Surf Forecasts:
Bonza Bay surf forecast from 24 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 25 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 14s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 17s period, S swell with 3,564 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 15s period with S 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 Monday (Aug 24) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 12s. 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 2.5m 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 10s period and expected on Friday (Aug 28) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 14s |
| 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, let’s talk Bonza Bay in numbers you might measure on a tape. This is a river break that really likes the south swell.
The water is sitting around 66°, just a touch below what you’d expect for this time of year.
The call is Wednesday the 26th, first light. That’s the one. A solid 7ft swell from the south, with a long 17-second period. The wind is glassy, light from the ESE. This is as clean as it gets. The wave energy is strong at that point. For a surfer with some experience, this is a dream window. A long period on a river mouth can make it a little walled, but with that wind, it’s a go.
Wednesday afternoon jumps to 8ft, but the onshore wind kills it. Thursday and Friday are blown out by strong cross-shore winds. Saturday morning is messy, and Saturday afternoon drops to a tiny 2ft.
The next good look is Sunday the 30th in the morning. A 5ft swell from the east, with a clean offshore breeze from the NNW. The energy is moderate, and the 11-second period gives it some shape. That’s a solid, clean morning.
Everything else is a struggle. The first week of September is cross-shore and lumpy. There’s a pulse on the 2nd, 5ft from the SSW, but the wind is cross-shore.
Then the end of the window gets huge. The 4th sees 16ft+ swell, but it’s all onshore and completely blown out. The 5th has 13ft with a cross-shore wind. The wave energy is massive, but it’s just a washing machine. The break is too small for that size. Not for normal surfing.
So, bottom line: Wednesday the 26th at dawn is the standout. Clean, powerful, for the crew that knows what they’re doing. Sunday the 30th is the next best bet. The rest is a whole lot of wait and see.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Wed morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon afternoon, min 14°C on Tue morning). Winds increasing (calm on Mon night, strong winds from the NE by Thu morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 34°C on Sun morning, min 18°C on Thu afternoon). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the ENE on Thu afternoon, light winds from the NE by Fri morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | ||||||||||||||
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) | S 11 | SSW 15 | S 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | S 17 | S 17 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | S 11 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 244 | 785 | 708 | 1428 | 752 | 2344 | 3564 | 1567 | 584 | 667 | 1057 | 792 | 818 | 867 | 867 | 94 | 1128 | 573 | 457 | 326 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | off | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 4:31PM2.09m | 4:43AM1.99m | 5:00PM2.10m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 10:18AM0.30m | 10:39PM0.34m | 10:46AM0.29m | 11:09PM0.34m | |||||||
 |  | | |  |  | |  |  | | |  | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — |
 | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 28 | 27 | 34 | 25 | 20 |
Feels °C | 17 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 18 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 23 | 30 | 24 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | SSW 15 | SSW 12 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | S 17 | S 17 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | S 11 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 |
| kJ | 244 | 785 | 406 | 1428 | 752 | 2344 | 3564 | 1567 | 584 | 667 | 1057 | 792 | 818 | 867 | 867 | 94 | 1128 | 573 | 457 | 326 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | S 17 | E 9 | S 18 | E 10 | — | — | SSW 13 | — | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 13 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSW 7 |
| kJ | 14 | 12 | 708 | 6 | 229 | 2 | — | — | 189 | — | 416 | 339 | 253 | 198 | 170 | 35 | 41 | 22 | 10 | 117 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | — | E 9 | — | — | — | S 16 | — | — | — | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 14 | S 10 |
| kJ | 7 | 7 | 6 | — | 2 | — | — | — | 83 | — | — | — | 85 | 156 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 5 | E 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | SW 3 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | 37 | 229 | 710 | 1271 | 1981 | 1883 | 1563 | 2282 | 1658 | 1275 | 9 | 75 | 118 | 204 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 52 | 0 | 4 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 404 | 372 | 435 | 435 | 54 | 19 | 255 | 24 | 54 | 249 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 115 |
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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