Hamba kahle means "go well". Tell us your trip and get a list of what to look out for, from other drivers and road know-how your maps app won't give you.
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The N3 toll route: steep climbs out of Durban, Van Reenen's Pass into the Free State, then a long, fast run to Gauteng.
This guide was written for Durban to Johannesburg. The same roads apply on your trip, but read exits, merges and lane tips the other way round.
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Traffic builds around Alberton and Germiston. Know whether you need the N12, N17, R24 to OR Tambo, or Buccleuch before you get there.
The last plaza, just before Heidelberg. After Heidelberg the N3 is toll-free.
Fatigue is the main risk here. Swap drivers or stop if you feel drowsy.
Mainline plaza on the Free State stretch between Harrismith and Villiers.
Big 24-hour fuel and food stops just off the N3. Roughly halfway.
Call the N3 Helpline rather than walking along the road. Switch on hazards and stay behind the barrier if you can.
Thick mist is common on the pass. Snow can close it on cold winter days. Check @N3Route before you set off.
Steep, winding pass between KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State, and a major truck route. Expect slow trucks and breakdowns; stay patient and don't tailgate.
Mainline plaza near Ladysmith.
Large 24-hour fuel and food stops. A good break before the pass.
Mainline plaza near Mooi River. The Mooi River off-ramps are tolled too.
Long, steep hill between Pietermaritzburg and Hilton/Howick. Slow trucks, and often misty early in the morning.
The N3 skirts the city with several exits close together. Stay in the through lanes unless you're stopping.
Loaded trucks crawl uphill and brake hard going down. Keep a big gap and don't sit beside them.
First mainline plaza, near Pinetown. Queues build on Friday afternoons and before long weekends.
Passengers only, or once you've stopped. Never while driving.
A tap posts the hazard and road. To add the lane, how bad it is or a tip, use "Add a detailed report" further down.
Your location is only used when you tap a button that asks for it. Reports show it rounded to about 100 m, never your exact spot. You can always type the road instead.
