Vitamin D in South Africa in September: sun, UV and what to expect
Too cold Too cold here in September: afternoon highs average only 18.2°C, which is too chilly for sunbathing in light clothing. Try another month or a warmer destination.
6.3 hsun window (UV 2.5+)
5.9peak UV Index
9 minto a full dose
18°Cafternoon high
9/30rainy days
26/30sunny days
The country rating is for a typical beach, but some places in South Africa still work in September: St Lucia (good), Ballito (good).
Open South Africa for September on the map Find stays in South Africa
How long in the sun in September?
- If you travel anyway, plan your sun session around midday (roughly 11:00 to 15:00), when the UV Index peaks at about 5.9. With about a quarter of your skin bare, a full dose takes around 9 minutes for skin type III at age 30, and about 17 minutes at age 65.
- Stop well before your skin turns pink. At this UV level skin type III can start to burn after about 34 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 | 6 min | 11 min | 23 min |
| Type II | 8 min | 14 min | 28 min |
| Type III | 9 min | 17 min | 34 min |
| Type IV | 14 min | 25 min | 51 min |
| Type V | 18 min | 34 min | 68 min |
| Type VI | 30 min | 56 min | 1.9 h |
Minutes at midday for about 1,000 IU of vitamin D with a quarter of the body bare, at Cape Town, 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 September
| Place | Rating | Sun window | Full dose | Afternoon high | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Lucia | Good | 6.1 h | 9 min | 24°C | 12/30 |
| Ballito | Good | 5.4 h | 10 min | 22°C | 13/30 |
| Stellenbosch | Too cold | 6.4 h | 9 min | 20°C | 5/30 |
| Hermanus | Too cold | 6.5 h | 9 min | 18°C | 8/30 |
| Jeffreys Bay | Too cold | 6.2 h | 9 min | 20°C | 6/30 |
| Cape Town | Too cold | 6.3 h | 9 min | 18°C | 9/30 |
| Knysna | Too cold | 6.3 h | 9 min | 18°C | 11/30 |
| Gqeberha | Too cold | 6.3 h | 9 min | 20°C | 7/30 |
| Plettenberg Bay | Too cold | 6.2 h | 9 min | 19°C | 10/30 |
| Durban | Too cold | 5.1 h | 10 min | 22°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