Vitamin D in South Africa in May: sun, UV and what to expect
Good Good. A full dose takes about 14 minutes at midday, and the usable window is about 4.4 hours a day.
4.4 hsun window (UV 2.5+)
3.9peak UV Index
14 minto a full dose
22°Cafternoon high
4/30rainy days
28/30sunny days
Best places in South Africa in May: St Lucia (good), Durban (good), Ballito (good), Gqeberha (good), Jeffreys Bay (good).
Open South Africa for May on the map Find stays in South Africa
How long in the sun in May?
- Plan your sun session around midday (roughly 11:00 to 15:00), when the UV Index peaks at about 3.9. With about a quarter of your skin bare, a full dose takes around 14 minutes for skin type III at age 30, and about 26 minutes at age 65.
- Stop well before your skin turns pink. At this UV level skin type III can start to burn after about 51 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 | 9 min | 17 min | 34 min |
| Type II | 11 min | 21 min | 43 min |
| Type III | 14 min | 26 min | 51 min |
| Type IV | 21 min | 38 min | 77 min |
| Type V | 27 min | 51 min | 1.7 h |
| Type VI | 46 min | 85 min | 2.8 h |
Minutes at midday for about 1,000 IU of vitamin D with a quarter of the body bare, at Plettenberg Bay, 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 May
| Place | Rating | Sun window | Full dose | Afternoon high | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Lucia | Good | 5.5 h | 11 min | 26°C | 4/30 |
| Durban | Good | 5.2 h | 12 min | 25°C | 3/30 |
| Ballito | Good | 5.2 h | 12 min | 26°C | 3/30 |
| Gqeberha | Good | 4.5 h | 13 min | 23°C | 3/30 |
| Jeffreys Bay | Good | 4.5 h | 13 min | 23°C | 3/30 |
| Plettenberg Bay | Good | 4.4 h | 14 min | 22°C | 4/30 |
| Stellenbosch | Good | 4.3 h | 14 min | 24°C | 4/30 |
| Knysna | Too cold | 4.4 h | 14 min | 21°C | 5/30 |
| Hermanus | Too cold | 4.3 h | 14 min | 22°C | 4/30 |
| Cape Town | Too cold | 4.2 h | 14 min | 20°C | 5/30 |
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