I thought I'd bore you all with the story of my last trip to Morocco!
In October 2008, 2 Swiss Land Rovers set out on a 3 week trip to Morocco. Your humble scribe and wife Sally in our blue TD5 with Dormobile conversion, and a white TD5 from Neuchâtel, with Simon and his friend Sarah. After an uneventful drive down to Sète in the south of France, we boarded the Marrakech Express for Tangiers.
Waiting to go on board at Sète
After a long (36hr) but quite pleasant crossing, we set off south-east from Tangiers, towards Fes, cutting across the Middle Atlas on gravel tracks down to Ar-Rachidia and Erfoud. From here we planned to take the famous Hamada du Drâa piste across to Tagounite, Foum-Zguid, and eventually to Cap Drâa on the Atlantic coast. Unfortunately Murphy’s Law struck, and southern Morocco had some of the most torrential rain-storms in recent history.
Normally gentle sandy pistes, became rivers of mud.
And innocent Oueds (river crossings) were transformed into raging torrents.
We eventually decided discretion was the better part of valour, and turned back, making a long detour on main roads. Even here things weren’t easy as many of the bridges were flooded and the police were preventing lesser vehicles from crossing.
"Aah LandRovair – eez goode!"
‘No Road (except for Land Rover)’!
Eventually we got onto firmer ground, and resumed our route over to the coast.
Sunset at Cap Drâa
Fishermen at Cap Drâa
‘La plage blanche’ NE of Tan-Tan
As Simon’s friend, Sarah had to get back to work after 2 weeks, we went up to Marrakech to put her on a plane, before returning south over the ‘Tizi ‘n Test’ pass.
Sunset over the ’Tizi‘n’Test’ pass
In the ‘Haute Atlas’
Simon in a delicate position!
A quick burst of Hi-Lift + sand-ladders, and “voila”!
Moroccan street scene
Danger in the Desert
An unwelcome hitch-hiker
After playing tourists for a bit :
Fishing boats – Essaouira
Roman ruins – Volubilis – near Meknès
It was back to Tangiers for the boat home.
Boarding the boat at Tangiers – if ever a vessel was misnamed ..... !!
Despite having travelled extensively in Africa, Morocco remains one of my favourite destinations – especially given current restrictions in most other North African countries – there really is something for everyone.
Morocco 2008
Re: Morocco 2008
Looks like you had a great time!
- Holly - 1972 Searle Carawagon Continental Ultimate (200 TDi)
- Basil - 1969 Searle SWB (Prima TD)
Re: Morocco 2008
Yes, it was a really good holiday. Hope to get back again soon - Africa gets into the blood, as I'm sure you understand after your recent trip!
Cheers,
Tony
Cheers,
Tony
- RMS
- Posts: 2236
- Joined: Wed Feb 15, 2012 12:02 am
- Location: Near Wakefield, UK, in God's own Country!
Re: Morocco 2008
Nice one Tony.
Yes, you're right - Africa can get into your blood - ask John (Overlander) who spent many years there and still takes every opportunity to go back
Oh, and by the way, we had a lot more rain than we were expecting - it didn't spoil the trip at all as driving through a river, which is normally underground, in the desert was just one of the highlights
We did see evidence of the 2008 floods though; Todra Gorge now has a new road through it with massive drainage ditches and a family who John befriended many years ago lost most of their farm, including orchards
One day I'm sure we'll make it back there, but is it ever the same the second time round?
Cheers,
Robin.
Yes, you're right - Africa can get into your blood - ask John (Overlander) who spent many years there and still takes every opportunity to go back
Oh, and by the way, we had a lot more rain than we were expecting - it didn't spoil the trip at all as driving through a river, which is normally underground, in the desert was just one of the highlights
We did see evidence of the 2008 floods though; Todra Gorge now has a new road through it with massive drainage ditches and a family who John befriended many years ago lost most of their farm, including orchards
One day I'm sure we'll make it back there, but is it ever the same the second time round?
Cheers,
Robin.
1967 109" Carawagon 200TDi
1972 109" SW Carawagon 2.5NA
1958 109" Carawagon 2.25P (project)
1972 109" Carawagon 200 or 300TDi (project)
1974 Dormobile 2.25D (project)
(Robin on S2C forum)
1972 109" SW Carawagon 2.5NA
1958 109" Carawagon 2.25P (project)
1972 109" Carawagon 200 or 300TDi (project)
1974 Dormobile 2.25D (project)
(Robin on S2C forum)