Surf Forecasts:
Bonza Bay surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 23 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 22 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 14s period, SSW swell with 1,676 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 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 Friday (Aug 21) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 13s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Bonza Bay in the next 16 days are 2.1m 14s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 9s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 27) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bonza Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, Rusty here again. Let’s break down Bonza Bay in feet and knots.
The best window is Friday morning, August 21st. Glassy conditions with a light SSW breeze at just 3 knots, and a clean 5ft swell from the SSW, with a solid 12-second period. The combined energy is moderate at 610. It’s not huge, but it’s your best bet for a clean, fun session. Crowds are possible here, so maybe get out early. After that, the wind swings around and the surf quality drops off fast.
Saturday, August 22nd sees a big jump in wind – 22 knots from the WSW in the morning, then 25 knots from the SW in the afternoon. The swell bumps up to 7ft in the afternoon but with a short 7-second period, making it choppy and messy. That’s a pass for paddle surfing – looks more like a kite-fishing mission.
Sunday, August 23rd through Monday, August 24th stays marginal. The wind is cross or cross-on, the swell hangs around 4ft to 5ft, and the quality is just not there. Periods are decent (10–13 seconds), but the wind keeps it from being clean.
Tuesday, August 25th morning has a bit of promise – 5ft swell from the SSW, 15-second period, and a light cross-on breeze. The combined energy is strong at 1061. But the score is only a 3, so it’s not a standout. It’s a wave of opportunity if you’re keen and the wind behaves.
The rest of the week into early September is a write-off for quality surf. Strong winds from the ENE and NE, lumpy conditions, and the swell is either too short period or too onshore. By Monday, August 31st, the swell jumps to 10ft from the east with a short 8-second period – that’s too big for this break and only for experts, if anyone.
The first week of September doesn’t look much better. Thursday, September 3rd is clean but tiny – 3ft from the east, 8-second period, just 240 combined energy. Not worth paddling out for.
The one long-range glimmer is Friday, September 4th morning: 4ft from the SSW, 15-second period, 1150 combined energy, and light cross-on wind. Quality is marginal, but that’s the best of the second week. The next day, Saturday, September 5th, the swell explodes to 13ft from the SW with a 14-second period and 9477 combined energy – way too big for a river break, and definitely not for beginners.
So, for the next 16 days, the only real standout is Friday morning, August 21st. The rest is either blown out, too big, or too small. It’s a quiet patch for Bonza Bay, but that one glassy morning is worth the wait.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Sat morning, min 15°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu night, strong winds from the SW by Sat afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon morning, min 14°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Sun night, fresh winds from the ENE by Wed afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | ||||||||||||||
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 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | S 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 7 | SW 9 | SSW 10 | S 11 | SSW 11 | S 13 | SSW 12 | S 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | S 16 | S 16 | S 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1073 | 598 | 494 | 404 | 200 | 528 | 1228 | 588 | 516 | 356 | 440 | 232 | 441 | 1049 | 790 | 773 | 1289 | 1471 | 594 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | on | off | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 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 | 2:46PM1.72m | 2:50AM1.74m | 3:12PM1.84m | 3:18AM1.85m | ||||||
Low Tide | 2:50AM1.00m | 3:07PM1.05m | 5:23AM1.04m | 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 | |||||||
 |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — |
 | 5:42 | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
Feels °C | 19 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | S 12 | SSW 11 | S 14 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | S 11 | SSW 11 | S 13 | SSW 12 | S 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | S 16 | S 16 | S 12 |
| kJ | 1073 | 598 | 494 | 404 | 198 | 394 | 688 | 588 | 516 | 356 | 440 | 232 | 441 | 1049 | 790 | 773 | 1289 | 1471 | 594 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | ENE 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | SSW 5 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | — | S 16 |
| kJ | 22 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 57 | 18 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 23 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 2 | — | 317 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NE 7 | — | — | S 14 | — | — | E 9 | — | S 12 | SSE 11 | — | E 10 | SE 12 | — | S 13 | ENE 10 | — | — |
| kJ | — | 2 | — | — | 200 | — | — | 7 | — | 3 | 12 | — | 7 | 6 | — | 3 | 9 | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | ENE 3 | SW 3 | SSW 7 | SW 9 | — | — | — | — | SSW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | E 4 | ENE 6 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 4 | 3 | 528 | 1228 | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 41 | 165 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 455 | 204 | 162 | 440 | 238 | 0 | 52 | 0 | 4 | 52 | 0 | 4 | 18 | 0 | 456 | 455 | 435 |
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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