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Kit list The objective is to take the smallest amount of equipment needed to be comfortable and safe. Always aim to buy equipment that is compact, light weight, durable, quick drying, versatile and in good repair. You may find that you have suitable gear already, so don’t feel you have to buy everything new. Shop around and price everything before purchasing anything. Some items you may be able to borrow from friends or relatives, pick up second hand, or get deals off the internet. We have done some research and certain outlets will give you some excellent deals if you mention our name. In the UK our main contacts are: Nomad Travel (0207 833 4114), and Travel with Care (01980 626 361) for the terrestrial projects. In North America Back Country Gear and US Outdoor Stores have a good selection of equipment for the forest for volunteers in the US, whilst Mountain Equipment Co-operative is the best for Canadian volunteers. Try out your kit in realistic circumstances if at all possible before your expedition, especially new boots which can often need time to fully mould to the shape of your feet, and even more specifically new boots which should be soaked and worn till they dry on your feet to prevent blisters whilst trekking. All baggage, clothes and kit should be clearly labelled to avoid confusion. There are many volunteers, and some may have the same or similar items to you. Valuables are very occasionally at risk. Please make sure you have insurance, record all serial numbers and keep all receipts. Remember to carry all personal documents and cash safely in a concealed money belt. The sections below relate to equipment for terrestrial projects, medical kits and relevant books. Hiking boots. Make sure your boots have firm ankle support, a semi-flexible sole with good grips and dry relatively quickly. Light-weight Gore-tex boots (or a cheaper equivalent) are a comfortable and sturdy solution. Please ensure that all footwear is clean before you leave home, to prevent the spread of diseases that are harmful to animals such as the Chytrid fungus that infects amphibians (and is currently absent from Madagascar). Rucksack or Large Travel Bag. Please bring a large rucksack or hold-all. Lowe Alpine and Karrimor are both good makes with adjustable back systems, though other makes also have this feature, providing a more comfortable fit. Many packs on the market today are not ‘rucksacks’ but ‘travelbags’ and there is a big difference. Rucksacks are built for wearing for longer periods, whereas travelbags are designed for carrying between bus stations and airports. Decide what you want not only for now but for the future. Day bag/Small rucksack. Needed for your field work for carrying water, paper, pens, binoculars, cameras etc. Waterproofs. A plastic poncho or lightweight rain jacket is useful, although it very rarely rains at this time of year in Madagascar. Expensive heavyweight Gore-Tex raincoats are not recommended – they are hot and may get snagged and torn. Sleeping Bag. It does not get very cold at night, so we recommend a 2 season sleeping bag. Roll Mat. It is advisable to take a good roll mat with you. Water bottle/platypus, etc. A combination of leak-proof plastic bottles (total capacity 2 litres) is imperative. There are many styles to choose from – it is not necessary to get anything fancy, though if you do want to invest in one of the ‘hydration systems’ on the market (Platypus, camelback, Ortileb) they do have the advantage of packing flat when not in use. Nalgene do a heavy-duty wide mouthed bottle with a measuring gauge. Whistle. Even if you never use it, it’s important to have a whistle with you at all times to attract attention in an emergency. Head Torch. These are more convenient than normal torches, particularly for going to the toilet in the night! Don’t forget spare batteries! Insect repellent. Clothing. It is vital that you do not bring lots of bright coloured clothing for your time in the bush, as this will seriously impact on the viewing of game. Please bring neutral coloured clothes as much as possible (e.g. khaki, beige etc). It is also advantageous to pack as lightly as possible. You may have to do your own laundry at some sites.
Towel. Don’t bring a big thick towel as it is heavy and won’t dry quickly enough. Excellent travelpac towels (eg Lifeventure) are available, but can be pricey—a hand towel will do the job. Sunblock. Notebooks/pencils. These are a necessity for all fieldwork. Binoculars. These are highly desirable. (8 x 40 recommended) Desirable Items The following items will come in useful, but are not essential Teva type/reef sandals or flip-flops. The advantage of Tevas are that they stay on securely in water if you are also going to the marine side. Watch with alarm. It doesn’t have to be anything technical. A travel alarm clock will also do. Sunglasses. Camera Bringing a digital or standard camera will enhance your experience but is not essential. What to take for Marine based projects Dive Training Courses
All
those learning to dive will need to bring a PADI Open Water Crew
Pack and PIC card (registration) with them. For UK and
European volunteers the best deal is direct from us. You
can purchase this
here. Note this includes the PIC cards which you need
for certification and if you buy a PADI Open Water Crew Pack from
most dive shops or internet sites they do NOT contain PIC Cards.
For US based volunteers you need to email
diveUS@opwall.com
and the costs will be $77 delivered to you. For Canadian volunteers
you should e-mail
diveCanada@opwall.com. Remember if are dive
training and arrive without an Open Water Manual and PIC card then
you won't be able to complete the dive training course.
If you are already a qualified diver, we will require proof of your dive qualifications on site. You will also need to bring with you your completed log books, and PADI forms.
PADI Forms Please bring your completed, original PADI forms with you and send a copy to Alison Darlington in the UK Opwall office. Without these PADI forms you may not be permitted to dive.
Logbook You will also need a Log Book—a simple A5 sized hard-back notebook will suffice although you can also buy specially designed PADI logbooks on site.
Dive equipment
Wetsuit. It is essential that you bring your own wetsuit. The purpose of a wetsuit is twofold, to keep you warm whilst underwater, and to protect you from marine life that may sting you. Your wetsuit needs to be 2-3mm thickness and a long one rather than a shortie.
Dive watch or computer. This is a requirement under PADI regulations for qualified divers. However, PADI allows Open Water divers to go off diving in buddy pairs on their own without a Dive Master whereas Opwall regulations require that all divers are accompanied by a Dive Master who times their dives. Under these circumstances we don't consider it necessary but if you have a waterproof watch or dive computer please take it.
Mask and Snorkel. Limited supply available for hire.
Fins and Booties. Limited supply of full foot fins available for hire on site. Fins come in two varieties, full foot fins (booties not necessary), and fins with straps that require neoprene booties. It is completely down to personal preference.
Swimsuit.
Notebooks and pencils. A requirement for all projects – if you want to splash out, waterproof books are definitely an advantage.
Medical Kit Although every expedition will have its own medical supplies and medical teams on site, you MUST carry your own personal medical kit. This way you will be as self sufficient as possible and able to treat minor scrapes and injuries yourself, which is vital when, for example, you are involved in a bush training exercise. The following are essential items:
You may also wish to consider taking the following:
Important If you need to take prescribed medicines whilst on expedition, please bring sufficient supplies to cover your stay. For example if you are asthmatic you MUST bring you own inhalers, or if you have a history or recognized risk of going into anaphylactic shock due to an allergy, you must supply your own Epipen. Always waterproof and clearly label drugs (with generic, rather than trade names). Occasionally there are restrictions on travelling with certain medicines. If you think this may be relevant to you, please contact your Home Office Drugs Branch (in the UK: 0207 273 3806). |
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