
Surf Forecasts:
Bonza Bay surf forecast from 26 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 30 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 9s period, ESE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 27 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 18s period, SSW swell with 961 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 26 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 15s period with S 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 (Jul 26) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 7s. Another secondary swell of 0.7m and 12s 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 1.3m 18s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 27) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.3m 8s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 02) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Sun 26th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Thu 30th Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Mon 27th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bonza Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, this is Rusty, and I’m looking at the charts for Bonza Bay. It’s a bit of a mixed bag for the next couple of weeks, so let’s break it down.
Right off the bat, we’ve got a bit of a slow start. The first few days are looking pretty average to poor. There’s a little bit of swell on Sunday the 26th, but a cross-breeze and a cross-chop mean it’s not really worth paddling out for. The onshore winds and those messy conditions stick around for the start of the working week, too. The water temp is sitting at 69°F, which is about normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.
The first real sign of life comes on Thursday morning, the 30th of July. We’ve got a clean 6 ft swell from the ESE, and the wind is totally glassy – dead calm. That’s the kind of start you want. The period is a short 9 seconds, so it’ll be a bit racy, but that clean face will make up for it. That’s your best bet for the first week.
Friday morning, the 31st, is also looking promising early. Another glassy session with a 4 ft ESE swell, and the same short period. It’s a small window, but if you can get out there before the breeze picks up, you’ll score.
The first weekend of August is a write-off, unfortunately. Strong winds, lumpy chop, and messy conditions. The swell is mixed up, and the combined energy is weak to moderate (301) on the Saturday afternoon, which just isn’t worth the fight.
The following week has a few more glimmers. We see a bit of a long-period SSW groundswell showing up on the 2nd of August, with a period of 19 seconds and a combined energy of 1271, but it’s arriving with a strong cross-breeze, so it’s going to be lumpy. That long period will make it tricky on the banks here, as it tends to break too straight for a beach break. There’s a similar window on the 3rd and 4th, with cleaner but still cross-shore winds, offering marginal but surfable waves around 4 ft to 4 ft.
Then, hang on to your board shorts for Thursday the 6th of August. That’s a standout. The combined energy is absolutely pumping at 3422, with a solid 8 ft SSW groundswell and a 16-second period. But mate, that’s a lot of water. At that size, this is strictly for experts. The wind is cross-shore, so it won’t be perfectly clean, but the power is there. If you’re a confident charger, that’s the one to watch from the safety of the sand.
The final days of the outlook are quieter, with clean conditions on the 10th of August, but smaller, short-period windswell. It’s a bit of a waiting game, but there are a few golden sessions to be had.
Stay tuned, and the forecasts can always change. This is Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 56mm), heaviest during Mon night. Warm (max 22°C on Sun afternoon, min 15°C on Mon night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed afternoon, min 14°C on Thu morning). Winds increasing (calm on Thu morning, fresh winds from the NE by Sat morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | ||||||||||||||
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 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 18 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SSW 14 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | E 6 | E 7 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
313 | 449 | 225 | 206 | 961 | 750 | 527 | 633 | 395 | 356 | 535 | 543 | 554 | 336 | 274 | 262 | 304 | 122 | 275 | 392 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | off | glassy | on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 2:28PM1.59m | 2:30AM1.69m | 3:03PM1.70m | 3:04AM1.77m | 3:34PM1.80m | 3:36AM1.84m | 4:03PM1.89m | 4:06AM1.90m | 4:31PM1.95m | 4:36AM1.93m | 5:00PM1.99m | 5:06AM1.93m | 5:29PM2.01m | |||||||
Low Tide | 8:21PM0.85m | 8:46AM0.68m | 8:59PM0.76m | 9:18AM0.58m | 9:33PM0.67m | 9:48AM0.50m | 10:04PM0.59m | 10:16AM0.44m | 10:34PM0.54m | 10:45AM0.41m | 11:04PM0.51m | 11:14AM0.40m | 11:35PM0.50m | |||||||
— | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | |
5:25 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | 33 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 22 | 19 | 21 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 16 |
Feels °C | 17 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | E 7 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 18 | SSW 15 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 9 | SSE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 |
313 | 106 | 225 | 198 | 961 | 539 | 527 | 354 | 281 | 123 | 535 | 543 | 554 | 333 | 274 | 262 | 304 | 122 | 26 | 37 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | SSW 14 | ENE 8 | SSW 16 | S 7 | — | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSE 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | — | S 25 |
251 | 449 | 62 | 206 | 88 | — | 491 | 633 | 181 | 356 | 390 | 395 | 326 | 336 | 246 | 145 | 57 | 29 | — | 12 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SE 8 | SSW 16 | E 8 | ENE 9 | — | E 8 | — | SSW 14 | E 10 | S 9 | S 9 | — | — | — | — | E 11 | E 10 | — | S 18 |
36 | 18 | 53 | 33 | 25 | — | 13 | — | 395 | 120 | 7 | 6 | — | — | — | — | 40 | 55 | — | 6 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 5 | — | SW 5 | SSW 6 | — | SSE 8 | SE 8 | — | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | E 4 | — | E 5 | E 6 | E 7 |
43 | — | 77 | 117 | — | 750 | 392 | — | 172 | 220 | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | — | 59 | 275 | 392 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 239 | 0 | 221 | 239 | 23 | 404 | 404 | 34 | 124 | 129 | 0 | 0 | 52 | 0 | 0 | 492 | 0 | 321 | 404 | 204 |
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.










