Surf Forecasts:
Bonza Bay surf forecast from 28 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 10s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 10s period, SE swell with 3,200 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 28 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 10s period with E 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 28) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 11s. 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 4.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 10s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 29) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Fri 28th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Fri 4th Sep) | 13ft (4.0m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bonza Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here, taking a look at Bonza Bay over the next couple of weeks. It’s a mixed bag — some clean windows, but plenty of wind and chop to sort through.
It’s a slow start. Friday the 28th has chest-high swell from the east, about 6ft with a 9-second period. Combined energy is moderate at 1009, and the water temp is 67°F, about average for the time of year. The northeast breeze is blowing cross-shore at 9 mph, putting a little crumble on it. Nothing special — the morning is iffy, and the afternoon gets worse.
Saturday the 29th morning is the real standout. Swell at 6ft from the east, still 10-second period, and combined energy moderate at 827. A light northerly breeze at 9 mph turns it cross-offshore, cleaning it right up. This is a river mouth setup, open to the south, and with the best swell direction from the south, it should line up nicely. Saturday morning is your window. Afternoon the swell drops to 2ft, way too small.
Sunday the 30th is a dud. Tiny surf, cross-winds, then onshore wind and a short-period windswell. Monday the 31st has rainy, bumpy waves under 3ft. The first week of September is mostly poor — strong cross-shore winds and lumpy conditions.
Wednesday afternoon, September 2nd, we get a pulse: 6ft swell from the south-southwest with a very long 18-second period and combined energy shooting up to 2051 — very strong. But the wind is cross-onshore and it’s choppy. That long-period groundswell wants a point or reef, not a river mouth, so expect it to close out and be messy.
From Thursday the 3rd to the 6th of September, it’s big and ugly. Swells climb from 10ft to nearly 15ft, with strong breezes up to 28 mph, creating a messy and dangerous ocean. More for kite-surfing than paddling unless you’re a pro.
The last possible window is Saturday, September 12th, two weeks out. A solid 7ft easterly swell, 10-second period, and combined energy around 1140 — moderate to strong. Morning winds are light cross-shore at 9 mph, so it might be rideable. Long-range promise, but not a sure thing.
Bottom line: hit Saturday morning, August 29th. That’s the cleanest, best chance. The rest is mostly a wash.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 34°C on Sat morning, min 16°C on Sun night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Mon afternoon. Warm (max 20°C on Tue afternoon, min 14°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | |||||||||||||||
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) | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SSE 11 | E 10 | SSE 11 | S 5 | SSW 9 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 18 | SSW 15 | SSW 13 | SE 8 | SE 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 577 | 539 | 640 | 596 | 130 | 339 | 37 | 60 | 153 | 154 | 113 | 171 | 90 | 189 | 336 | 231 | 1774 | 1330 | 555 | 885 | 2433 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 4:04PM2.03m | 4:14AM1.98m | 4:31PM2.09m | 4:43AM1.99m | 5:00PM2.10m | 5:12AM1.96m | 5:31PM2.07m | 5:44AM1.89m | 6:04PM1.98m | 6:18AM1.78m | 6:41PM1.85m | 6:59AM1.63m | 7:27PM1.69m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:52AM0.35m | 10:11PM0.37m | 10:18AM0.30m | 10:39PM0.34m | 10:46AM0.29m | 11:09PM0.34m | 11:15AM0.32m | 11:40PM0.39m | 11:46AM0.39m | 00:14AM0.48m | 12:19PM0.50m | 00:53AM0.62m | 12:59PM0.65m | 1:42AM0.77m | |||||||
 | |  |  | | | |  |  | | | | | | | |  | |  |  |  | |
 | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — |
 | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:51 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 7 | 2 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 6 | 8 | 13 | 28 |
Temp °C | 32 | 30 | 27 | 34 | 31 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 |
Feels °C | 29 | 27 | 25 | 30 | 28 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 17 | 21 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 10 | 9 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | ENE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | ENE 10 | SSW 9 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | SSW 13 | E 8 | ENE 8 | SSW 18 | SSW 15 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 |
| kJ | 577 | 539 | 640 | 596 | 739 | 339 | 196 | 154 | 153 | 154 | 113 | 171 | 90 | 189 | 234 | 118 | 1774 | 1330 | 555 | 238 | 117 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | S 11 | SSE 11 | SW 10 | E 10 | SSW 9 | S 8 | S 7 | SSW 11 | S 11 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | E 8 | E 8 | ENE 8 | E 8 | SSW 12 |
| kJ | 339 | 279 | 260 | 224 | 130 | 61 | 37 | 27 | 200 | 86 | 45 | 26 | 73 | 2 | 336 | 231 | 69 | 36 | 24 | 223 | 150 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 15 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSE 14 | SW 12 | SSE 10 | ESE 6 | ESE 5 | SW 12 | SW 11 | S 11 | S 9 | — | SW 22 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 93 | 125 | 120 | 7 | 8 | 18 | 6 | 20 | 25 | 18 | 35 | 30 | 2 | 2 | — | 18 | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | SSW 6 | S 6 | S 5 | — | — | ESE 5 | — | ENE 5 | ENE 7 | SW 4 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | — | ESE 6 | SE 8 | SE 9 |
| kJ | 938 | 958 | 1697 | 1667 | 1478 | 45 | 29 | 60 | — | — | 21 | — | 72 | 327 | 17 | 113 | 208 | — | 119 | 885 | 2433 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 19 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 107 | 0 | 168 | 134 | 134 | 52 | 0 | 99 | 301 | 107 | 52 | 301 | 168 | 138 | 237 | 349 |
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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