Madagascar

No, coverage is solid in towns like Antsirabe, Ambositra or Fianarantsoa, but it can disappear entirely for dozens of kilometres between them. Plan the next stretch and your bookings while you still have signal.

There's almost never signal on the forest trails, though it's usually available at the entrance and in the nearest village. For the walk itself, the phone is mostly for photos, since a local guide leads the route.

Cards are accepted more often in major cities and tourist hotels, but cash in ariary remains the main way to pay outside them. Mobile data doesn't replace cash here — it's for navigation, staying in touch with your guide and bookings.

A few gigabytes for the whole route is usually enough, since signal is only available in towns and villages, not on the road itself. Budget more if you plan to upload a lot of photos and video each evening at a hotel with good coverage.