The term jaima (or haima) refers to the traditional Berber tents used by desert nomads to live on the road: the fact that they were made of canvas with a removable structure made them easy to transport and set up anywhere along the way. Nowadays, the tents still have this easily removable and scalable character, but they are also conceived as more stable sites in camps in the middle of the desert. This has brought a plus of comfort, adapted to the times. Therefore, in this post we tell you how are the luxury tents in the Moroccan desert, combining the most charming of yesteryear and the most comfortable of today.
Small but open spaces
Because of their own dismountable structure, the jaimas do not reach a size as large as a brick house, for example. But they have an advantage: their interior spaces are very diaphanous, without partitions, with just a few posts in the center of the room to support the roof of the tent, which gives it its characteristic appearance of a pointed roof from the outside. But these posts, in any case, do not block the view of the interior space, so that the feeling is of spaciousness and coexistence inside.
Typical Berber decoration
The decoration inside the tents is typical Berber: with humble materials taken from the environment and nomadic life, such as wooden elements, skins or textiles. Thus, the tent is covered and fully functional. Carpets are not usually missing, but neither are curtains that allow to separate spaces easily and without affecting the structure of the tent. Both in them and in the bedding, the designs and colors are pleasant, in tones inspired by the earth, with ochers, browns, reds and yellows as predominant options, but not only.
Complete bathroom: a modern luxury
The bathroom is key for a space to be considered a true luxury. And although for logistical reasons it was not common for nomadic families to have one, today’s camps do offer this comfort. And in the luxury desert tents they are, in addition, complete, with shower and fixed toilets, as well as running water supplied by tank. In the tents that are not luxury, there is usually no shower, so this service is usually offered in partner hotels in the nearest town, such as Merzouga for Erg Chebbi camps.
Electric light, combined with fire
In today’s tented camps there is also no lack of electricity, in many cases produced by solar panels, installed discreetly so as not to break the harmony of the environment. They offer the possibility of plugging in some simple appliance, such as lamps, although the availability of sockets is not as abundant as in the city… which gives it an additional charm, for the feeling of disconnection it offers. In any case, as a support to the electric light, other alternative sources of light are also installed in the camp, based on Arab lamps and even a bonfire in the center of the enclosure, which serves as a warm meeting point in the cold desert nights. This does not, however, prevent the tents from being fitted with radiators so that the temperature inside the tent does not drop too low.
Comfortable beds and furnishings
And as far as rest is concerned, the comfort is total with beds with comfortable mattresses and even sofas and puffs to sit and enjoy moments of relaxation and meeting. Next to them, there may be low tables to provide a detail that can not miss in a relaxed atmosphere like this: the teapot and glasses to savor an authentic Berber tea.
