Surf Forecasts:
Bonza Bay surf forecast from 9 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 13 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 9s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 9 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 9s period, S swell with 1,693 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 12 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 8s period with ESE 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 Wednesday (Aug 12) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.0m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 11s. 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 3.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 09) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.9m 7s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 16) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Wed 12th Aug) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Sun 9th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bonza Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s be straight up – Bonza Bay’s got a bit of a mixed bag across this 16-day stretch. Right now, there’s no real clean, rideable surf to start with, so we’re in a bit of a holding pattern. The first decent chance rolls around on Sunday morning, August 9th, but it’s not a standout – more of a “see if you can make it work” kind of deal.
The first real action is on Sunday morning, 9 August. Bonza Bay is pumping with a solid 8ft swell from the SW, but it’s got a cross-offshore wind from the WSW at 16 mph. The wave energy is massive – 2948 – so there’s plenty of juice, but the break is a river mouth, and with that energy, it might get a bit unruly. The water’s sitting at 65°F, which is a bit colder than usual for this time of year by about 3°F. It’s clean, but the conditions are marginal – not a full green light.
Monday morning, 10 August, offers a more manageable 7ft swell from the SSW with a gentle cross-offshore breeze. Energy is still strong at 1575, but again, the forecast calls it marginal. The period is 10 seconds, which is reasonable for a river break.
Now, here’s the one that gets me excited. If you can wait, Saturday morning, 22 August is where it’s at. Bonza Bay is looking glassy with a 5ft swell from the S, and the wind is dead calm – literally glassy, with only a slight air moving. The period is a nice 14 seconds, so you’re getting groundswell that’ll wrap in with some push, and that energy is healthy at 1313. This is the clear standout for the whole 16 days. It’s excellent for experienced surfers – the 5ft is a sweet spot, not too big, not too small. Crowds are possible here, so get in early.
After that, things taper off into smaller, messier conditions through the second week. The last half of August has a lot of cross-shore winds and smaller swell, with some days showing marginal or poor surf. Sunday morning, 23 August, has a 5ft S swell with a long 15-second period, but the wind is cross-onshore from the E at just 3 mph – close to clean, but not as crisp as the 22nd.
Honestly, if you’re keen, lock in that Saturday the 22nd. The rest of the run is pretty average, with long gaps of poor conditions, especially from the 13th to the 21st where there’s barely a decent wave to be had. But hey, that’s the way it goes sometimes.
Stay salty,
Rusty
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 37mm), heaviest during Sun night. Very mild (max 18°C on Sun morning, min 12°C on Mon morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the WSW on Sun afternoon, light winds from the S by Mon night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Wed afternoon. Warm (max 20°C on Fri afternoon, min 14°C on Wed night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 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) | SW 14 | SSW 7 | S 8 | SSW 10 | SE 8 | SSW 11 | S 11 | S 13 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SSW 17 | SSW 20 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 2191 | 311 | 970 | 904 | 239 | 460 | 714 | 1288 | 715 | 537 | 522 | 391 | 333 | 218 | 356 | 153 | 230 | 176 | 229 | 330 | 290 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | on | on | on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 1:23PM1.59m | 1:46AM1.74m | 2:20PM1.77m | 2:38AM1.86m | 3:06PM1.93m | 3:21AM1.96m | 3:45PM2.06m | 4:00AM2.01m | 4:22PM2.13m | 4:35AM2.02m | 4:58PM2.14m | 5:09AM1.99m | 5:31PM2.10m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:32PM0.77m | 8:08AM0.63m | 8:29PM0.62m | 8:52AM0.49m | 9:14PM0.49m | 9:30AM0.38m | 9:53PM0.40m | 10:06AM0.31m | 10:30PM0.36m | 10:39AM0.28m | 11:03PM0.37m | 11:11AM0.30m | 11:35PM0.43m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | |  | |  |  | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — |
 | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — |
mm | — | 2 | 17 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 3 | — | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 17 | 20 | 21 | 18 |
Feels °C | 13 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 17 | 18 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | E 9 | SSW 8 | SE 8 | SSW 11 | S 11 | S 13 | SE 8 | ESE 9 | S 11 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SSW 16 | E 6 | ESE 7 | SSW 15 | E 7 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | 662 | 246 | 43 | 380 | 239 | 460 | 714 | 1288 | 545 | 537 | 151 | 391 | 281 | 196 | 106 | 132 | 91 | 107 | 21 | 20 | 18 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 9 | — | SE 8 | S 8 | SE 7 | SSW 14 | E 10 | S 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 21 | S 10 | SSW 17 | ESE 8 | SSW 18 | E 9 | S 9 | E 10 | SW 14 | S 13 | S 13 |
| kJ | 90 | 64 | — | 264 | 149 | 156 | 425 | 45 | 336 | 202 | 180 | 106 | 333 | 47 | 356 | 85 | 2 | 90 | 74 | 4 | 3 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | — | E 9 | SSW 11 | SSW 14 | E 9 | — | E 9 | SSW 23 | SW 21 | SSW 18 | S 10 | SSW 20 | E 10 | SSW 16 | — | SSW 16 | S 14 | — | S 13 |
| kJ | 5 | 5 | — | 27 | 100 | 265 | 26 | — | 42 | 106 | 467 | 228 | 47 | 218 | 46 | 153 | — | 48 | 4 | — | 13 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SSW 7 | S 8 | SSW 10 | — | — | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 10 | ESE 9 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | — | ENE 10 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 |
| kJ | 2191 | 311 | 970 | 904 | — | — | 224 | 224 | 715 | 273 | 522 | 156 | 122 | 109 | — | 167 | 230 | 176 | 229 | 330 | 290 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 52 | 610 | 301 | 52 | 52 | 52 | 492 | 853 | 435 | 204 | 492 | 0 | 124 | 321 | 24 | 99 | 273 | 24 | 19 | 255 | 24 |
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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