Our vans are equipped with an outdoor hot-water shower powered by a solar water heater. Practical, private and comfortable — just park in a discreet spot (under trees, behind a hedge) and unroll the hose.

The water tank allows several showers a day. It refills at every water point (forest car park taps, service areas). Remember to fill it whenever you can.

Réunion has many free or low-cost public facilities. The ONF parks often have toilets with showers. The developed beaches (Grande Anse, Étang-Salé, l’Ermitage) have free beach showers.

Municipal campsites often charge €2 to €5 for a shower, even without camping there. A practical, economical option when passing through town.

Réunion has hundreds of accessible waterfalls — some allow a real refreshing dip in the middle of nature. The Rivière Langevin natural pool (Saint-Joseph) is a gem: clear water, pebble bed, tropical setting.

Warning: only use biodegradable products near natural watercourses. And respect the signs forbidding swimming (flash-flood risk).

The portable solar shower (a 10-20L bag with a shower head) is the van-lifer’s star accessory. Fill it in the morning, set it in the sun — in 3 to 4 hours, the water reaches 30-35°C. Perfect for an outdoor shower in an isolated spot.

In Réunion, the sun is powerful even in the austral winter. Even in cloudy weather, UV radiation is enough to warm the bag’s water in a few hours.

In a van, favour solid, biodegradable products: solid shampoo, natural soap, solid toothpaste. They don’t leak into your belongings, take up less space and respect the environment — crucial when you wash near watercourses.

Hand sanitiser usefully completes your kit for situations where water is scarce. And biodegradable wipes (with aloe vera or calendula) are perfect for a quick wash before reaching your next water point.