Every year, we celebrate Gauteng's jacaranda spring with a photo competition, where we ask our readers to share their favourite photographs of the blooming jacarandas with us on Instagram. From hundreds of images, we then narrow down the year's most spectacular shots to a list of 10 finalists, with the top five winners chosen by popular vote. Everyone who shows their appreciation of our vote for the best photo of the season will also be entered into a lucky prize draw.
Key dates for #JacarandaInYourPocket 2025 photo competition
Thu, Oct 16 until Mon, Nov 10 at 09:00 – The photo competition is open for entries.Thu, Nov 13 – Finalists announced and voting opens.
Mon, Nov 17 at 09:00 – Voting closes.
Thu, Nov 20 – Winners, runners-up, and voters' prizes are announced in our newsletter first (subscribe here) and then on Instagram (follow us @johannesburginyourpocket).
Wondering how else to celebrate the season? Join us for one of our #JacarandaInYourPocket 2025 experiences around Joburg.
What you stand to win with #JacarandaInYourPocket
This year, we have some incredible prizes for our first, second, third, fourth, and fifth-place photography winners, and a number of great prizes for voters too! The collective value of the prizes is more than R40,000. Here's what's up for grabs:1. FIRST PRIZE
A two-night stay for two people in a presidential suite at Safari Moon Luxury Bush Lodge in Hoedspruit, including full breakfast, a four-course dinner, and a guided nature drive. Complimentary return transfers from Hoedspruit Airport and free parking at the lodge (if arriving in your own vehicle) are included, subject to availability. Valued at R20,000.
2. SECOND PRIZE
An overnight stay for two at The Leonardo in Sandton, including welcome drinks, breakfast in the Leo Lounge, and access to the Alto234 rooftop bar with additional welcome drinks. Valued at R6,500.
3. THIRD PRIZE
A weekend night stay (Friday or Saturday) for two people sharing a VIP King Room at Hyde Hotel, Rosebank, including breakfast, worth R5,000. Plus, a R1,500 voucher to spend at the popular Rosebank Sunday Market. Combined value of R6,500.
4. FOURTH PRIZE
An overnight stay for two people in a stylish one-bedroom apartment at The Capital On Bath hotel in Rosebank, including breakfast, worth R2,565. You will also receive a set of City Sightseeing bus tickets worth R1,535. Combined value of R4,100.
5. FIFTH PRIZE
An overnight stay for two at Radisson RED Rosebank, with breakfast included. Valued at R2,756.
VOTER'S PRIZES
Photo: Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff.
Everyone who votes for their favourite shot as part of the #JacarandaInYourPocket 2025 photography competition goes into a lucky draw for a series of fantastic prizes, including:
– Jacaranda Afternoon tea for two people, including signature cocktails, at Flames restaurant at Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff. Valued at R2,000.
– A voucher for two people for a handcrafted ceramic workshop at Studio Artwave, 44 Stanley. Valued at R1,500.
– Two coffee cupping lesson tickets along with 1kg of coffee from Bean There Coffee, 44 Stanley. The coffee can either be selected as a variety in 250g bags or as a single 1kg bag. Valued at R1,100.
#JacarandaInYourPocket 2025 rules
– Entrants must be 18 or older.– All entrants must be following @johannesburginyourpocket on Instagram to be eligible.
– Only single photographs will be considered as entries. There is no limit to the number of photographs you can submit. Photographs submitted as carousels or as stories will not be eligible.
– Photographs must be submitted tagging @johannesburginyourpocket, with the following hashtags: #JacarandaInYourPocket2025 and #JohannesburgInYourPocket.
– The photo(s) submitted must have been shot in 2025 in Gauteng (please state where it was taken in your caption or location tag).
– The photo competition takes place on Instagram. Only entries posted on Instagram will be considered.
– Entries generated by AI will not be eligible (but we will be amused by them).
Competition Ts&Cs
– Any photograph entered by you must have been shot by you. You cannot enter someone else’s images in this competition.– Each entrant warrants to Johannesburg In Your Pocket that their entry does not infringe the intellectual property rights of any person, organisation, or publisher.
– By entering the #JacarandaInYourPocket photo competition, you give permission to Johannesburg In Your Pocket to use your photographs for promotional and marketing purposes that relate to this competition, without compensation.
– All photos entered into the competition may be shared on Johannesburg In Your Pocket social media accounts with your photo credit and used to promote our #JacarandaInYourPocket campaign.
– Prizes are non-transferable and are valid for three months from the date of issue, unless otherwise specified.
– Prizes are subject to availability.
– Communication regarding prizes will be shared by Johannesburg In Your Pocket with the prize partner, and it will then be the responsibility of the prize winner and their partner to ensure the offer is taken up.
– The decision regarding winners is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.
– Johannesburg in Your Pocket is not responsible for any loss or damage incurred to property or person on any event in which you choose to participate.
Jacaranda season tours and experiences to book for
Photo: Johannesburg In Your Pocket.
Throughout the season, there are a variety of guided walks, tours, runs, helicopter flips, and other jacaranda-themed experiences happening around Joburg. Check out the lineup for our 2025 event series here.
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