The vast majority of travelers will be driving this festive season to their holiday destination after a long a trying year. Nevertheless, as South Africans prepare to close their laptops for the final time in 2025 and get some well-earned R&R, there are better and worse times to be tackling holiday traffic …
Bakwena Platinum Corridor Concessionaire’s COO, Solomon Kganyago, advises motorists to plan their travels carefully. He says you should time you travel to avoid peak hours/days, ensure you vehicle is roadworthy. And take into account a comfort break every two hours if you are driving this festive season.
DRIVING THIS FESTIVE SEASON
Thankfully, traffic data from toll-road operators reveals exactly when the heaviest congestion will occur on the country’s highway network. If you’re heading north-east, according to Bakwena N1N4 tolls, the busiest days in 2025 will be:
- Friday 12 December
- Monday 15 December
- Friday 19 December
- Wednesday 24 December (Christmas Eve)
- Wednesday 31 December (New Year’s Eve)
As far as peak congestion times for driving this festive season: The data says 12h00 (midday) to 21h00. Additionally, Kganyago warns that while not the heaviest, Saturday 13 December and Saturday 20 December should also see heavier-than-usual traffic. However, this will typically be from 06h00 in the morning through to mid-afternoon 15:00.
ANNUAL EXODUS FROM MAJOR METROS
As The South African has reported, these align with the typical festive season exodus from major metros around the country. The South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) confirms that high traffic volumes are expected from Friday 13 December 2025, ahead of the extended Day of Reconciliation weekend, falling on Tuesday 16 December.
As such, the agency’s data identifies the N3 from Johannesburg to Durban as one of the busiest corridors. Likewise, the N1 route south toward Cape Town will see extra congestion. Not to mention the N2 coastal routes within KwaZulu-Natal and Garden Route. Therefore, those driving this festive season may want to plan strategically for quieter periods.
QUIETEST DAYS DRIVING THIS FESTIVE SEASON
Christmas Day Thursday 25 December and Boxing Day Friday 26 December will be the lightest travel days of the entire festive season. If you have a flexible schedule, these days present an ideal opportunity in which to drive. Furthermore, early mornings before 11h00 and late evenings after 21h00 are when traffic volumes are noticeably reduced.
As far as return journeys go in January 2026, Bakwena predicts heavy congestion on the following days from midday 12h00 to 21h00:
- Sunday 4 January
- Sunday 11 January
Whatever you do, if you’re driving this festive season and are hoping for a smooth ride, be sure to circumnavigate the aforementioned days.
But what do you think? Will you be going by car to your holiday destination this festive season? Or is driving too dangerous over the holidays in South Africa? Be sure to let us know in the comments section below …
