Loading map...
HRE → WDH
Which side of the plane to sit from Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport (Harare) to Hosea Kutako International Airport (Windhoek)?
Right Side of the Plane
The right side offers a superior view of Southern Africa's most iconic geological features, including the shimmering salt crusts of the Makgadikgadi Pans and the fringes of the Okavango Delta.
Lake Kariba Shoreline
Distant views of the massive man-made reservoir and the Zambezi Valley to the north shortly after takeoff.
Hwange National Park
Fly over the northern edges of Zimbabwe's largest park, known for its dense elephant populations and waterhole networks.
Makgadikgadi Pans
A spectacular sight of one of the world's largest salt flats, appearing as a brilliant white expanse in the Botswana desert.
Okavango Delta Fringe
Visual access to the northern greenery and winding waterways where the Kalahari meets the inland delta.
Omaheke Region
Transition into the stark, beautiful Namibian cattle ranching heartland as you cross the border.
The right side is the 'landmark' side. For the best experience, book a flight departing Harare in the late morning. This provides high-contrast lighting for the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, making them appear almost snow-like from 35,000 feet. Keep a binoculars handy to spot animal tracks around Hwange if the altitude is lower than usual.
Harare Skyline
Aerial views of Zimbabwe's capital city and its organized residential suburbs during the initial climb.
Central Kalahari
Vast stretches of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, showing the characteristic red sands and scrub of the deep desert.
Acacia Woodlands
Intricate patterns of acacia-dominated savanna typical of southern Botswana's rugged landscape.
Auas Mountains
The dramatic, rugged mountain range surrounding Windhoek as the aircraft begins its final descent into Namibia.
Sit on the left if you want to avoid the direct northern sun glare during midday flights in the Southern Hemisphere. This side offers better views of the expansive, unpopulated wilderness of central Botswana, which is particularly beautiful at sunset when the Kalahari sands turn a deep orange.
Distance: 1,508 km (937 miles)
Approximate Flight Time: 2 hrs 1 min
Departure: HRE (-17.931801, 31.0928)
Arrival: WDH (-22.4799, 17.4709)
Route Type: International
Thank you for booking your travels through our travel partners. The commissions from your bookings keep this site running.