Photo by Adobe Stock
Photo by Adobe Stock
With just days left until we all get through to the Christmas break, the light is at the end of the tunnel. We’ve got one eye on our presents under the tree, and another on the beers behind the bar. After all, Ke Dezemba, boss. The time to celebrate and unwind is almost here – but we still have a few of the worst traffic nightmares to contend with.
Worst days and time to travel at Christmas in South Africa:
Christmas is a time to see family, friends and loved ones. That usually required a lot of travel, and everyone has the same idea: According to data from various toll plazas, there are indeed some dates and times which attract more traffic than usual. You might not be surprised by these days and busy periods, but there’s still time to plan around them…
- Friday 20 December: The last official working day of the calendar year for many, as South Africans drive home for Christmas.
- Tuesday 24 December: The mad dash to see the family begins here. The major roads turn into Wacky Races.
- Tuesday 31 December: Revellers making their way to a New Year’s jol or wrapping up their holidays usually travel on this day. Bring snacks and drinks for the car ride, and allow extra time for your journey.
- Worst times to travel: The earlier you start a journey, the better. Traffic usually piles-up between 12:00 – 15:00. Leaving it until the evening can usually backfire, as some of the heaviest flows of the season are clocked between 17:00 – 21:00
What are the busiest roads in South Africa at Christmas?
N1 to Beitbridge – one of the worst
If you’re leaving Limpopo and heading towards the southern Zimbabwe town of Beitbridge, be prepared. The well-known border post is notorious for delays as passports and documents are given the once-over, but it has also become something of an accident hotspot in the last few years.
N1 between Tshwane and Bela-Bela – the nightmare before Christmas
This road does lead to Beitbridge, but you can experience problems immediately after driving north of Pretoria. A stack of e-toll gates, connecting junctions and festive travellers make the run-up to the border just as tortorous as the final stage itself.
N3 to Durban – highway to hell
A major highway that connects Durban to Johannesburg, passing through three provinces on the way. It’s not rocket science, this one. Plenty of city dwellers make their way down to the KZN coast this time of year, whereas Durbanites take the opportunity to head north. Again, it’s a common theme, but there are accidents aplenty on these roads, too.
N4 to Maputo – Christmas ruined
From North West, through to Gauteng, into Mpumalanga and beyond. The road connecting South Africa with Mozambique is a popular one for holidaymakers. Border posts and frequent roadworks mean that a journey on the N4 is about as fun as clipping the cat’s toenails.
N4 from Tshwane to Botswana – passport control is the worst
Are you seeing a theme here? Generally speaking, heading out of the country has the potential to cause gridlock. The queues at checkpoints can pile-up for miles, and this route is no exception.
N2 to the North Coast, KZN – the eternal failure
It genuinely is one of the most annoying roads in the world: Never-ending maintenance, a myriad of toll plazas and a nasty reputation for hosting fatal head-on collisions. If you can avoid these roads, please do. If you can’t, remain vigilant, and set off earlier than usual to allow time for disruptions.
