Atlas Mountains and Desert in Morocco

Inland Morocco
As we left Chefchaueon we headed into the various ranges of the Atlas mountains. The most surprising aspect of this transition was the green and productive valleys  running through the yellow-brown and red-brown eroding hills.

Berbers
60% of Moroccans are Berber. they are a first nation people who have originally been nomadic herders. Some still keep to that lifestyle. Others have settled into farming the fertile valleys. Others are moving to the cities for education and jobs. Schooling is gradually coming to the remoter areas and even to the nomads, although only 3 years of education is compulsory at this stage

Morocco - Photographing People
A common belief amongst the Moroccans, particularly the village Berber people is that if you take their photo it steals their soul.

Our guide, who was a Berber, stressed that we should not take photos without asking permission. In several cases, particularly with older villagers, he would not even ask. Hence I took very few photos specifically of people, and any I have included have been taken with permission.

High Atlas Mountains
As we got into the High Atlas mountains, the countryside changed very quickly from arid countryside to the sandy Sahara. We took a 1.5 hr camel ride to our overnight camp.

One of the most interesting days were spent staying in a small mountain village and walking through their fields and nut groves on an 11km guided walk.

We stayed in several Riads. These are large family homes, typically 3 stories high, roughly square, very plain and uninviting on the outside and  built as a hollow square. Inside they are often quite ornate and very attractive with some beautiful mosaics on the floor and walls. The riads are home to extended families and could house 20-40 people. Now with younger people moving out to the cities etc, the number of riads have been converted to tourist accommodation




The fertile irrigated valleys surrounded by arid eroding hills


The varied colours in the hills are amazing


The rock strata are very obvious

Went for a 11 km hike through this area in the High Atlas Mountains with one of the villagers showing us the paths

The villagers football field


Lucerne cut and bundled before stooking to dry

The sheep and goats in the High Atlas village


Frog we saw on our walk in High Atlas

Harvesting walnuts in High Atlas village

Lucerne stooks


Joanne a way out in front at the end of the hike!!

The old and the new. Adobe houses - the ultimate in recyclable housing

If you think NZ has some erosion problems, it is nothing compared to the whole of the Atlas mountain region. The soils are very loose clay and rubble soils that are constantly falling and washing away.


These lines are natural. Rock strata laid down flat then the whole formation turned vertical and the strata eroding

A large Casbah. They look like giant sandcastles - and they really are!

Beautiful Berber rugs for sale

A Hollywood studio out in the desert. A number of famous films made here.


In the rug shop. Bought a small rug here

Hand tied rugs mde by the villagers. Some more commercial makers now use NZ wool.


Grey rocky  portions of the High Atlas

Tens of thousands of date palms in this valley

And on into the desert ....

Rode for about 1.5 hrs from the edge of the desert to our camp for the night


Our camp for the night - complete with running water and flush toilets

It was a hard walk up the the ridge top to see the sunset

Desert sunset


Our camel driver showing off

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