Sao Paulo to Addis Ababa flight path: GRU to ADD

Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Sao Paulo to Addis Ababa. The right side edges out the left by offering a scenic coastal departure near São Paulo and a dramatic Rift Valley and highland approach into Addis Ababa, while both sides share the same many hours of featureless Atlantic and African plateau during cruise.

During takeoff from Guarulhos (GRU), sit on the Right side for the best views. Departing GRU on runway 10 heading east, the right side of the aircraft faces south, giving a brief view of the Serra do Mar coastal range and the approach to the Atlantic coastline near Santos before the long ocean crossing begins. The left side mostly shows the sprawling flat interior of São Paulo state receding into haze. Notable sights include: Serra do Mar escarpment, Santos coastline, São Paulo metropolitan sprawl.

When landing at Bole International (ADD), sit on the Right side for the best views. On approach into Bole from the south, the right side of the aircraft offers views over the Great Rift Valley's chain of lakes and the dramatic highland escarpments surrounding Addis Ababa. The left side mostly faces the flatter eastern plateau with fewer distinguishing features. Notable sights include: Rift Valley lakes (Ziway, Langano), Ethiopian highland escarpment, Entoto Mountains north of Addis.

The flight from Guarulhos (GRU) to Bole International (ADD) takes about 9 hours 35 minutes. The shortest flight path between them is 6,168 miles (9,927 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.

Mid-Atlantic open ocean with no landmarks, followed by the African coastline near Angola or Gabon and the vast equatorial rainforest and savanna of the Congo Basin before reaching the Ethiopian highlands.