Vitamin D in South Africa in June: sun, UV and what to expect
Too cold Too cold here in June: afternoon highs average only 20.0°C, which is too chilly for sunbathing in light clothing. Try another month or a warmer destination.
3.1 hsun window (UV 2.5+)
3.2peak UV Index
17 minto a full dose
20°Cafternoon high
7/30rainy days
26/30sunny days
The country rating is for a typical beach, but some places in South Africa still work in June: St Lucia (good), Durban (good), Ballito (good).
Open South Africa for June on the map Find stays in South Africa
How long in the sun in June?
- If you travel anyway, plan your sun session around midday (roughly 11:00 to 15:00), when the UV Index peaks at about 3.2. With about a quarter of your skin bare, a full dose takes around 17 minutes for skin type III at age 30, and about 31 minutes at age 65.
- Stop well before your skin turns pink. At this UV level skin type III can start to burn after about 62 minutes of midday sun, so cover up, find shade and use SPF 30+ on skin that stays out.
- Water, sand and light surfaces reflect UV, so at the beach you get a little more sun than the number suggests, for the good and the bad.
| Skin type | Full dose, age 30 | Full dose, age 65 | Time to burn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type I | 11 min | 21 min | 42 min |
| Type II | 14 min | 26 min | 52 min |
| Type III | 17 min | 31 min | 62 min |
| Type IV | 25 min | 47 min | 94 min |
| Type V | 33 min | 62 min | 2.1 h |
| Type VI | 56 min | 1.7 h | 3.5 h |
Minutes at midday for about 1,000 IU of vitamin D with a quarter of the body bare, at Gqeberha, the median coastal place. Time to burn is the time to reach one minimal erythemal dose and does not depend on age. A rough planning guide, not medical advice.
Places in South Africa in June
| Place | Rating | Sun window | Full dose | Afternoon high | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Lucia | Good | 4.7 h | 13 min | 24°C | 6/30 |
| Durban | Good | 4.4 h | 14 min | 23°C | 6/30 |
| Ballito | Good | 4.3 h | 14 min | 23°C | 3/30 |
| Plettenberg Bay | Too cold | 3.3 h | 17 min | 20°C | 8/30 |
| Knysna | Too cold | 3.3 h | 17 min | 19°C | 10/30 |
| Gqeberha | Too cold | 3.1 h | 17 min | 20°C | 7/30 |
| Jeffreys Bay | Too cold | 3.1 h | 17 min | 21°C | 7/30 |
| Hermanus | Too cold | 3.0 h | 18 min | 19°C | 11/30 |
| Stellenbosch | Too cold | 2.8 h | 18 min | 20°C | 10/30 |
| Cape Town | Too cold | 2.6 h | 18 min | 18°C | 14/30 |
Other months in South Africa
- Jan Excellent
- Feb Excellent
- Mar Excellent
- Apr Good
- May Good
- Jun Too cold
- Jul Too cold
- Aug Too cold
- Sep Too cold
- Oct Too cold
- Nov Excellent
- Dec Excellent
Best months: November to May. Full South Africa guide