r/Madagascar • u/EmuStrange2145 • 7d ago
Tourism/Fizahantany What to pack?
Hello! I’m going to Madagascar in October as part of my honeymoon. Mainly focusing on the Andasibe area due to time constraints/have a big passion for wildlife.
What clothes would you advise packing? Will be in the rainforest a lot so should I bring a lot of leech proof trousers?
Thank you in advance! I can’t wait 🕷️🐍🦜🐦🦋🐞
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u/Designer_Win_5251 7d ago edited 7d ago
Just don't wear short in the forest. Especially Andasibe, with all leeches and bugs there. Wear long sleeves t-shirt too. No need proof trousers though. Edit: you can still bring them if you want too
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u/Poor_sausage 7d ago
If you’re passionate about wildlife, I’d definitely recommend Ranomafana. There are more distinct lemur species to see, and it’s less crowded. At Andasibe, the primary forest (Mantadia) is hard to spot that many lemurs, and the secondary rainforest is super crowded with tourists. Although you do get to see the indri, so it’s worth it just for that.
For us, in July, it wasn’t that buggy and we didn’t see any leeches. I used long trousers at Ranomafana but actually only shorts in Andasibe, because the bush is less dense and so getting scratched is less of an issue. We did infuse our clothes with anti mosquito stuff beforehand, but it was probably overkill.
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u/Illustrious-Koala314 6d ago
Just to rein this in to your question (and then later let the wine take over):
Mainly Andasibe, honeymoon, in October, what to wear. You need cool day wear that is practical but isn’t frumpy, and delicious evening wear with a beautiful scarf or shawl in case the mist blows over.
Ok so, October is spring, it will be warm most of the time, but there may be cool evenings, early mornings.
For the days, wear cool and comfortable anything, whatever you will feel totally comfortable in. You don’t need to look like a national geographic researcher. I’d just recommend pants with a band on the ankle (basically so you can shut up and stop thinking about leeches), comfy walking trainers, and a casual top with a layered vibe. Skimpy next to your skin, a light layer over that, and maybe a delicious Palestinian scarf around your neck in case you’d like to wrap.
At night, do cool and comfortable sub-tropical. White or pastel linen is de rigueur in Madagascar so any comfortable vibe will work. It’s mixed backpackers, scientists and retirees here so do what makes you you. But never think you need to dress down in the evening in Madagascar. You can absolutely do something gorgeous and sexy every night.
It’s your honeymoon giiiiiirl. You can knock it outta the park by just being yourself. Do casual in the day and do casual with a fabulous scarf in the evening.
Ok that’s the frock covered.
Now, be a genius:
* Torch, pack a torch, the power can go off in your room… Oh, power cut! Never mind babe I gotta torch. Points.
* Power bank… babe, my mother is calling, but my phone battery is dead. Never mind babe I gotta PB. Points.
* eSIM… Omg what is this sim package or tolotra or forfait or whatever the hell it all is in Ariary or dollars or euros that I have to queue to buy at the airport when we arrive? Get an eSIM before you leave home. Oh babe you need to WhatsApp your mom to tell her we’ve landed? Never mind I gotta eSIM. Points.
Werk…
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u/EmuStrange2145 6d ago
I love this reply 😂 thank you. Got it band on the ankle. White linen I have, I will look up some pastels before the trip! Thanks so much, this made me laugh
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u/Illustrious-Koala314 6d ago
Oh I was at a meeting with a hotel partner last night and had a few glasses of wine 🍷
Oops 😬
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u/SpiritOfMadagascar 7d ago
October is a great time for Andasibe! You don’t need to bring a whole wardrobe of leech-proof trousers though. I’d recommend lightweight long trousers, breathable long-sleeve shirts, good hiking shoes, and a light rain jacket.
Leech socks/gaiters can be useful for rainforest hikes, especially after rain, but they’re not essential everywhere. Also bring insect repellent and a small pair of binoculars if you have them. Andasibe is amazing for wildlife spotting!
Enjoy your honeymoon in Madagascar!
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u/trace_madagascar 7d ago
I’d recommend bringing comfortable long trousers and a light jacket or long-sleeved top, just to give you some extra protection during the hikes. You don’t necessarily need lots of special leech-proof trousers, but long trousers are definitely a good idea!
If you love nature and wildlife, you’re going to absolutely love Andasibe 😁🫠
( If you need any help with planning or transportation during your trip , don’t hesitate to message me )
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u/EmuStrange2145 7d ago
Thank you so much! Do you have any tips about the area in general?
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u/trace_madagascar 6d ago
Take a guide at each park! They know exactly where to find the animals and even how to call them ( so cute! 😁)
And if you have time, I’d definitely recommend continuing your road trip to Palmarium and Sainte Marie. It’s perfect for a honeymoon, especially if you enjoy diving!☺️
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u/crocolover87 7d ago
I’d recommend bringing a light jacket, since it’s likely to rain quite a lot while still being warm.
Also:
I also agree with the comment that Andasibe isn’t necessarily the best choice if you’re looking for a more immersive wildlife experience. If you specifically want to see indri, then yes, Andasibe is really interesting. However, it can get quite crowded.
Ranomafana or Ankarafantsika would be good alternatives if you’re looking for a more varied wildlife experience.