | S 13 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 10 | SSW 17 | SSW 20 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | E 7 | E 7 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
384 | 561 | 578 | 657 | 509 | 301 | 172 | 516 | 850 | 1288 | 465 | 481 | 439 | 361 | 336 | 432 | 270 | 144 | 198 | 302 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 00:35AM1.63m | 1:23PM1.59m | 1:46AM1.74m | 2:20PM1.77m | 2:38AM1.86m | 3:06PM1.93m | 3:21AM1.96m | 3:45PM2.06m | 4:00AM2.01m | 4:22PM2.13m | 4:35AM2.02m | 4:58PM2.14m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:03PM0.90m | 7:10AM0.79m | 7:32PM0.77m | 8:08AM0.63m | 8:29PM0.62m | 8:52AM0.49m | 9:14PM0.49m | 9:30AM0.38m | 9:53PM0.40m | 10:06AM0.31m | 10:30PM0.36m | 10:39AM0.28m | 11:03PM0.37m | |||||||
— | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | |
5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | 9 | 15 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 17 |
Feels °C | 15 | 14 | 13 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | S 8 | S 8 | S 11 | SSE 10 | S 13 | S 12 | ESE 8 | S 11 | E 10 | ESE 9 | SSW 20 | E 6 | E 10 | SSW 15 | E 7 |
384 | 561 | 578 | 154 | 133 | 301 | 172 | 516 | 850 | 1288 | 324 | 481 | 188 | 349 | 270 | 432 | 116 | 69 | 91 | 302 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | S 14 | E 10 | S 9 | SSW 11 | SW 22 | S 10 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | S 9 | E 11 |
81 | 118 | 90 | 64 | 42 | 205 | 136 | 67 | 545 | 48 | 162 | 161 | 118 | 135 | 336 | 140 | 270 | 144 | 2 | 37 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | — | NE 8 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | S 14 | E 9 | — | S 26 | ENE 9 | S 9 | SE 8 | S 10 | SE 8 | E 10 | S 9 | S 20 | SSW 14 |
18 | 8 | 5 | — | 15 | 58 | 102 | 200 | 28 | — | 13 | 29 | 41 | 68 | 48 | 29 | 44 | 6 | 8 | 41 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 4 | SW 6 | — | S 8 | SSE 8 | — | — | — | — | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | E 9 | ESE 8 | E 10 | — | E 9 | E 6 | E 7 | E 7 | ENE 7 |
18 | 56 | — | 657 | 509 | — | — | — | — | 183 | 465 | 139 | 439 | 361 | — | 287 | 151 | 107 | 198 | 362 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 52 | 0 | 52 | 611 | 440 | 52 | 52 | 52 | 468 | 853 | 404 | 468 | 456 | 34 | 214 | 456 | 34 | 249 | 435 | 177 |
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.











