
Surf Forecasts:
Bonza Bay surf forecast from 6 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 12 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 9s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 11 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 13s period, S swell with 1,173 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 6 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 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 (Aug 06) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m 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 1.9m 13s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 11) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.8m 7s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 08) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Thu 6th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Wed 12th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Tue 11th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bonza Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s in store for Bonza Bay.
Straight up, the next 16 days are a bit of a mixed bag. We’ve got swell on the cards, but the wind is going to be a major player, and conditions are looking pretty average for a lot of the time. The forecast actually kicks off on Thursday, the 6th of August, with some background energy, but it’s not really worth paddling out for. The first session that’s got my attention is early on Saturday the 8th.
That Saturday morning, the 8th, is looking like the pick of the bunch. The water is a bit colder than normal for this time of year at 65°, so you’ll want a good wetsuit. We’ve got a clean 4ft groundswell rolling in from the SSW with a long 14-second period, which means proper lines and decent shape. The wind is glassy, absolute magic for a river mouth like this. The combined swell energy is sitting at 682 (moderate), so there’s enough push to get some fun waves. This is the standout session—don’t sleep on it.
Sunday the 9th morning is okay, but not as good. The swell is a touch bigger at 4ft from the SSW, 14-second period, and the wind is cross-off, leaving it clean. The energy is up a bit at 735 (moderate), but the wind is stronger, so it’s not as pristine as Saturday.
Things get a bit messy from Sunday afternoon through to the middle of the next week. The wind swings around and picks up, and the swell gets lumpy and choppy. On Monday the 10th, the swell jumps to 7ft, but it’s a short period SE windswell with a messy cross-chop. The energy is high at 1556 (strong), but the quality is poor. This is more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddle-surfing one.
Tuesday the 11th still has some size—6ft from the S with a better 11-second period, and the energy is strong at 1229, but the wind is onshore and the conditions are marginal. It’s a tough paddle.
The rest of the second week is a grind. The swell drops off, and we get a lot of small, wind-affected days with short periods and cross-shore winds. A few sessions have glassy or clean conditions, but the swell is tiny or the period is too short to get excited about. For example, the morning of Wednesday the 19th has glassy conditions with a 4ft, 9-second E swell, but it’s only a moderate energy of 525. It’s a possibility, but nothing special.
Overall, the standout is Saturday morning, the 8th of August. That’s the one to circle. The rest of the window is a bit of a waiting game, but the forecast can always change.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 22°C on Sat morning, min 15°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 46mm), heaviest during Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun morning, min 12°C on Sun afternoon). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Sun afternoon, light winds from the S by Mon night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | |||||||||||||||
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 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 8 | S 7 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SSW 11 | S 11 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | ESE 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
309 | 735 | 569 | 339 | 367 | 661 | 565 | 384 | 352 | 653 | 507 | 361 | 764 | 647 | 572 | 836 | 911 | 464 | 344 | 277 | 192 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 8:25AM1.52m | 9:12PM1.64m | 9:56AM1.42m | 10:53PM1.58m | 11:56AM1.45m | 00:35AM1.63m | 1:23PM1.59m | 1:46AM1.74m | 2:20PM1.77m | 2:38AM1.86m | 3:06PM1.93m | 3:21AM1.96m | 3:45PM2.06m | 4:00AM2.01m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:26PM0.80m | 3:40AM0.90m | 3:57PM0.91m | 5:38AM0.90m | 6:03PM0.90m | 7:10AM0.79m | 7:32PM0.77m | 8:08AM0.63m | 8:29PM0.62m | 8:52AM0.49m | 9:14PM0.49m | 9:30AM0.38m | 9:53PM0.40m | ||||||||
6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | |
— | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | |
mm | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | 17 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 |
Feels °C | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 21 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 6 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SSW 11 | S 11 | S 12 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | S 11 | ESE 7 |
53 | 735 | 569 | 339 | 367 | 661 | 565 | 384 | 352 | 653 | 246 | 167 | 764 | 647 | 572 | 836 | 911 | 339 | 315 | 277 | 192 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 7 | E 7 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | SSW 11 | SE 8 | SSW 14 | E 10 | S 12 | S 11 | E 9 | S 10 |
120 | 90 | 90 | 64 | 61 | 43 | 117 | 82 | 90 | 66 | 43 | 29 | 15 | 217 | 205 | 204 | 45 | 464 | 344 | 85 | 128 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | — | S 18 | NE 7 | — | — | — | — | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | — | SW 12 | SW 12 | S 14 | E 9 | — | SSW 11 | E 9 | SSW 22 | E 9 |
309 | — | 6 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 14 | 16 | 10 | — | 256 | 263 | 206 | 27 | — | 221 | 58 | 181 | 58 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 6 | — | — | — | NE 7 | ENE 5 | — | SW 4 | SSW 6 | — | SSW 8 | S 7 | SSW 9 | SSW 10 | — | SE 7 | ESE 8 | — | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 6 |
115 | — | — | — | 2 | 48 | — | 17 | 43 | — | 507 | 361 | 521 | 564 | — | 162 | 224 | — | 291 | 277 | 176 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 52 | 440 | 18 | 0 | 427 | 99 | 0 | 53 | 4 | 4 | 2996 | 555 | 854 | 52 | 23 | 52 | 853 | 19 | 54 | 482 | 34 |
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.











