Surf Forecasts:
Bonza Bay surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 22 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 11s period, SW swell with 3,201 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 5AM (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 Wednesday (Aug 19) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 9s. 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 11s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) 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 1.9m 7s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 11s |
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.
Right off the bat, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. We’ve got some funky winds and the swell is all over the place. The wave energy is moderate-to-strong most of the time, but the conditions are rarely on our side. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, nothing crazy.
The first real standout window is Friday, August 28th, in the afternoon. After a long stretch of cross-shore chop and marginal slop, the stars finally align. The wind drops to a glassy calm, and we’ve got a clean 5ft SSW groundswell rolling in with a nice 14-second period. The combined energy is a solid 987 (moderate). This is the one to point your board at. It’s a river mouth setup, so it’ll handle that long-period groundswell better than a beach break, keeping the waves from just walling up. It’s a gorgeous, clean afternoon session and the best on offer.
Then, towards the end of the run, Monday, August 31st, in the afternoon has some potential. We get a clean offshore wind (WNW at 16 mph) with a smaller 3ft SSW swell. The energy is low at 354 (weak), but that offshore wind is going to groom it into clean little lines. Not a day for big waves, but a longboarder’s dream.
Looking further ahead, Thursday, September 3rd, in the morning is promising but a long way off, so don’t book the trip yet. We’re looking at glassy conditions again with a 3ft SSW groundswell, 13-second period, and 468 (moderate) combined energy. If that forecast holds, it’s another clean, fun morning.
The rest of the forecast is a write-off. Strong winds, chop, and bad tide conditions dominate. The 8ft+ swells on the 20th and 22nd are too big and messy, blown out by strong cross-shore winds. There’s a long stretch from the 19th to the 28th where the surf is just not worth paddling out for. And after the 29th, it gets ugly with rain and howling winds.
So, in short: keep your eyes on the 28th and the 31st. The 3rd of September is a maybe. Everything else is a pass.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Wed morning, min 15°C on Thu morning). Winds increasing (calm on Tue night, fresh winds from the WSW by Wed night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Sat morning, min 15°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SW on Sat morning, calm by Sun night). | ||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | ||||||||||||||
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 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | S 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 9 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | S 12 | S 14 | S 12 | S 11 | SSW 15 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 649 | 663 | 563 | 350 | 276 | 2085 | 1073 | 589 | 425 | 279 | 657 | 1093 | 2567 | 1064 | 1313 | 1279 | 390 | 295 | 869 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:10AM1.57m | 7:38PM1.60m | 7:47AM1.43m | 8:23PM1.45m | 9:02AM1.30m | 10:17PM1.34m | 12:22PM1.30m | 00:43AM1.39m | 1:40PM1.43m | 1:43AM1.50m | 2:17PM1.58m | 2:20AM1.63m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:11AM0.76m | 1:14PM0.75m | 1:49AM0.88m | 1:53PM0.90m | 2:50AM1.00m | 3:07PM1.05m | 5:23AM1.04m | 6:17PM1.07m | 7:15AM0.93m | 7:39PM0.95m | 7:59AM0.79m | 8:18PM0.81m | |||||||
 |  | | | | | | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — |
 | 5:40 | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 21 | 21 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 20 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 17 |
Feels °C | 16 | 20 | 21 | 12 | 15 | 13 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | S 12 | ENE 8 | E 8 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | S 12 | S 14 | S 12 | S 11 | SSW 15 |
| kJ | 649 | 663 | 563 | 350 | 211 | 2085 | 1073 | 589 | 425 | 279 | 99 | 35 | 1356 | 1064 | 1313 | 1279 | 390 | 295 | 869 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 6 | E 8 | SSW 12 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | — | — | S 14 | — | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | E 8 | E 9 | SSW 15 | S 15 | E 10 |
| kJ | 83 | 60 | 66 | 66 | 276 | 21 | 12 | 12 | — | — | 142 | — | 7 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 225 | 161 | 7 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | E 9 | — | ENE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 10 | E 10 | S 14 |
| kJ | — | — | 56 | — | 23 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 8 | 4 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | ENE 4 | — | SSW 6 | — | — | — | — | ENE 3 | ENE 6 | SSW 11 | SSW 9 | SSW 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 5 | — | 145 | — | — | — | — | 9 | 108 | 657 | 1093 | 2567 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 18 | 19 | 4 | 301 | 23 | 52 | 0 | 19 | 455 | 24 | 330 | 440 | 23 | 23 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 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.
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