Plane Spotting Johannesburg

Protea O.R. Tambo – Latest Update March 2016
Hotel Description
Location: *** Good location for plane spotting at Johannesburg Airport. The hotel is located across the road from the long term parking area where the day stopping long haul aircraft park up.
Spotting: *** Good views of the long term parking apron, taxiway to 21R and Runway 21R. A good telescope or SBS would be required to get the smaller movements. Room number 547 gives the views below (any airport facing room on 5th floor should offer similar views). A free shuttle bus 0600-2300 takes you to the terminals and associated viewing decks. The top floor rooms at this hotel are all reported to be doubles.
Photos: ** Shots as below from the hotel window.
Value: ** From around £70 per room per night.
Book: If you are looking to make your own travel arrangements please click on AGODA or Booking.com to be taken directly to the hotel information page. Please help support our site. We are constantly checking the links for hotels to find the best price offered for our readers. If the price on this site is the best quote you receive, please help us by booking your hotel from the link provided as we receive a small commission payment from the hotel. This helps contribute to the running costs of this site enabling us to continue to offer a great service.

Plane Spotting Hotels are also pleased to have entered a partnership with an ATOL approved travel agency which specialises in packages for plane spotters (your travel consultant is a fellow aviation enthusiast who understands your needs). An independent travel agency can often find you better deals for your hotels as they can access travel agents exclusive deals, especially when packaged in with flights or car hire as many suppliers offer further discounts.

Quote The Plane Spotting Hotels website when contacting the NOT JUST TRAVEL WEBSITE and you will be dealt with by the Plane Spotting Travel Expert who can assist you with all aspects of planning your trip.

Comment! If you want to add or update anything, please use the comment form at the bottom of the page!
africa_jnb jnb5
Apron view from the room.

Credit Andy Rackham

Traffic on the runway can be obstructed by parked planes in the foreground
The Southern Sun Johannesburg Airport Last Update March 2016
Hotel Description
Location: *** Perfect location for plane spotting at Johannesburg Airport. The hotel is located within walking 10-15 minute walking distance of the 2 terminals although the safer shuttle bus is the better option !
Spotting: ** Rooms 607/8/9 have reported good views or departures as well as part of the apron. Previous organised group tours have been given permission to use the roof of the hotel, great views can be had if you are able to talk the manager into giving you access. Otherwise we suggest you catch the shuttle bus for the short hop to use the official spotting decks on the terminal.

The end of the higher floor corridors has views into a few small hangers adjacent to the domestic apron. The high level rooms are all reported to be doubles.

Photos: ** Not reported although hotel roof access should give possibilities. If no joy with the roof good quality shots can be taken from the spotting decks at the terminal.
Value: ** From around £70 per room per night.
Book:  For further details please go the the  Booking.com
Comment! If you want to add or update anything, please use the comment form at the bottom of the page!


Birchwood Hotel                                   Last Update February 2018
Free shuttle bus to the airport and also to the nearby East Rand Mall. The hotel is also within walking distance of local restaurants and fast food establishments such as McDonalds. A local Spar shop is also just a short walk away. The hotel also has a nice sized swimming pool.
Location: ** Situated on short final to Runway 03R
Spotting: ** Certain high level rooms in the hotel complex should have views of Runways 03L/R. Flight tracking software would help for the far runway of the two. The lodges will probably not have views due to their low height. We do however have great reports from the hotel parking lot area which gives good views of the approach to both Runway 03R as well as 03L arrivals in the distance.

Rooms 966 and 967 have confirmed views of arrivals onto 03R or departures if on opposite ends. Runway 03L arrivals can be seen by taking a small walk from the room.

Another great attraction of this hotel is the next door bar named the Hi-Flyerz Aviation Bar. This has a great balcony area with great views of aircraft landing 03R. traffic landing 03L is also easily seen from here although further away. If the landing direction is over the bar, you can also see departures climbing away in the distance although flight tracking software will be required for these movements.

Next door is a 24 hour McDonalds and small supermarket.

Photos: *** Great landing shots can be taken from the car park area of the hotel in the morning when the sun is behind you. A 80-300 lens is sufficient for all of the aircraft types.
Value: *** Great value. From around £39 per room per night.
Book: For further details please click on  AGODA or Booking.com to be taken directly to the hotel information page. Please help support our site. We are constantly checking the links for hotels to find the best price offered for our readers. If the price on this site is the best quote you receive, please help us by booking your hotel from the link provided as we receive a small commission payment from the hotel. This helps contribute to the running costs of this site enabling us to continue to offer a great service.

Plane Spotting Hotels are also pleased to have entered a partnership with an ATOL approved travel agency which specialises in packages for plane spotters (your travel consultant is a fellow aviation enthusiast who understands your needs). An independent travel agency can often find you better deals for your hotels as they can access travel agents exclusive deals, especially when packaged in with flights or car hire as many suppliers offer further discounts.

Quote The Plane Spotting Hotels website when contacting the NOT JUST TRAVEL WEBSITE and you will be dealt with by the Plane Spotting Travel Expert who can assist you with all aspects of planning your trip.

 

Comment! If you want to add or update anything, please use the comment form at the bottom of the page!
 Plane spotting JNB  Plane Spotting Johannesburg
Great shots can be had from the Birchwood car park  Great results can be had in the morning
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