Surf Forecasts:
Bonza Bay surf forecast from 22 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 22 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 17s period, S swell with 4,131 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 22 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period with SW 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 Saturday (Aug 22) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 2.1m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.7m and 13s is also forecast. 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 2.5m 17s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.5m 9s period and expected on Friday (Aug 28) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bonza Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, and I’ve been picking through the charts for Bonza Bay. Gotta be straight with you—the next sixteen days are a mixed bag. This river mouth setup can be finicky, and there’s a lot of junk coming through. The water’s sitting at 66°F, which is a touch colder than normal for this time of year, so don’t forget the rubber.
We’re starting off rough. Saturday the 22nd is a write-off. You got 19 mph cross-winds on the morning messing up a tiny 2ft south swell, and by the afternoon a near-gale kicks in. Just leave it.
The first bit of hope comes Sunday the 23rd in the morning. A clean 6ft swell from the SSW (10-second period) with a nice cross-offshore breeze. The combined energy is moderate (552), and while it’s just a “marginal” call, the clean morning makes it the best of a bad bunch for the first week. It’s not a classic, but it’s rideable.
The real standout of the whole period is Sunday the 30th of August. That morning, a solid 7ft SSW swell (11-second period) shows up with light northerly winds giving us a cross-offshore breeze and clean faces. The energy reading is a strong 929, and the call is “expect very good surf conditions.” Mark that one on the calendar. For intermediates it’s fine, but at over 8ft it’ll have some punch.
Looking further out to Thursday the 3rd of September, the morning looks good. The swell drops to 4ft, but it’s a very long-period groundswell of 17 seconds from the SSW, with a clean cross-offshore breeze. This is perfect for a river mouth—long lines and good shape, though the sets will be spaced out, making the paddle out easier. The energy is moderate to strong (839).
The second week is a tease. There are other pulses, like on the 4th and 5th of September, with solid 8ft and 5ft SSW swells, but the wind is almost always cross-on or choppy, turning them into a mess.
So, keep it simple. Don’t bother with the first few days. Sunday the 23rd is your quick fix, Sunday the 30th of August is the big standout, and the 3rd of September morning is a solid backup for long-period lines. The rest is mostly frustration.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Sat morning, min 14°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SW on Sat afternoon, calm by Sun night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 21°C on Thu afternoon, min 14°C on Tue morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the SW on Tue night, strong winds from the ENE by Thu afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | |||||||||||||||
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 11 | SSW 7 | SW 9 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | S 10 | S 8 | S 11 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 13 | SSW 16 | S 17 | S 17 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | SSE 16 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 200 | 652 | 1303 | 540 | 435 | 296 | 88 | 195 | 581 | 1088 | 633 | 1382 | 3691 | 4131 | 1708 | 885 | 667 | 416 | 574 | 565 | 397 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 12:22PM1.30m | 00:43AM1.39m | 1:40PM1.43m | 1:43AM1.50m | 2:17PM1.58m | 2:20AM1.63m | 2:46PM1.72m | 2:50AM1.74m | 3:12PM1.84m | 3:18AM1.85m | 3:38PM1.95m | 3:46AM1.93m | 4:04PM2.03m | 4:14AM1.98m | |||||||
Low Tide | 6:17PM1.07m | 7:15AM0.93m | 7:39PM0.95m | 7:59AM0.79m | 8:18PM0.81m | 8:30AM0.65m | 8:48PM0.68m | 8:58AM0.53m | 9:16PM0.55m | 9:25AM0.43m | 9:44PM0.45m | 9:52AM0.35m | 10:11PM0.37m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — |
 | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 21 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
Feels °C | 17 | 13 | 9 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 19 | 23 | 23 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 11 | ENE 7 | SSW 9 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | S 10 | S 8 | S 11 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 13 | SSW 16 | S 17 | S 17 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | ENE 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 |
| kJ | 198 | 17 | 672 | 540 | 435 | 296 | 88 | 195 | 581 | 1088 | 633 | 1382 | 3691 | 4131 | 1708 | 885 | 667 | 808 | 450 | 361 | 281 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 14 | — | E 8 | E 8 | E 9 | E 9 | SSW 14 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | E 9 | S 17 | E 9 | — | — | — | S 16 | S 16 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 |
| kJ | 200 | — | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 63 | 13 | 13 | 6 | 596 | 2 | — | — | — | 422 | 507 | 416 | 574 | 565 | 397 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | — | — | E 9 | — | SE 12 | SSW 11 | E 10 | E 10 | SE 11 | E 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 16 | SSE 15 | SW 17 | — |
| kJ | 40 | — | — | 7 | — | 6 | 47 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 400 | 74 | 12 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 3 | SSW 7 | SW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 5 | ENE 6 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | — | — | ENE 9 |
| kJ | 2 | 652 | 1303 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 91 | 219 | 816 | 1522 | — | — | 573 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 53 | 440 | 238 | 52 | 52 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 18 | 360 | 852 | 435 | 435 | 435 | 54 | 19 | 249 | 0 |
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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