Morocco – going south

From Al Hoceïma, our most eastern point here in Morocco, we drove south through the Riff mountains up to about 1,400 metres, where we spent the night at the top of a mountain with great views in all direction. The third grid was activated here.

The next day, we reached Taza, a big city at a strategic crossroads. We filled up with Diesel and stopped at a supermarket, but continued afterwards.

South of town the road climbs the mountains again, and we found a parking with great views, where Edi could activate another grid.

We continued south past humble villages and dry land, where mostly sheep and goats were herded.

In the middle of nowhere, we found a spot for the night. A police car stopped to check our passports and confirmed that we could stay here.

The next day, it took only a couple of kilometres and the good road finally ended at a village. We were looking for a rubbish bin, but no luck there. Shortly after the village, we saw the rubbish dump, so we dropped our bag there. It would have ended there anyway.

We were now crossing the Middle Atlas, with deep valleys and mountains over 2,300 metres high. The road was narrow, climbing up the mountain in a spectacular way.

A fire had burned down the shrubs on the hillside. The locals were now making charcoal from the scorched branches.

Looking for the famous cedar tree of the Atlas mountains, we went on a hike near Lake Tamda. (Parking for the hike: 33.820114, -4.057751) The Atlas cedar is native to the mountains of Morocco, and in danger by human use and fires.

The lake was dry, so we didn’t walk all the way down into the valley but enjoyed the big trees around us along the hillside.

We continued at a height up to 2,300 metres, driving on a hilly plateau, which seamed to be used as summer pastures. Before the first snow, they might move their animals further down, we suspected. It was astounding the animals found anything to eat here any more.

Finally, the route went down to Imouzzer Marmoucha at 1,600 metres, the first little town since Taza, 150 km away. In the valleys, apples and other fruits were cultivated, and we could buy some apples from a man with his donkey, which we met on the road.

In Imouzzer Marmoucha, we found a hotel with campsite, where we will relax for a day.

On a hike into town, we discovered a waterfall, at the moment just a little stream.

We got spoiled with a delicious Tajine, with salads and bread, in the lovely garden of the lodge. The family was very welcoming, and we got eggs, potatoes and tomatoes from their farm the day we left. We will now drive a little further east to Missour. Edi will activate two more grids for the ham radio community there! More soon.