Zagora - Morocco's Gate to the Sahara Desert

I have crossed another adventure from my bucket list this year.  A movie buff from way back, I’ve watched "Lawrence of Arabia" many years ago and ever since, I have dreamt of going into the desert riding a camel.  I recently realised this dream when I visited Zagora; a small town in Morocco’s South.  As I began to gather some information on Zagora, I found out that some of the scenes of that famous movie had been shot in that region.  My planned desert trek suddenly became that much more exciting.  I simply loved the time I spent there.

The town of Zagora sits at the foot of the Atlas Mountains and on the shore of the Draa Valley in South Eastern Morocco.  It is flanked by the mountain Zagora from which the town got its name.  The ancient name of the town was “Draa,” alluding to the valley.  Not until the twentieth century was the town renamed Zagora although some Bedouins still refer to the town as “Draa". 

Daniel's Food and Wine Tours  - Stop over before arriving at Zagora - Morocco



Daniel's Food and Wine Tours  - Round-about at Zagora - Morocco

Zagora boomed in the eleventh century when the Almoravids built an imposing fortress that protected the town against outside aggression for many centuries.  As the city of Zagora is over 700m in altitude, it is a little less scorching here than in neighbouring towns.  It is still an arid climate however; with summer temperatures reaching 35°C to 42°C, and middle of winter temperatures getting down to -10°C at night. 

Daniel's Food and Wine Tours  - Locals resting in a street, Zagora - Morocco

The Draa Valley is a considerable resource for the hundreds of families in Zagora.  Millions of palm trees grow and produce dates each harvest season.  The date sector plays an important role in regional development, providing Morocco, and overseas countries with various kinds of this delicious fruit. 

Daniel's Food and Wine Tours  - Date Palms all around, Zagora - Morocco

Zagora and the region is now home of several ethnic communities including black African groups who emigrated from Sub-Saharan Africa, along with clans from the Caravans which have emerged and co-existed since the first Saadyin dynasty.  Arabs have also settled in Zagora, coming from Marrakech since the medieval times.  Today, most of Zagora’s residents live either as field workers in the oases of Draa, or in the tourism industry, while a few others are state employees working in public institutions. 

Daniel's Food and Wine Tours  - A local man chatting with the tourists, Zagora - Morocco

A camel trek in Zagora is the experience of a lifetime.  This activity involves riding camels while exploring the breath-taking desert sights and the warm hospitality from the locals.  

Daniel's Food and Wine Tours  - The Caravan waiting to take us to the Desert, Zagora - Morocco

I took a two-day track to Zagora which took me from Marrakech to the barren and spectacular Atlas mountains on to Ouarzazate and then Zagora where camels or should I say dromedaries were waiting to take the group I was travelling with to the edge of the mighty Sahara Desert.  

Daniel's Food and Wine Tours - My assigned mode of transport

 

Daniel's Food and Wine Tours - Interesting feet of the Camel as they are feet not hooves!



Daniel's Food and Wine Tours - Camel tracks on the ground



Daniel's Food and Wine Tours - Heading to our overnight camp in the Desert

 

At the overnight camp, we were greeted with the traditional mint tea and allocated our tents for the night.  We enjoyed a delicious dinner of hot soup, tagine, and fresh fruit.  After the meal, we sang and danced to the sounds of Berber drums and songs late into the night.

 

The next morning, before returning to Zagora, we watched the sun rise over the dunes.  I had never experienced the miracle of nature as intensely as I did that morning.

 

Soon after, we rode back to Zagora where our bus was waiting to take us back to Marrakech by the evening.

 

I simply could not tell you what I have most enjoyed out of this magic trek.  The scenery, the local hospitality, the history of the place, the architecture, the desert, the cranky but so adorable and tenacious dromedaries, the food, the sounds, the smells, the music.  

Daniel's Food and Wine Tours - Sunrise in the Desert



Daniel's Food and Wine Tours  - The Dunes of the Mighty Sahara Desert

Everything combined made this trip an unforgettable experience which I highly recommend to anyone willing to discover something totally different and unexpected.  You simply must go there; you will love it.