Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Paris to Durban. While takeoff offers Paris city views from the left, the landing provides more dramatic and sustained visual interest—the Indian Ocean approach with Durban Bay and coastal geography is more distinctive than European departure scenery. Right seats capture the arrival's best features.

During takeoff from Orly (ORY), sit on the Left side for the best views. Orly typically departs runway 26L/26R (westbound). Left seats face north during initial climb, offering views of central Paris including the Seine's loops through the city and the urban sprawl northward toward the Seine-Saint-Denis suburbs. Notable sights include: Seine River (distinctive meanders through Paris), Notre-Dame Cathedral area (small but identifiable in central island), Sacré-Cœur Basilica (white dome visible on Montmartre hill to the north), Bois de Vincennes (large forested area southeast of city center).

When landing at Durban International (DUR), sit on the Right side for the best views. Durban International uses runway 03/21 primarily. Right seats on approach from the west/northwest will face the Indian Ocean and Durban's beachfront as the aircraft descends toward runway 03 (northbound landing). This provides dramatic coastal views of the bay and city waterfront. Notable sights include: Indian Ocean (vast water body dominating the view), Durban Bay (distinctive curved harbor with port facilities), Bluff headland (rocky promontory separating bay from open ocean), Umhlanga Rocks area (northern coastal suburbs visible to the right/north).

The flight from Orly (ORY) to Durban International (DUR) takes Approximately 11-12 hours.

The flight path crosses the Mediterranean (visible on early departure), then proceeds southeast over North Africa (Atlas Mountains visible if daylight permits), continues over the Sahara Desert, crosses into sub-Saharan Africa over Mali/Burkina Faso region, then over central Africa (Congo Basin rainforest—green expanse if visible during daylight), before reaching southern Africa. The Zambezi River valley and Victoria Falls region may be visible during daylight hours in the final approach phase. Most of the 11+ hour flight occurs over Africa, with limited dramatic landmarks visible during the long overnight/dawn transit over the continent.