CNA sits landside in Terminal A, just above check-in
CNA at O. R. Tambo is one of the few proper book and stationery shops you’ll hit before security in Terminal A. It sits on the upper level near the main check-in islands, handy if you’re early and don’t want to sit at the gate yet. Expect standard South African high-street pricing: paperbacks often around R220–R320, with magazines closer to R60–R90.
The shop runs typical mall-style hours, roughly 06:00 to 20:00, which covers most domestic and regional departures out of terminals A and B. Stock is the usual CNA mix: paperbacks, kids’ activity books, local newspapers, pens, notebooks, chargers, earphones, and last-minute gifts. It’s not a specialist travel store, but you can usually patch any gap in your carry-on here, from an A4 notebook to a basic phone cable.
Selection leans mainstream: current crime and thrillers, a few business titles, and some South African authors you’ll recognise from Exclusive Books. If you want deeper choice or a strong international section, walk to the larger bookshops airside in Terminal A or B instead. Pricing on stationery is reasonable, but branded tech accessories can creep towards R300–R500, so compare in your head before you tap.
Quick tip: hit CNA before you clear security if you need reading material for a long-haul out of terminals C, D, or E, since landside options thin out the closer you get to immigration queues.