Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Johannesburg to Addis Ababa. While takeoff offers good Witwatersrand views on the left, the landing approach on the right provides more dramatic and sustained geography—the Ethiopian highlands and Addis Ababa's plateau setting are more visually distinctive than Johannesburg's sprawl. The right side captures the approach to one of Africa's most geographically prominent capitals.

During takeoff from Johannesburg International (JNB), sit on the Left side for the best views. JNB typically departs northbound (runways 03L/03R). Left-side seats face west across the Witwatersrand plateau and toward the Magaliesburg Range. You'll see the urban sprawl of Johannesburg and Pretoria spreading beneath you, with the distinctive ridge formations rising on the western horizon. Notable sights include: Magaliesburg Range (western horizon), Witwatersrand plateau (immediate terrain), Johannesburg urban grid (directly below), Pretoria administrative district (north-northeast).

When landing at Bole International (ADD), sit on the Right side for the best views. ADD typically lands on runways 03 or 05 (northeasterly approach). Right-side seats during descent offer views of the Ethiopian highlands approaching from the south. You'll see the dramatic topography of the Addis Ababa plateau and the surrounding escarpments that define the city's geography. Notable sights include: Ethiopian highlands plateau (dominant terrain), Addis Ababa urban area (center), Entoto Mountains (northern rim), Awash River valley (eastern approach).

The flight from Johannesburg International (JNB) to Bole International (ADD) takes Approximately 4 hours 45 minutes.

The flight path crosses from South Africa's interior plateau northward across the Limpopo River (border), then continues through Zimbabwe and Zambia's savanna regions. The Zambezi River valley becomes visible in the midpoint, followed by the transition into Mozambique's lower elevation terrain. As you approach Ethiopia, the terrain rises dramatically into the East African highlands. The Blue Nile headwaters region becomes visible in the final approach phase. Most of the midpoint flight crosses relatively flat savanna with scattered cloud cover—limited dramatic landmarks visible from cruise altitude except the major river valleys.