In November 2024, Appleyard took to the air at 10:00 from Lanseria Airport with pilot Carl Nicholl to explore the profusion of purple from above. Joburg has an estimated 70,000 jacaranda trees, while Pretoria is said to have about 65,000. Pretoria long ago took the name "Jacaranda City" because of the greater density of the trees in the city and surrounding suburbs.
The trees were introduced to Pretoria first, and then to Johannesburg sometime in the 1800s. Jacarandas were brought to South Africa from South America and planted to ornamentally line the streets. Today, however, it is illegal to plant more jacarandas, as they are classified as alien plants that are far from being water-wise, so they are harmful to the environment and surrounding species. That said, they are an important part of our cities' heritage, and each year we celebrate them for their short-lived spectacular beauty from mid-October to the start of November.
Back to our eye in the sky.
"It's hard to avoid the cliches," says Appleyard, "but it was pretty jaw-dropping. Seeing them from that angle... it has this patchwork effect. It almost looks like areas of Joburg are woven together with these trees, with leading lines that are so pleasing to a photographer."
On the day, says Appleyard, "the light was challenging as the sky was really hazy. There wasn't a cloud to be seen. The temperature was around 21 degrees [celsius]. The challenge in photographing this was to eliminate the sky in my photography and to focus on the trees."
The route was chosen for its dense concentration of jacarandas. "We spent about an hour in the air. From Lanseria, we headed towards Sandton, and then over Rosebank and circled the surrounding suburbs, making a few loops over the area from Bolton Road, which separates Parkwood from Rosebank, up to the war museum (South African National Museum of Military History). Then we were off to Houghton and over to the Houghton Golf Club and The Houghton Hotel. From there, we flew over Melrose, which was super impressive. We flew back over Bryanston, where the trees start to scatter and then peter out."
Apart from the vivid purple of jacaranda trees in bloom, what was most notable from the air, says Appleyard, was the incredible pops of colour from ubiquitous bougainvillea and the enormous number of solar panels on rooftops.
"It was a great experience, and highly recommended," says Appleyard.
Book for a #JacarandaInYourPocket 2025 helicopter experience
Photo: Supplied.
For 2025, Johannesburg In Your Pocket is taking its jacaranda experiences to new heights – literally – by partnering with Bastion Aviation for helicopter flips over the city’s iconic purple canopy. Building on past experiences exploring the jacarandas on foot, by bike, and from the top of an open-top bus, this aerial perspective offers a breathtaking way to see Johannesburg in bloom.
The morning adventure on Sat, Oct 25 begins at 07:00 with a guided walk through Westcliff and its surrounds with Kennedy Tembo of MicroAdventure Tours, and concludes at Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff with a sumptuous breakfast or morning tea. Tickets cost R2,350 per person. Book your spot here. (Note: This event is 50% booked.)
Can’t do the morning? Visit Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff on the afternoon of Sat, Oct 25 from 15:30 for an exclusive jacaranda-viewing helicopter experience with Bastion Aviation, followed by sundowners at the hotel’s iconic Flames rooftop terrace. Tickets cost R2,000 per person. Book here.
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In photos: Joburg's purple profusion, from above
Now for the photos. If you love taking a stroll under the beautiful jacaranda trees, buckle up, because they're even more magnificent from the sky.
Photo: Clare Appleyard.
Photo: Clare Appleyard.
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