
Surf Forecasts:
Bonza Bay surf forecast from 16 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 16 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 10s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 21 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 16s period, SSW swell with 1,479 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 16 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 10s period with SW 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 (Jul 16) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 1.2m and 11s. Another secondary swell of 1.0m and 10s 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 1.8m 16s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Thu 16th Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Thu 16th Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Tue 21st Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bonza Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Bonza Bay over the next couple of weeks.
The first few days are a bit of a write-off, to be honest. Thursday the 16th and Friday the 17th have some small swell around, but the winds are messy and cross-shore, making for rippled-up, marginal surf. Not worth paddling out for much. Saturday the 18th morning is where things start to look interesting for the first time. The swell is a clean 4ft from the S with a 12-second period, and light cross-offshore wind from the WSW is cleaning things up nicely. The combined energy is moderate (711). It’s not a massive day, but it’ll be the first good session of the window.
Now, Sunday the 19th sees the swell bump up to 6ft from the SSW, and while the morning is clean with a fresh cross-offshore breeze, the wind picks up strong by afternoon, turning it lumpy. The combined energy jumps noticeably (1404) but the chop makes it hard work.
Monday the 20th is a complete dud with NE winds ruining the shape. Tuesday the 21st afternoon has a pulse of longer-period swell (15 seconds) from the SSW at 5ft, and the combined energy is high (1375), but the wind is cross-shore, so the surface won’t be perfect. You’ll get some energy but with a slight chop.
The real standout in this outlook is Wednesday the 22nd of July. The morning session at Bonza Bay is the best on offer. We’ve got a solid 6ft SSW groundswell rolling in with a long 14-second period, and a light cross-offshore breeze from the WSW keeping it clean. Combined energy is strong (1287). This is excellent, powerful surf for experienced surfers. The river mouth setup handles that long-period S swell well, giving it shape. After this, Thursday the 23rd morning brings a glassy, clean 6ft SSW swell (13-second period) with zero wind – absolute perfection for a midweek dawny. Combined energy is moderate (918) but it’ll feel smooth and easy to paddle out.
Looking further out, the second week is quieter overall but with a couple of bright spots. Monday the 27th of July morning brings another glassy session with a 4ft S swell at a very long 15-second period (combined energy 871). It’s clean, glassy, and will have good shape. Tuesday the 28th morning is similar but smaller, with 3ft SSW swell at a very long 16-second period and glassy conditions (combined energy 743). That one will be a lazy, clean, long-period wave, best on the point if you can find it. The rest of that week fades into poor conditions with strong winds and lumpy seas. So, Wednesday the 22nd and Thursday the 23rd July mornings are your pick of the entire outlook.
Remember, the water temperature is sitting about average for this time of year. Get out there and grab those clean ones.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Sat afternoon, min 15°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Mon afternoon, min 14°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Sun afternoon, light winds from the WNW by Mon night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wed 22 | |||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 10 | E 11 | SSW 14 | SSW 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 11 | S 10 | S 9 | SSW 12 | S 11 | SSW 12 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1008 | 329 | 267 | 220 | 307 | 429 | 198 | 461 | 467 | 379 | 527 | 1245 | 262 | 220 | 202 | 297 | 439 | 1265 | 1127 | 1224 | 849 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on |
High Tide | 4:53AM2.02m | 5:21PM2.09m | 5:33AM1.97m | 6:01PM2.06m | 6:11AM1.89m | 6:41PM1.98m | 6:49AM1.78m | 7:21PM1.88m | 7:28AM1.66m | 8:04PM1.76m | 8:11AM1.54m | 8:54PM1.64m | 9:08AM1.43m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:45PM0.46m | 11:00AM0.36m | 11:26PM0.48m | 11:38AM0.39m | 00:06AM0.54m | 12:14PM0.46m | 00:46AM0.63m | 12:51PM0.56m | 1:26AM0.74m | 1:29PM0.67m | 2:11AM0.85m | 2:12PM0.80m | 3:06AM0.95m | 3:07PM0.92m | |||||||
— | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | |
5:19 | — | 5:19 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 20 | 21 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 17 | 19 | 22 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 21 |
Feels °C | 14 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 9 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | SE 13 | S 10 | S 9 | SE 11 | S 11 | SSW 12 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 |
299 | 329 | 267 | 200 | 159 | 429 | 198 | 461 | 467 | 379 | 119 | 85 | 262 | 220 | 202 | 297 | 439 | 1265 | 1127 | 1224 | 849 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | SSW 11 | SSW 14 | SSW 12 | SSW 13 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SSW 12 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 |
365 | 186 | 261 | 220 | 307 | 159 | 125 | 123 | 94 | 69 | 47 | 45 | 205 | 185 | 196 | 140 | 137 | 110 | 64 | 63 | 51 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 18 | SSW 15 | SSW 9 | S 10 | — | — | SSE 14 | E 10 | S 16 | SSW 12 | SE 13 | SE 11 | SW 10 | E 10 | S 9 | E 5 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 |
30 | 128 | 84 | 2 | — | — | 69 | 127 | 5 | 131 | 87 | 29 | 74 | 31 | 52 | 15 | 39 | 39 | 26 | 5 | 6 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 4 | — | SSW 10 | SSW 11 | — | — | ENE 4 | — | SW 4 | — | — | — | — |
1008 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | — | 527 | 1245 | — | — | 15 | — | 26 | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 129 | 239 | 0 | 54 | 19 | 23 | 0 | 25 | 4 | 0 | 23 |
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.











