Surf Forecasts:
Bonza Bay surf forecast from 9 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 14 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, E swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 14 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, E swell with 2,269 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 10 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 13s 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 Thursday (Sep 10) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.3m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 10s. 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 3.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 14) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.5m 10s period and expected on Monday (Sep 14) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Thu 10th Sep) | 1ft (0.3m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Mon 14th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Mon 14th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bonza Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s break it down in feet and miles per hour for you.
The first real chance of a surf doesn’t appear until Sunday the 13th of September at Bonza Bay (river). The early part of the week is a total dud – tiny, weak swells and cross-shore winds. Not worth wetting your wetsuit.
Sunday the 13th shows a jump in the swell energy – 1207 on the energy meter – but it’s a lumpy, cross-shore 30 mph breeze, and the swell is short-period. The afternoon gets up to about 7ft from the east, but with a 8-second period, it’s going to be fat and crumbling.
Now, Monday the 14th of September is the big one. The morning has a solid 10ft east swell, with a period of 9 seconds and energy reading 1567 (strong). The wind is a gentle cross-shore, but the forecast says it’s too big for the break – it’s going to be a chaotic mess. However, the afternoon is a different story. The wind drops to just a light air, cross-offshore, and the sea glasses off. That 10ft east swell, though – it’s huge, and for a river mouth, it’s going to be a heavy, closed-out beast. Only experts should even think about it, and the crowd might be there.
The standout is the Monday afternoon (14th September). The swell direction is east, which is a fair match for the optimum southerly, but the real magic is the wind – nearly dead calm, super clean. Just be aware: the water is running 3°C colder than normal, so you’ll need a thick wetsuit. If you’re a strong surfer, that afternoon could be the cleanest, most powerful session of the whole 16-day window. But it’s not for the faint-hearted.
After that, the rest of the week is a washout. Tuesday the 15th drops to about 6ft, with a cross-onshore wind and lumpy conditions. From Wednesday on, the wind is mostly onshore or strong cross-shore, and the swell stays small or short-period. The 16th of September has an 8ft swell, but with a 35 mph cross-shore wind – that’s kite-surfing territory, not paddle surfing.
So, bottom line: if you’re an expert, lock in Monday afternoon (14th September) at Bonza Bay. It’s the cleanest, biggest window in the forecast. For everyone else, it’s a long wait for something better.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Warm (max 28°C on Wed afternoon, min 18°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu morning, fresh winds from the ENE by Sat morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Sat afternoon. Warm (max 23°C on Tue morning, min 18°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NE on Sun night, calm by Mon night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 10 | SW 14 | E 9 | E 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | E 6 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | E 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 32 | 46 | 269 | 194 | 277 | 131 | 96 | 99 | 147 | 125 | 547 | 636 | 545 | 985 | 1426 | 1960 | 1048 | 569 | 434 | 356 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 2:51PM1.97m | 3:07AM1.91m | 3:25PM2.08m | 3:40AM1.98m | 3:57PM2.13m | 4:11AM2.00m | 4:28PM2.13m | 4:39AM1.98m | 4:56PM2.08m | 5:07AM1.92m | 5:24PM1.99m | 5:33AM1.83m | 5:49PM1.86m | |||||||
Low Tide | 9:04PM0.41m | 9:11AM0.34m | 9:36PM0.32m | 9:42AM0.27m | 10:06PM0.29m | 10:11AM0.24m | 10:34PM0.30m | 10:39AM0.27m | 11:02PM0.35m | 11:07AM0.33m | 11:28PM0.43m | 11:34AM0.44m | 11:56PM0.53m | |||||||
 |  |  | |  |  |  |  | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — |
 | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 25 | 24 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 23 | 22 | 20 |
Feels °C | 25 | 24 | 23 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 22 | 22 | 19 | 21 | 19 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | SSE 7 | E 9 | SSE 7 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 |
| kJ | 283 | 264 | 269 | 194 | 169 | 113 | 82 | 99 | 83 | 68 | 547 | 636 | 468 | 297 | 141 | 1960 | 1048 | 569 | 434 | 356 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 10 | SE 10 | SSW 12 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | S 5 | S 6 | E 9 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | SSW 19 | S 9 | S 9 | — | SSW 13 | S 12 | SSW 11 | S 11 | SSW 12 |
| kJ | 32 | 27 | 30 | 121 | 277 | 20 | 23 | 83 | 63 | 59 | 74 | 37 | 13 | 2 | — | 131 | 72 | 41 | 61 | 58 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 12 | SW 14 | SSE 10 | SSE 12 | SE 11 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 16 | S 23 | SW 19 |
| kJ | 15 | 46 | 18 | 13 | 5 | 131 | 96 | 82 | 25 | 75 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 11 | 94 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | SW 2 | SSW 5 | SW 5 | — | — | E 4 | SE 7 | E 6 | E 6 | E 8 | E 8 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 10 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 513 | 432 | 1 | 19 | 24 | — | — | 10 | 147 | 125 | 252 | 534 | 545 | 985 | 1426 | 2664 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 249 | 18 | 25 | 52 | 25 | 52 | 19 | 381 | 455 | 885 | 455 | 435 | 492 | 301 | 27 | 4 | 21 | 5 | 301 | 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.
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