My friend and I have just came back from a trip in Morocco and it was fantastic. thanks to our guide Hassan. He picked us up from our Riad in Marrakech in a 4 wheel drive. There was another couple with us in the vehicle, plus a minibus behind with 2 families. Hassan travelled in our 4 wheel drive and was great at answering all our questions about Morocco. He took us to nice places for lunch and the hotel at Dades Gorge was a delight. He stopped off at all the good views, so we could take photos. He advised on what things should cost to help us barter for fossils and minerals and scarves in the Atlas Mountains and the plains. My mind is still reeling from all the vivid impressions - site sound taste fragrance... Morocco depends on its tourist trade, its tourist guide/driver so you'll see other 4 wheel drives - not much else on the road apart from donkeys- and when you get to base camp in the Sahara at Erg Chebbi you'll see other camel caravans. But the place is so huge and exciting it doesn't matter a bit. The dunes swallow us all up! For someone not used to camel trekking, the hour and a half to our night camp was just about the right length, and I felt quite the old hand the next morning on our return- sad because I would have liked to spend a few days out there really. Hassan does do longer treks if you want by the way- I had to get back to work here in London, so did the 2 nights/3 days. Mint tea was waiting for us at the camp and loads of blankets and mattresses and cushions to keep us warm and comfy. The evening light was brilliant for watching the desert change before your eyes and the night sky - well, it was silver with stars. I just lay back and drank it all in. He employs a Berber family to keep the camp and cook. Delicious chicken tagine - or vegetable if you're vegetarian. The two camel drivers came out to light a fire and play their drums later -Hassan joined them in drumming and invited us to have a go too, before telling us jokes and setting us mental puzzles. He really was an excellent host - personable, quiet, calm,so funny, good humoured. Although there were 13 of us, it felt very intimate. We booked our trip with him via his email on the Internet
morocco_safaries@hotmail.com
