Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The most important item is your backpack. Protect it from oil, dirt and the effluent of
young/furry/feathered passengers with a cover. You can buy a commercially-made one or
use a rice sack from a Madagascar market.
Inwinter(JunetoAugust)alightweightsleepingbagwillkeepyouwarmincheaphotels
withinadequatebedding.Asheetsleepingbagplusalightblanket(buyitinTana)areideal
for the summer months (October to May).
Anair-mattressorpillowpadsyourbumonhardseatsaswellasyourhipswhensleeping
out. One of those horseshoe-shaped travel pillows lets you sleep sitting up (which you'll
need to do on
taxi-brousses
).
Alightweighttentallowsyoutostrikeoutonyourownandstayinnationalparksandon
desertedbeaches.Itwillneedtobewellventilated.Tentdesignsthatcanbeerectedwithout
pegs are best, as many sheltered tent pitches at campsites have wooden floors which pegs
cannot be driven into.
Most people forgo a stove in order to cut down on weight, but if you will be camping
extensively bring a petrol/paraffin stove. Gas camp stoves are not recommended owing to
the difficulty of sourcing gas canisters in Madagascar.
There are always fresh vegetables for sale in the smallest village so bring some stock
cubes to make vegetable stew. Take your own mug and spoon (and carry them with you
always). That way you can enjoy roadside coffee without the risk of a cup rinsed in filthy
water, and market yoghurt without someone else's germs on the spoon. Milk powder tastes
(to most people) better in tea or coffee than the widely available condensed milk. You can
buy it locally, or bring it from home. Don't forget a water-bottle and water-purifiers.
Give some thought to ways of interacting with the locals. A Malagasy phrasebook (see
Click Here
)
provides lots of amusement as you practise your skills on fellow-passengers,
and playing-cards are universally understood.
A good book allows you to retreat from interaction for a while. Bring enough with you
- English-language topics are not easy to find. If you want to read at night, a small clip-on
reading light would be useful.
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS FOR BUDGET TRAVELLERS
Bring a roll of insulating
tape or gaffer tape which can be used for all manner of things, including patching up the
inevitable holes in the mozzie nets provided by cheaper hotels. Blu-Tack is equally versat-
ile; bring enough to make a plug for your sink, to stop doors banging or to hold them open.
Atorchandpenknifeareessential,arubberwedgewillsecureyourhoteldooratnight,and
a combination lock has many uses. A light tarpaulin and a length of strong cord both have
multiple uses too.
Earplugs are just about essential, to block out not only the sounds of the towns but those
of enthusiastic nocturnal animals when camping in reserves! (Personally I think it's worth
being kept awake by these, but it can pall after several nights.) A large handkerchief or
