Packing List & Tips

Clothing

• Light, long-sleeved clothing: Protection from sun and mosquitoes. Prefer light colors (fewer mosquitoes).
• Rain jacket: Useful year-round, especially on the east coast.
• Fleece/warm layer: For the highlands — it can cool down to 5°C at night!
• Hiking boots: Waterproof, ankle-high, broken in. Essential for national parks and Tsingy.
• Sandals/flip-flops: For beach and accommodation.
• Swimwear: For beaches and natural pools.
• Gloves: For the Tsingy de Bemaraha (razor-sharp limestone!).

Health & Hygiene

• Insect repellent (DEET 30%+): Bring a large amount — hard to find locally.
• Sunscreen (SPF 50+): Tropical sun is brutal, expensive locally, and often of poor quality.
• Travel pharmacy: Imodium, electrolyte powder, paracetamol, band-aids, disinfectant, Malarone/Doxycycline.
• Water filter or purification tablets: Alternative to plastic bottles.
• Mosquito net: In case the accommodation doesn't provide one (budget range).

Miscellaneous

• Headlamp/flashlight: For night hikes and power outages (frequent!).
• Power bank: Electricity is unreliable in rural areas.
• Adapter: Type C/E (Schuko plugs usually fit, but an adapter for the grounding pin doesn't hurt).
• Binoculars: Indispensable for lemurs and birds.
• Dry bag: For boat trips and rainforest (protect electronics!).
• Small gift for hosts: Pens, notebooks, or soap for villages (no sweets — promotes cavities and begging).

Language

The official languages are Malagasy and French. In tourist areas, you can get by with French. English is not widely spoken outside top hotels. A few words of Malagasy open hearts:

German	Malagasy	Pronunciation
Hello	Salama	Sa-LA-ma
Thank you	Misaotra	Mi-SAO-tra
Please	Azafady	A-sa-FA-di
Yes / No	Eny / Tsia	E-ni / Tsi-a
How are you?	Manao ahoana?	Ma-NAO a-HO-na
Good	Tsara	TSA-ra
Goodbye	Veloma	Ve-LO-ma
How much does this cost?	Ohatrinona?	O-ha-tri-NO-na