TRAVEL PLANNER
GETTING THERE: Cathay Pacific flies daily from Johannesburg to Hong Kong, with easy connections on sister-carrier Cathay Dragon to Yangon. South Africans enjoy visa-free entry to Hong Kong, making it ideal for a stopover en-route. See cathaypacific.com/za. VISAS: South Africans need a visa to visit Myanmar. Applications cost US$50 and can be made online at https://evisa.moip.gov.mm. WHEN TO VISIT: In monsoon season (June-October), the intense heat and heavy rains make travelling a chore. Rather aim for the dry, “cooler” (upper-30°Cs) months from October to March.
MORE INFO: See myanmartourism.org. Seat 61 (seat61.com) has good info on rail travel in Myanmar.