
Surf Forecasts:
Bonza Bay surf forecast from 5 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 9 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 14s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 10 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 14s period, S swell with 2,987 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 5 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 11s period with SE 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 Sunday (Jul 05) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 5s. The wind is predicted to be 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 1.1m 5s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 12) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Sun 5th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Thu 9th Jul) | 6ft (1.9m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Fri 10th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bonza Bay over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about Bonza Bay.
We’ve got a mixed bag coming up. The water’s sitting at a very cold 64°, which is 5° colder than normal for this time of year, so that’s a solid 4/3mm wetsuit situation right out of the gate. The pattern starts pretty flat and messy, with nothing really worth paddling out for until later in the first week.
Sunday July 5th is a write-off. We’ve got a weak 4ft SE swell with a short-period 11 seconds, but the wind is a cross-onshore mess. Combined energy is only 437, and the conditions are poor. No point even looking at it.
Monday July 6th stays small with 3ft SE swells. The morning is cross-onshore and marginal, but the afternoon gets interesting for a moment – the wind goes glassy, absolutely dead calm. The swell is still tiny, but if you’re on a log, you’ll find something fun in the clean, bump-free water. Low energy (183), but the clean surface is a treat.
Tuesday July 7th and Wednesday July 8th are a write-off. The swell stays under 3ft, but strong cross-winds (12-19 mph) kill any chance of decent shape. It’s chop city.
Thursday July 9th is where it starts to wake up. We get a clean 6ft SSW groundswell in the morning, period 12 seconds, with a cross-offshore wind. Combined energy jumps to 1116. This is a solid, workable size for intermediates. The wave quality is still “marginal” on the forecast, but the conditions are clean.
Friday July 10th sees a spike in size. Morning has a 8ft S swell at 14 seconds – that’s a lot of water. Energy is 2782, very strong. This is expert-only territory. The wind is light cross-onshore, so it’ll be lumpy, but for someone who knows what they’re doing, the power is there. The afternoon drops a little to 8ft, still meaty.
Saturday July 11th looks blown out. Strong NE winds up to 22 mph and a lumpy cross-shore chop. The 6ft S swell has energy but the wind ruins it. Not worth it.
Sunday July 12th is a quiet standout. Morning is glassy again, dead calm, with a 5ft SSE swell. The period is short (8 seconds), so it’s a wind swell, but the clean conditions and manageable size make it a good call for a relaxed session. Energy is 631.
Monday July 13th is the pick of the whole forecast. Morning sees a clean 7ft SSE swell with a light cross-offshore breeze and energy at 1273. This is excellent for experienced surfers – good shape, decent power, clean faces. The optimum swell direction is S, and this is coming from SSE, which is close enough at Bonza Bay to work well. Get on it early.
After that, the second week goes patchy. Tuesday July 14th and Wednesday July 15th are small and messy. Thursday July 16th has a 28 mph W cross-offshore wind – that’s a strong breeze, and the swell is puny and weak. It’s more likely to be good for a kite than a surfboard.
Friday July 17th sees a return of a 4ft S swell with a 13-second period, moderate energy (653), but cross-shore winds keep it lumpy. Saturday July 18th has more S swell (4-4ft) with a very long 16-second period – that’s proper groundswell. Energy is high (1164), but the long period makes it better for the point or river mouth setups. The cross-shore wind on Saturday afternoon will chop it up.
Sunday July 19th is small again with a 5ft S swell and light winds. Monday July 20th is a total loss – fresh NE winds and tiny, poor surf.
So, bottom line: your best chances are Monday morning July 13th – that’s the real standout for experienced surfers with clean conditions and solid 7ft groundswell. And if you just want a clean, small wave to yourself, the glassy morning of Sunday July 12th is your sleeper pick.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Mon night, min 16°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 19°C on Wed afternoon, min 13°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Wed night, calm by Fri morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sun 5 | Monday 6 | Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SSW 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 10 | SSW 12 | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | SSE 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
398 | 263 | 159 | 124 | 90 | 173 | 161 | 178 | 265 | 734 | 711 | 1100 | 569 | 2570 | 2775 | 2184 | 1629 | 1142 | 668 | 411 | 294 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | off | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross | cross | off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | off | glassy |
High Tide | 7:08PM1.85m | 7:16AM1.69m | 7:53PM1.81m | 8:08AM1.61m | 8:50PM1.76m | 9:13AM1.53m | 10:00PM1.73m | 10:37AM1.50m | 11:21PM1.73m | 12:05PM1.54m | 00:37AM1.78m | 1:20PM1.65m | 1:42AM1.87m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:17AM0.76m | 1:23PM0.68m | 2:08AM0.81m | 2:12PM0.75m | 3:11AM0.86m | 3:15PM0.82m | 4:31AM0.88m | 4:36PM0.86m | 5:58AM0.83m | 6:05PM0.83m | 7:10AM0.74m | 7:21PM0.75m | 8:08AM0.62m | ||||||||
— | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | |
5:13 | — | — | 5:14 | — | — | 5:14 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | 5:16 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 20 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 18 |
Feels °C | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 16 | 18 | 15 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | ENE 7 | SSW 14 | SSW 12 | SSW 14 | ENE 7 | SSW 10 | SSW 12 | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | SSE 8 |
398 | 263 | 159 | 124 | 80 | 42 | 161 | 178 | 265 | 11 | 351 | 1100 | 569 | 2570 | 2775 | 2184 | 1629 | 1142 | 668 | 411 | 294 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 9 | E 5 | ENE 6 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 14 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | SE 9 | SSW 14 | E 10 | ESE 10 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | ESE 6 | E 7 | S 8 | S 11 |
21 | 14 | 13 | 59 | 90 | 173 | 32 | 26 | 24 | 23 | 326 | 16 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 64 | 107 | 127 | 265 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | SW 14 | SW 13 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | SE 10 | SE 10 | ESE 10 | SE 9 | SSW 19 | ESE 10 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | E 10 | SE 13 | SE 13 | — | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | E 7 | E 8 |
14 | 47 | 44 | 15 | 20 | 49 | 48 | 36 | 22 | 34 | 10 | 15 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 7 | — | 111 | 78 | 74 | 72 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 4 | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 4 | — | — | SSW 13 | SSW 10 | — | SSW 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 3 | WSW 4 |
4 | — | — | — | — | — | 18 | — | — | 734 | 711 | — | 492 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 26 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 19 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 52 | 23 | 0 | 52 | 53 | 4 | 5 | 52 | 0 | 52 | 404 | 34 | 435 | 249 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Eastern Cape - Wild Coast | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











