
Surf Forecasts:
Bonza Bay surf forecast from 7 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 17s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 14s period, S swell with 1,079 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 10 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 13s period with SSW 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 0.3m 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 1.7m 14s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.4m 9s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 10) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Thu 10th Sep) | 1ft (0.3m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Mon 7th Sep) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 14s |
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 cookin’ for Bonza Bay over the next couple of weeks.
First off, I gotta be straight with you – the start of this forecast is a tough one. We’ve got a solid groundswell arriving on Monday afternoon, with a 6ft south swell packing a serious punch of energy (1281). But that ENE wind is howling at 25 mph, ripping straight across the line. It’s a mess out there, with messy cross-chop. No good for a paddle. The water temp is sitting at 66°, which is about average for this time of year, so nothing weird going on there.
We’ve got a long stretch of poor conditions through the week. Tuesday drops to a smaller 3ft, but it’s cross-onshore and choppy. Wednesday and Thursday are tiny and weak. Honestly, if you’re looking at this for a surf, you’re better off waiting.
The first real glimmer of hope doesn’t show up until Saturday afternoon, the 12th. We see a 5ft east swell, moderate energy (596), and cross-shore winds. It’s still a bit lumpy, but it’s a step up from the junk we’ve been lookin’ at. The real standout, though, is Sunday morning, the 13th. That’s where it gets interesting. A 4ft SSW groundswell, but with a very long period of 16 seconds and a massive 876 energy reading. The wind is a light cross-shore breeze – just small ripples on the water. That’s as clean as it gets. This is a proper groundswell, so it’ll bend and wrap nicely into the river mouth at Bonza Bay. It’s a bit on the smaller side, but the quality and shape will be there for a patient surfer. Just a heads up, it can get a little crowded here sometimes.
After that, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. We get a south swell on the 15th with a 6ft east swell, but the wind is onshore. Then we get another big spike on the 17th and 18th – 7ft and 7ft south swells, but with strong cross-shore winds and rain. That’s a lot of water moving, but it’s gonna be a lumpy, messy beast. Not beginner-friendly.
The second week starts to look a little more promising. Saturday the 19th has a 5ft SE swell with a clean cross-offshore wind – that’s the best wind direction for this spot. Sunday the 20th is the best bet in the long range. We’re looking at a 8ft east swell, strong energy (1126), and light cross-shore winds. It’s a touch big for beginners, but for the experienced crew, that’s a fun, solid day. The forecast is a bit less certain this far out, so keep an eye on it.
So, to sum it up: the first week is a write-off. Sunday morning, the 13th, is your best bet for clean, quality waves on the smaller side. Then Sunday the 20th is the big one to watch for a punchy, powerful session if you’ve got the skills.
Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Wed morning, min 16°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the ENE on Mon afternoon, calm by Wed night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Fri morning. Warm (max 22°C on Sun morning, min 18°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | ||||||||||||||
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 14 | S 11 | SSE 11 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSW 14 | E 9 | E 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | E 9 | E 6 | E 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
1281 | 229 | 202 | 98 | 82 | 58 | 32 | 36 | 339 | 300 | 280 | 133 | 96 | 83 | 88 | 372 | 480 | 582 | 481 | 293 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | on | on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross |
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 | 7:44PM0.71m | 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 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 |
Temp °C | 19 | 17 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 29 | 25 | 25 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 21 |
Feels °C | 13 | 12 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 27 | 23 | 25 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 24 | 24 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 14 | S 11 | E 8 | E 8 | E 9 | ENE 9 | SSE 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 6 | SSW 16 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | ENE 8 |
1281 | 229 | 367 | 367 | 339 | 311 | 32 | 372 | 339 | 300 | 176 | 113 | 106 | 81 | 85 | 94 | 480 | 294 | 224 | 159 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSW 13 | SSE 11 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 12 | SE 10 | SSW 12 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | S 11 | E 9 | E 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SE 8 |
— | 229 | 202 | 98 | 82 | 58 | 15 | 25 | 15 | 123 | 280 | 133 | 96 | 83 | 64 | 60 | 130 | 582 | 481 | 138 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 14 | SSE 10 | SSE 12 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 6 | S 6 | S 7 | SSW 11 | SSE 6 | — | — | SSW 14 |
— | — | 66 | 50 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 36 | 9 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 13 | 23 | 70 | 52 | — | — | 293 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | E 9 | ENE 9 | SW 4 | SSW 6 | SSW 5 | S 5 | SE 5 | ESE 5 | E 6 | E 9 | — | ENE 9 | ENE 5 | N 4 |
363 | 345 | 560 | 560 | 602 | 541 | 347 | 660 | 7 | 90 | 28 | 11 | 22 | 23 | 88 | 372 | — | 138 | 113 | 9 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 455 | 239 | 19 | 249 | 54 | 19 | 255 | 19 | 187 | 52 | 25 | 52 | 129 | 173 | 273 | 435 | 146 | 4 | 124 | 18 |
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.










