
Surf Forecasts:
Bonza Bay surf forecast from 9 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 9 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 14s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 10 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 14s period, S swell with 2,877 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 9 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 14s 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 Thursday (Jul 09) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.3m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 9s. 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 2.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 10) at 5AM. 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 8s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 14) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Thu 9th Jul) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Thu 9th Jul) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Fri 10th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bonza Bay over the next 16 days.
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it. We’re looking at a solid 16-day window for Bonza Bay, and to be honest, it’s a bit of a mixed bag but there’s definitely some session to get excited about.
The water is running at 64°, which is a fairly chilly 5° colder than usual for this time of year. That’s a notable drop, so you’ll want a thick wetsuit if you’re heading out. The first real opportunity comes Thursday morning, July 9th, with a 7ft south swell rolling in at a nice 13-second period. The wind is a cross-offshore from the WSW at 16 mph, keeping the surface clean. The energy is pumping at (1479), so it’s got some push. But the forecast calls it marginal, so don’t expect perfection. Thursday afternoon stays similar at 7ft, but the wind swings more cross, and the energy jumps way up (3241), so it’s got more grunt but a bit of a chop on it.
Friday morning, July 10th, looks like the best of the first week. We’ve got an 8ft south swell, 14-second period, cross-off wind from the WSW at 12 mph, and it’s clean. The energy is strong (2335). That’s a proper wave, but heads up—at 8ft, this is getting into the zone for experienced surfers only. The swell is solid, period is long, so the sets will have some real power. It’s a river mouth, so that long period should wrap in nicely, but it’s not a beginner’s day.
Saturday morning, July 11th, the wind shifts to a light cross-on from the ESE, 7ft south swell, and it’s still holding energy (1425). Not the cleanest, but rideable. By the afternoon, it’s a full onshore, and the quality drops out.
Now, Sunday morning, July 12th, is a real standout. The wind goes dead glassy from the east at only 3 mph, and we’ve got a 7ft swell from the ESE, but the period is a short 7 seconds. The energy is moderate (855). It’s going to be clean as a whistle, but the short period means it’ll be a bit fat and crumbly. Still, a glassy session is a glassy session.
Monday and Tuesday are a bit iffy, but Tuesday morning, July 14th, is another glassy gem. The wind is calm from the NE, 5ft swell from the ESE, 8-second period, and the energy is manageable (561). It’s clean and small, a good one for a longboard or a fun board.
The real standout, the one I’d circle on the calendar, is Tuesday morning, July 21st. This is over a week away, so it’s a long-range call, but it looks promising. We’ve got a 3ft swell from the SSW, but the period is a massive 20 seconds. That’s a very long period groundswell. The energy is strong (1505), and the wind is a clean cross-off from the NNE at 9 mph. It’s going to be lined up and clean. For a river mouth, that long period is going to create some beautiful, long walls. This is one for the experienced crew, as the sets will be chasing each other. It’s not big, but the quality will be excellent.
The following Wednesday morning, July 22nd, also has a clean cross-off wind and a 5ft SSW swell at 15 seconds, so it’s a solid follow-up day.
Overall, the first week has some decent windows, but the 21st and 22nd of July look like the absolute best on offer. Crowds are a possibility at Bonza Bay, so get there early for the glassy ones.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 24mm), heaviest during Sat afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu afternoon, min 14°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Sun morning. Warm (max 20°C on Tue afternoon, min 15°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | S 13 | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | ESE 7 | S 11 | S 11 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1468 | 1781 | 2785 | 2333 | 1894 | 1430 | 1420 | 1351 | 918 | 453 | 364 | 338 | 329 | 454 | 217 | 346 | 358 | 380 | 426 | 394 | 340 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross | off | glassy | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 10:37AM1.50m | 11:21PM1.73m | 12:05PM1.54m | 00:37AM1.78m | 1:20PM1.65m | 1:42AM1.87m | 2:19PM1.78m | 2:37AM1.95m | 3:10PM1.91m | 3:26AM2.01m | 3:56PM2.01m | 4:11AM2.03m | 4:40PM2.08m | 4:53AM2.02m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:36PM0.86m | 5:58AM0.83m | 6:05PM0.83m | 7:10AM0.74m | 7:21PM0.75m | 8:08AM0.62m | 8:22PM0.65m | 8:57AM0.51m | 9:14PM0.55m | 9:41AM0.42m | 10:01PM0.49m | 10:21AM0.37m | 10:45PM0.46m | ||||||||
7:11 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | |
— | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:17 | — | — | 5:17 | — | — | 5:19 | — | |
mm | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 17 |
Feels °C | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 16 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | E 7 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 |
1468 | 1781 | 2785 | 2333 | 1894 | 1430 | 1420 | 1351 | 918 | 390 | 364 | 171 | 198 | 341 | 217 | 346 | 358 | 380 | 426 | 394 | 340 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | NE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 4 | SW 18 | — | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | SSW 6 |
8 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 12 | — | 338 | 227 | 220 | 165 | 125 | 90 | 58 | 38 | 12 | 33 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | NE 8 | SE 14 | E 10 | SE 13 | — | — | — | E 9 | — | — | SSE 15 | SSE 13 | SW 15 | SE 8 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSE 9 | SW 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 |
3 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 7 | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | 42 | 60 | 8 | 62 | 90 | 86 | 26 | 27 | 11 | 9 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSW 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | E 6 | E 7 | E 8 | — | — | — | — | WSW 3 | SSW 4 | — |
— | 1452 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 453 | 257 | 240 | 329 | 454 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 7 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 129 | 52 | 0 | 52 | 25 | 0 | 22 | 173 | 0 | 0 | 381 | 146 | 273 | 273 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 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.










