
Surf Forecasts:
Bonza Bay surf forecast from 24 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 24 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 15s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 24 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 16s period, SSW swell with 3,131 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 24 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 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 Friday (Jul 24) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.3m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Bonza Bay in the next 16 days are 2.5m 16s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 24) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.0m 7s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 26) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Fri 24th Jul) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Fri 24th Jul) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Fri 24th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bonza Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, Rusty here. Let's chew the fat on what Bonza Bay is serving up for the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, this is a tough read. We're looking at a long wait for anything half decent, and when it does show, it's not a world-beater. The water is sitting at 63°F, which is a solid 5°F colder than it should be for this time of year, so you'll want your thickest wetsuit.
The first real chance doesn't roll in until the morning of Tuesday, August 5th. There's a 5ft swell from the east, with a light NNE wind blowing cross-offshore. That's clean, and the combined wave energy is moderate (677). It's a bit of a tease, but it's the best looking window in the whole forecast.
The true standout, however, is the morning of Thursday, August 6th. The wind goes absolutely still, turning glassy, with a 4ft easterly swell. The wave energy is still moderate (652), but that glassy surface will make it feel like a dream. This is the one to circle on the calendar. It's a river mouth setup, so it can handle that long-period groundswell, and with glassy conditions, it'll be as clean as a whistle. Just a heads up, crowds are possible here.
Before that, we've got a long dry patch. From now through to August 4th, it's poor. There's a bit of size on July 24th and 25th, with an 8ft SSW swell, but the wind is all over the place and the quality is terrible. July 28th morning has a 7ft S swell, but it's onshore, so it's a write-off. Honestly, the first week and a bit is not worth thinking about.
After that Thursday morning glass-off, the quality drops off again. August 7th morning has a 4ft SSW swell and cross-offshore wind, which is clean, but the energy is weaker. Then it gets sloppy again into the second weekend with lumpy, cross-shore winds and a short-period 7ft to 7ft swell that's going to be a close-out mess, better for kite surfing than paddle surfing.
Signing off,
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Warm (max 21°C on Sun afternoon, min 13°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 72mm), heaviest during Tue night. Warm (max 20°C on Mon morning, min 14°C on Tue night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 18 | S 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 17 | S 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 11 | ESE 12 | SE 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1122 | 2668 | 936 | 660 | 485 | 632 | 467 | 258 | 366 | 222 | 201 | 950 | 660 | 645 | 1137 | 792 | 611 | 599 | 1262 | 1628 | 1110 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | off | cross | cross | cross-off | on | cross-on | on | on | on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 12:30PM1.39m | 00:52AM1.53m | 1:41PM1.48m | 1:48AM1.61m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 6:18PM1.01m | 7:23AM0.90m | 7:32PM0.94m | 8:10AM0.79m | 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 | ||||||||
7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | |
— | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | |
mm | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 17 | 11 | 21 | 8 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 16 |
Feels °C | 10 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | S 16 | SSW 15 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | E 7 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSE 8 | SSW 15 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 11 | ESE 12 | SE 11 |
487 | 2668 | 936 | 300 | 284 | 632 | 467 | 258 | 134 | 222 | 195 | 950 | 568 | 612 | 1137 | 505 | 611 | 599 | 1262 | 1628 | 1110 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 18 | SE 11 | SSE 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | S 16 | SSW 14 | ENE 8 | SSW 16 | S 6 | E 9 | SSW 16 | SE 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 |
972 | 58 | 294 | 660 | 485 | 188 | 121 | 186 | 366 | 81 | 201 | 73 | 24 | 645 | 210 | 792 | 478 | 282 | 187 | 139 | 143 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | — | — | SE 11 | E 10 | — | — | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSW 17 | E 8 | ENE 8 | S 13 | E 9 | S 8 | E 10 | E 9 | ESE 11 | — | — | — |
242 | — | — | 114 | 2 | — | — | 45 | 11 | 55 | 33 | 22 | 3 | 15 | 109 | 66 | 14 | 198 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | NE 4 | ENE 6 | — | SW 4 | SSW 6 | — | S 9 | — | — | — | — | — | NE 5 | — | WSW 4 |
1122 | — | — | — | — | — | 19 | 80 | — | 18 | 93 | — | 660 | — | — | — | — | — | 71 | — | 16 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 237 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 107 | 0 | 19 | 239 | 0 | 124 | 239 | 4 | 53 | 476 | 34 | 34 | 23 | 19 | 124 | 404 | 146 |
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.










