Lightstone's analysis of anonymised Tracker mobility data shows that traffic on South Africa's national roads rose sharply in December 2025 from November, with service station stops up 4% - but travel distances dropped by 5%.
Volumes on the N6, which connects East London to Bloemfontein via Aliwal North, were up 48%, the N1, South Africa's backbone which connects Cape Town to Beit Bridge via Bloemfontein and Johannesburg/Pretoria, was up 40%, the N3 (Johannesburg to Durban) increased by 31% and the N2, which links Cape Town to Durban via Port Elizabeth and East London, jumped 27%. These increases reflect strong inter-provincial movement, particularly between economic hubs and family destinations.
Gauteng residents were the most mobile over the festive period compared to those in KwaZulu-Natal, the Western Cape and the Eastern Cape, favouring destinations such as Durban and the KwaZulu-Natal coastline, Polokwane, Mbombela, Rustenburg and the Vaal Dam. At the same time, notable inflows into Gauteng from the Free State, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and the North West point to a strong return-home dynamic, suggesting that December travel for many was centred on visiting family.
Service stations along these corridors, recorded significantly higher activity, highlighting the commercial strength of en-route stops. Seven of the top 15 service stations which recorded more than 50% more stops were in the Free State, followed by five in Limpopo, two in Kwa-Zulu Natal and one in the Northern Cape.
Top service station stops - December 2025
In contrast, Western Cape residents were more likely to holiday locally, with travel concentrated around shorter regional trips to areas such as Stellenbosch, the Overstrand, Mossel Bay and George. The dominance of short-haul, convenience-led travel reflects a preference for nearby, easy-to-reach destinations that suit shorter breaks while minimising time, cost and planning.
While overall stops across the country increased in December compared to November, the average distance travelled declined slightly, with passenger vehicles, taxis and Double Cabs travelling around 4% fewer kilometres. This suggests fewer extended journeys and a stronger focus on getting to a destination and staying put.
"Festive travel is becoming less about how far people go and more about how efficiently they move," says "The data suggests South Africans are planning their holidays carefully, prioritising time with family and minimising unnecessary travel."
This intent-driven behaviour was also reflected in shopping patterns. Mall visits peaked in the days leading up to Christmas, particularly at large regional malls, before dropping off toward year-end, reinforcing the idea of focused activity followed by downtime.
Mall visits >50 000 sqm GLA
"Understanding when and where consumers move is critical," Narotam adds. "Brands that align their networks, staffing, promotions and supply chains to these more intentional travel and shopping patterns will be better positioned to capture demand when it peaks."
