Ait Benhaddou & the Western Sahara

Aït Ben Haddou is a historic ksar (fortified village) in southern Morocco, near Ouarzazate, built nearly 1,000 years ago. It became a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.

It was a vital stop on the caravan route from Sudan to Marrakesh, a 50 – 60 day camel trek. As such it became very wealthy and a traget for bandits, hence the heavily fortified walls.

A number of films have been shot here, including, Gladiator, Game of Thrones, Lawrence of Arabia and The Mummy.

Today only a few families live there as most have moved to the newer town on the opposite side if the river.

There is a good chance there will be lots photos as this has been my favourite part of the trip.

Along the road to Ait Benhaddou

The highest road pass in Morocco – 2260m. We met two of the Moroccan Tour de France riders here. Great training for the hill climbs!

Later in the afternoon, after settling into our hotel we visited a Women’s Co-op that made traditional Berber carpets. Wish I had room to bring one back, they were beautiful.

The fight arena for Gladiator was built just to the right of this gate.

Roadside date stall.

One of many solar arrays seen around the country. Ranging from single panels up to huge solar farms. We even saw one of the solar collection towers off in the distance. It was pretty impressive. More info and pictures here.

Next stop, Tamegroute. A quick visit to the “underground Kasbar”, though it’s not really underground. It is quite low with no windows on the lower level where the animals are kept. There are two stories above it where families used to live. It felt as though only a few families lived in there now.

There was also a stop at the local pottery co-op. The potters sit in a hole in the ground spinning the wheel with their feet. The pots are then placed in the sun to dry before being dipped in glaze and fired in the kiln.

Desert Bound

Trying to stop/slow the encroaching Sahara. It doesn’t appear to be working.

I tried to upload a video of the drive into the desert, but the WiFi is a bit hit and miss. Photos will need to do. It was close to a two hour drive to our camp site.

Our camp site was about 32km (20miles) from the Algerian border. There are on-going tensions between Morocco and Algeria overland claims in Southern Morocco. Sounds like it’s been niggling for a few years without really boiling over.

We did luck out when we arrived as there had been a mess up with camp bookings and there was no room for us, so we were up-graded to some cabins with private bathrooms. Unexpected but welcome.

Next up a camel ride to watch the sunset. It was absolutely amazing! Note the drink holder on the saddle.

Drive through groves of “Apple of Sodom” plants which are poisonous. The hitch hiker we picked up along the way. Once out of the soft sand he jumped inside the vehicle.

Water!

This is at a dot on the map called Tissent. This is a permanent river apparently. It looks pretty yuck, but there were frogs and tadpoles so it can’t have been too bad. Not that I would want to drink it.

Morocco is a geologists nirvana. The rock formations and rock types are ever changing. Here are some that caught my eye along the road.

Next we head back to civilisation…….