Surf Forecasts:
Bonza Bay surf forecast from 7 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 5PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 15s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 13 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 16s period, SSW swell with 628 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 10 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 10s 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 Thursday (Sep 10) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.3m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m 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 1.1m 16s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 13) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.1m 8s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Thu 10th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 5PM (Sun 13th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Sun 13th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bonza Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let's get into it. Rusty here, looking at the next couple of weeks.
Honestly, the first week is a bit of a write-off. We've got a frustrating stretch of onshore and cross-shore winds that are just messing up the surf. The conditions are poor, with a lot of choppy, lumpy water. The combined swell energy is mostly in the moderate range (between 197 and 856), but it's all wind-affected junk. It's a tough slog.
The one real bright spot is Sunday, 13th September in the afternoon. The wind swings to a light north-northeasterly, going cross-offshore, and the sea goes clean. The swell is a modest 3 ft, but it's a solid long-period groundswell of 15 seconds from the south-southwest, giving a combined energy of 744. It's not going to be big, but it will be clean and lined up. This is a great window for a cruisey session.
Then, we get another standout early the following week. On Tuesday morning, 15th September, the wind drops to nothing, absolutely glassy, with a 6 ft swell from the east. The combined energy is a solid 666, and it's clean as a whistle. This is the best on offer in the near term, with perfect conditions.
After that, the swell builds, but the wind gets messy again. By Friday, 18th September, the swell is pumping, with 8 ft to 10 ft from the east, but the combined energy is massive (over 1671). For Bonza Bay, a river mouth break, this is just too big and it's going to be a washing machine. It's for experts only, and even then, it's a risky call. The following days are all big, strong surf (over 1000 energy) but the wind is either onshore or cross, making it bumpy and not much fun.
So, to sum it up: the first week is a write-off. The best windows are Sunday afternoon, 13th September and Tuesday morning, 15th September for clean, fun waves. The longer-range stuff from the 18th onwards is for the big-wave crew only, and even then, the conditions aren't ideal.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 30°C on Wed morning, min 16°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NE on Mon night, light winds from the WSW by Wed night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sun morning, min 18°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the ENE on Sat afternoon, light winds from the N by Sun afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | ||||||||||||||
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 13 | E 8 | SSE 10 | S 10 | E 9 | SSE 10 | SW 14 | SSE 9 | E 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | E 9 | E 5 | E 7 | E 7 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 229 | 309 | 139 | 75 | 297 | 32 | 46 | 17 | 212 | 280 | 175 | 96 | 82 | 124 | 331 | 302 | 561 | 474 | 351 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 1:47AM1.67m | 2:12PM1.81m | 2:31AM1.81m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 8:01AM0.60m | 8:28PM0.54m | 8:38AM0.45m | 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 | |||||||
 |  | | | | | | |  |  | | |  | | | | |  | | |
 | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — |
 | 5:53 | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 30 | 26 | 24 | 22 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 23 |
Feels °C | 13 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 28 | 23 | 24 | 20 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 23 | 24 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | E 8 | E 8 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 9 | E 9 | ENE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | S 7 | SSE 7 | S 11 | SSW 16 | E 8 | E 8 | E 9 |
| kJ | 225 | 309 | 324 | 339 | 297 | 311 | 363 | 289 | 212 | 176 | 113 | 103 | 51 | 41 | 63 | 137 | 277 | 265 | 181 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | S 6 | S 6 | E 9 | S 11 | SSE 7 | S 11 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 |
| kJ | 229 | 198 | 139 | 75 | 57 | 32 | 40 | 17 | 119 | 280 | 30 | 33 | 79 | 63 | 30 | 57 | 561 | 474 | 351 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSE 12 | SSW 11 | SSE 12 | SW 14 | SSW 12 | SSE 12 | SSW 5 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 19 | S 10 | SE 11 | — |
| kJ | — | 66 | 58 | 30 | 23 | 15 | 46 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 175 | 96 | 82 | 10 | 45 | 119 | 18 | 5 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | SSW 4 | SSW 6 | SW 5 | — | — | E 4 | E 5 | E 7 | E 7 | — | — | SSW 4 |
| kJ | 336 | 480 | 541 | 516 | 490 | 502 | 645 | 10 | 75 | 39 | — | — | 8 | 124 | 331 | 302 | — | — | 11 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 99 | 19 | 476 | 54 | 19 | 249 | 18 | 221 | 52 | 0 | 52 | 476 | 357 | 301 | 455 | 99 | 151 | 0 | 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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