
Surf Forecasts:
Bonza Bay surf forecast from 20 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 21 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 14s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 24 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 17s period, SSW swell with 2,850 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 20 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 12s period with SE 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 (Jul 20) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m 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 2.3m 17s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 24) 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 2.4m 8s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 26) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Mon 20th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Tue 21st Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Fri 24th Jul) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bonza Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking for Bonza Bay.
Right off the bat, we’ve got a bit of a slow start. The first real surf that’s worth talking about doesn’t kick in until the morning of July 21st. Before that, Monday afternoon the 20th is a write-off – messy cross-onshore wind and the water is much colder than normal for this time of year, sitting at 64°. That’s a solid 4° cooler than average, so you’ll want a thick suit.
The standout of the entire run is looking like Tuesday morning, July 21st. Bonza Bay is a river mouth setup, and we’ve got glassy conditions with a light offshore breeze from the SE. The swell is a clean 4 ft from the SE, with a period of 11 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell, and the combined energy (671) is solid. The waves will have good shape, and with no wind on the surface, it’s going to be as clean as it gets. Crowds are possible here, so get down early.
Tuesday afternoon drops off a bit – the swell goes small and the direction swings to the SSW, with a longer 15-second period. The energy is still there (767), but it’s a touch cross-onshore, so it’ll be a bit bumpy.
Wednesday morning, July 22nd, is worth a mention too. The wind is light cross-shore with 4 ft of SSW swell at 13 seconds. It’s not perfect, but it’s rideable. Wednesday afternoon cleans right up again – glassy, 3 ft from the SE, with a 12-second period. Another good session if you can sneak out.
Then things get a bit messy. Thursday and Friday see building swell but the wind turns onshore or cross-off, so it’s choppy. The evening of Friday the 24th has a solid 7 ft SSW swell at 16 seconds, but the wind is cross-onshore, so it’s a bit of a battle.
The real big stuff shows up the first week of August. On Saturday, August 1st, we’ve got a huge 15 ft SW swell hitting with a 14-second period. The combined energy is massive (12367). But the problem is, that’s way too big for this break. The guidance says it’s too big, and the wind is clean, but it’s only for experienced surfers, and even then, it’s a handful. Sunday, August 2nd, is similar – 15 ft again from the SSW. If you’re a pro, you might be tempted, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.
The tail end of the forecast, on Monday, August 3rd, settles down to a much more manageable 8 ft from the SE at 11 seconds. The wind is light cross-off and it’s clean. That’s a good option for experienced surfers, but it’s still solid.
Overall, if you’re looking for the best session, aim for Tuesday morning, July 21st. Clean, glassy, and a good size. The long-range stuff on August 1st and 2nd is one for the brave, but it’s not for the average surfer.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Wed afternoon, min 14°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 23°C on Sun morning, min 14°C on Sat morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Thu night, light winds from the SSE by Fri afternoon). | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SE 12 | SSW 12 | S 12 | S 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | S 15 | S 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
624 | 515 | 403 | 392 | 815 | 461 | 287 | 323 | 309 | 177 | 1628 | 1996 | 2339 | 1328 | 1108 | 919 | 627 | 431 | 263 | 147 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 8:04PM1.76m | 8:11AM1.54m | 8:54PM1.64m | 9:08AM1.43m | 10:02PM1.54m | 10:41AM1.36m | 11:31PM1.50m | 12:30PM1.39m | 00:52AM1.53m | 1:41PM1.48m | 1:48AM1.61m | 2:28PM1.59m | 2:30AM1.69m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:11AM0.85m | 2:12PM0.80m | 3:06AM0.95m | 3:07PM0.92m | 4:27AM1.01m | 4:32PM1.01m | 6:10AM0.99m | 6:18PM1.01m | 7:23AM0.90m | 7:32PM0.94m | 8:10AM0.79m | 8:21PM0.85m | ||||||||
— | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | |
5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 21 | 22 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 20 | 17 | 23 | 26 | 24 |
Feels °C | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 18 | 20 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 19 | 23 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | S 12 | S 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | S 15 | S 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | ENE 8 |
624 | 515 | 403 | 369 | 815 | 461 | 280 | 323 | 309 | 177 | 853 | 1996 | 2339 | 1328 | 1108 | 919 | 627 | 431 | 263 | 246 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 10 | SSW 11 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SE 11 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | S 7 | ESE 11 | S 19 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ENE 5 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SSW 12 |
175 | 183 | 203 | 392 | 366 | 282 | 287 | 169 | 167 | 112 | 65 | 172 | 47 | 270 | 11 | 10 | 29 | 40 | 40 | 147 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | SSW 15 | SSW 11 | E 9 | E 9 | E 6 | E 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | SE 11 | — | SE 11 | E 10 | E 10 | SE 7 | — | S 21 | SSW 15 |
76 | 45 | 65 | 6 | 6 | 36 | 68 | 83 | 50 | 21 | 12 | 60 | — | 18 | 2 | 2 | 8 | — | 9 | 72 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | NE 3 | ENE 6 | — | SW 5 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | SSW 11 | — | — | — | — | ENE 4 | ENE 6 | E 7 | ENE 7 | NNW 2 |
— | — | — | — | 7 | 128 | — | 31 | 75 | 121 | 1628 | — | — | — | — | 16 | 81 | 100 | 245 | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 52 | 0 | 0 | 99 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 4 | 52 | 53 | 162 | 0 | 478 | 99 | 19 | 255 | 99 | 19 | 237 | 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.










