Johannesburg O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB/FAOR), is the busiest airport in South Africa and handled 21.5 million passengers in the year 2019, serving all continents except Antarctica. It serves as the primary airport for domestic and international travel to/from South Africa.

This is the most interesting airport if you want to see a large number of African Airlines. In fact it is probably one of the very few on the whole continent where spotting is known and tolerated. The fact that SAA ceased operations in 2020 and returned to start slowly in 2022/3, only a few SAA aircraft are active (4 A320, 2 A330, 2 B737-8). The game players at OR Tambo are Flysafair (B737) and Airlink (ERJ135,170,190) the whole day.
Kenya Airways (mostly B787, sometimes B737), Air Botswana (ATR42/72), LAM Mozambique Airlines (B737, DH8, ERJ135), RwandAir (CRJ900, B737, A330), Malawian Airlines (B738), Ethiopian Airlines (B787, B772, B77F), TAAG Angola Airlines (B773, sometimes B737), Uganda Airlines (ERJ, A330), Zambia Airways (B737, DHC-8). But also Lift (oldest active A320’s), Air Austral (A220), Air Mauritius, Fastjet Zimbabwe (ERJ145), Air Cote d‘Ivorie (A319), Eswatini (Air ERJ145) and Air Seychelles are just some of the interesting aircraft you will see during the day in JNB.

But do not let this list fool you, the vast majority of traffic is dominated by the local companies. Also lots of the carriers operate only very small fleets meaning that you will sometimes see the same aircraft over and over again during your stay.

Written by Jeremy Denton, Kevin Perry, Severin Hackenberger and Jan Seba. Last update: Oct 2024 – Spot 10

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
03L/21R	4.418 m (12.495 ft) Concrete
03R/21L	3.400 m (11.155 ft) Concrete
Terminals
International Terminal A	International flights only.
Central Terminal	Combination of International and Domestic flights.
Domestic Terminal B	Domestic flights.
Spotting Information
Ladder	Not necessary
Car/Public Transport	Car is absolutely necessary, as there are large distances and also for safety reasons (see Security Information below)
Restrooms	Available at spot 6,7,8 and 10.
Drinks/Food	Available at spot 6,7,8 and 10.
Hotels	There are plenty of hotels and small B&B accomodation options around the airport. A hotel with limited view of the apron and taxiways is the Protea by Marriott Hotel OR Tambo next to the terminals. A hotel for catching arrivals is the Birchwood Hotel (spot 10).
Season	Best season from May to August as there is less rainfall than in the summer.
Security	PLEASE BE CAREFUL DURING YOUR STAY IN SOUTH AFRICA. HERE ARE SOME GENERAL TIPS: – DON´T SPOT ALONE. ALWAYS HAVE A BUDDY WITH YOU – STAY NEXT TO YOUR CAR WHILE SPOTTING – DON´T DISPLAY YOUR EXPENSIVE CAMERA EQUIPMENT, TABLET OR SMARTPHONE FOR A LONG TIME. – AT NIGHT, DON´T GO OUT BY FOOT, EVEN IF YOU JUST HAVE TO WALK A FEW METERS. ALWAYS USE YOUR CAR.
Runway Usage
03L/21R	Mainly in use for departures, sometimes when the traffic is low on departures it is also used for arrivals (especially on weekends or early in the morning).
03R/21L	Mainly in use for arrivals.

Carp Rd - Arrivals RWY 21L Morning

WHERE	From Protea Hotel OR Tambo, exit the parking on the left, continue on Gladiator St until the intersection and take the M32 Promona Rd. Exit when it’s mentioned M45 and follow the direction M45 Benoni. Continue on Dann Rd until the intersection and take Atlas Rd M43. Continue straight, pass the intersection and then take the small road on the left. Go straight, then right, follow this road Bonaero Rd for 5 minutes. When you have the possibility to turn on the right into Carp Rd, take it.
WHAT	Excellent location for arrivals on RWY 21L in the morning.
TIME	From sunrise until 10:00/10:30
MISC.	There is nothing nearby, so take what you need with you.
FOCAL LENGTH	95mm A346 / 170mm B738 / 210mm A319 / 380mm Learjet

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Bonaero Rd - Arrivals RWY 21L Afternoon

WHERE	From Protea Hotel OR Tambo, exit the parking on the left, continue on Gladiator St until the intersection and take the M32 Promona Rd. Exit when it’s mentioned M45 and follow the direction M45 Benoni. Continue on Dann Rd until the intersection and take Atlas Rd M43. Continue straight, pass the intersection and then take the small road on the left. Go straight, then right and follow this road, Bonaero Rd. Park your car after the police station. The overview below is taken at a street corner where it is also possible to shoot. But always keep a distance to the fencewall, as it is not allowed to stay close to it.
WHAT	Good location for arrivals RWY 21L in the afternoon.
TIME	From 12:00 until the end of the day.
MISC.	There is nothing nearby, so take what you need with you.
FOCAL LENGTH	170mm B738 / 210mm ERJ135

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Football Field - Taxiway and Storage/Maintenance

WHERE	From Protea Hotel OR Tambo, exit the parking on the left, continue on Gladiator St until the intersection and take the M32 Promona Rd. Exit when it’s mentioned M45 and follow the direction M45 Benoni. Continue on Dann Rd until the intersection and take Atlas Rd M43. Continue straight past the intersection then take the small road on the left. Go straight, then right and follow this road, Bonaero Rd, for 3 minutes. Turn on the right when you see a large football field. There is an entrance way where you can drive in and park your car in the parking area. The sports field is the safest place with some of the best views tho now the bushes and trees are getting in the way of aircraft using taxiway Hotel and decent photography is not as good as it used to be.
WHAT	This location can be used for shooting arrivals on the taxiway after landing on RWY 03R. Only a few portion of the arrivals will actually take this taxiway, most of the planes will take the earlier taxiway off the runway. Cargo arrivals will often pass this point. You can also have pictures of some aircraft who are stored or in maintenance.
TIME	Shots on the taxiway are good all day (in winter). Though the spot is most interesting around noon when you don’t have sun for the approach shots. The stored aircraft can only be shot early in the morning.
MISC.	There is nothing nearby, so take what you need with you. The place is not well kept, litter etc but shops are 4 minutes away.
FOCAL LENGTH	95mm MD80 / 140mm DC-9

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Meadow - Arrivals RWY 03R Morning

WHERE	From spot 1, take the road who pass inside the house complex Carp Rd, then turn on the first on your left after that turn right to be on M43 direction Atlas Rd. Continue straight for about 10 minutes the take on your right to be on Ridge Rd. Go straight until you see the ILS and turn on the road on your left. The overview shot below was a bit to the north of the marked location, on the other side of the Yaldwin Rd / Leith Rd intersection. There are two possibilities to drive onto the dirt area with your car. There is a small ramp right in the middle of the intersection and another one at the eastern end of the area.
WHAT	Good location for arrivals RWY 03R in the morning.
TIME	From sunrise until 10:00/10:30.
MISC.	There is nothing nearby, so take what you need with you.
FOCAL LENGTH	78mm 388 / 170mm B738 / 210mm ERJ135

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Jones Rd - Arrivals RWY 03R Afternoon

WHERE	From the Protea Hotel OR Tambo, exit the parking on the left, then at the intersection, on the left on Wellington St. After take the M57 on Pretoria Rd direction Airport. Take the exit on the left ORT Int and Jones Rd. Go straight, turn on the right direction SAA Technical. Continue on this road, you will see on your right lot of parking with cars. Continue straight in direction of Airways Park, then don’t turn on the left to Airways Park, continue straight on Jones Rd and follow the same road for a bit less then 10m. You’ll see on the right a way, next to the road, here you can park your car.
WHAT	Excellent location for arrivals RWY 03R in the afternoon.
TIME	From 12:00 until the end of the day.
MISC.	There is nothing nearby, so take what you need with you. Be careful when standing next to the road while shooting. The driver are quite reckless here and drive very fast.
FOCAL LENGTH	65mm A346 / 240mm Jetstream 41 / 340mm Beechcraft

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Domestic viewing deck - Apron, RWY03L, taxiway

WHERE	On the third level in the Terminal (landside), you have a large window where you can easily see on the apron and take pictures – this place is known as domestic viewing deck. To get there, just jump into one of the elevators at the big atrium hall and go to the top level. Be careful about the reflection and try to find a clean spot on the window as well as the playing kids on the playground close by.
WHAT	Taxiing aircraft, departures and arrivals on RWY 03L as well as apron infront.
TIME	From 12:00 until the end of the day.
MISC.	There are restaurants and restrooms in the terminal.
FOCAL LENGTH	On the RWY : 116mm 744 / 170mm 332 / 380mm AN26 – Taxing : close, less than 120mm

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Follow this sign to the deck on top level:

The deck itsself:

International viewing deck - Apron and runway

WHERE	Walk towards international check in and keep following the signs “viewing deck” once you walk north inside the internatinal part. The signs will lead you upstairs and around several corners to a deck with an exhibition. Then take the window on the left hand side, which is the only untinted window at this deck.
WHAT	Parking positions and apron parts infront as well as sometimes the runway.
TIME	From 12:00 until the end of the day.
MISC.	There are a lot of restaurants and restrooms inside the terminal.
FOCAL LENGTH	A343 infront = 40mm / B744 runway = 165mm / B737 runway = 320mm 18-300mm

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Hi-Flyerz Bar - RWY 03R morning

WHERE	An alternative to spot #4 is the Hi-Flyerz ‘Aviation Themed Bar’. It is located directly opposite of Spot#4 on the South side of the N12, located along View Point Road.
WHAT	Good location for arrivals RWY 03R in the morning.
TIME	From sunrise until 10:00/10:30.
MISC.	Its a good place for a lunch break, while the sun is overhead the runway, before moving to the afternoon spot. www.hiflyerz.co.za
FOCAL LENGTH	Almost the same as for spot #4

Highway - Arrivals RWY 21R Morning

WHERE	Getting to this location is relatively simple. If you’re coming from the south, just follow the Atlas Rd until the end and if you’re coming from the north take the Dann Rd below the highway and then turn right twice. At this point take the driveway to the R21 in direction of Pretoria. Once you are on the driveway be careful when slowing down and pull over onto the left shoulder. You can park your car directly at the location on the grass. Leaving this location is more difficult you can either go onto the R21 or take the small dirt road from here going back to the Atlas Rd.
WHAT	The views of 03L/21R and Delta/golf ramp is very good, except for heat haze. While the 21R is usually only used for departures it is sometimes used for arrivals as well. This can happen if there are no departures at the time, which is more common during the weekend. So it’s definitely useful to know this location, because it’s also very easy to reach.
TIME	From sunrise until 10:00/10:30.
MISC.	The dirt road is a frequently used walkway for the rather poor people going to work. Be mindful of your surroundings and always stay close to the car. Be very aware, of any strangers or Police, stop briefly,
FOCAL LENGTH	120mm for an A346, 200mm for a B738.

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Birchwood Hotel - 03R Arrivals Morning

WHERE	This spot is inside the Birchwood Hotel area nearby the northern entrance. You can reach this spot easily from the “View Point Road” via “Entrance 2”, just say you want to do some spotting at the gate and you’ll get in! Update Oct 2024: There are still some good spots to take pictures from landing aircraft on the car park area, BUT all trees were growing and getting bigger in the last years, so it may be difficult for good photos and eventually impossible in the future! Find your special spot in the corner close to “La Grande/Hotspot Bar” between the building and the trees or directly at the main entrance door close to the Shuttle Bus parking or in front of “The BC Cafe”. From this spots it is possible to take pictures but you have to be quick because the aircraft disappear constantly behind trees.So, if you stay in the Hotel it’s okay to get some planes between breakfast and leaving, but if you are not a resident, drive to spot #4.
WHAT	All Arrivals on runway 03R.
TIME	From sunrise until 10:00/10:30.
MISC.	You are safe here and everything nearby like restrooms and restaurants!
FOCAL LENGTH	100 – 400mm

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Buffalo road park - 03R Arrivals Morning

WHERE	This spot is located inside a little “park”, which can be reached easily from the Buffalo road, which leads thru a living area. The park can be entered easily from the street called Buffalo road, where it’s not that easy to park your car at. Once entered this park, which isn’t clearly marked with a gate or similar, search your favourite location there. This “park” is actually just a green area with a toy for kids in it.
WHAT	All Arrivals on runway 03R.
TIME	From sunrise until 10:00/10:30.
MISC.	You are normally safe here, but nothing nearby like restrooms and restaurants! Keep a low profile and don’t atract the attention of the families living around here! Heat haze can be a problem here on hot days as well as high grass or similar – spot not always useable.
FOCAL LENGTH	70 – 300mm

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Airside restaurants - Apron and runway

WHERE	Inside the terminal, when you pass the security check, you have some restaurants. The last one on the left offers large windows and a great view into southern and estern direction – it’s thus a great place to take pictures.
WHAT	Parking positions and apron parts infront as well as sometimes the runway.
TIME	From 12:00 until the end of the day.
MISC.	There are a lot of restaurants and restrooms. This spot is located after security check thus a valid boarding pass is needed.
FOCAL LENGTH	18-100mm

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