Observation tourism in Morocco can take on very different forms. And they all have one thing in common: they promote a more leisurely type of travel in contact with nature. In this post, we have selected some perfect destinations for this, which will allow you to spot attractions as diverse as stars, birds or terrestrial wildlife. If this type of tourism is for you, take note of the ideas we give you, which we can integrate into your personalized tour if you wish.
Ouzina, for Astronomical Tourism
Astronomical tourism allows you to observe the firmament at night in order to contemplate the stars and planets. It can be enjoyed without any help, but also with binoculars and telescopes. More importantly, the place must have two qualities: a clear sky and minimal light pollution. And the Sahara Desert perfectly meets these requirements. Some of its most iconic corners are distinguished by attracting lovers of stargazing, such as Ouzina, recognized by the Starlight Foundation for the quality of its sky. In reality, the starry sky envelops everything here, thanks to the absence of natural or artificial obstacles for observation. And in other parts of the desert such as Merzouga it is also possible to enjoy a unique sky, and even in the high mountains of the Atlas, on clear days.
Merja Zerga, for Birdwatching
Observation tourism in Morocco has in its avifauna one of its richest treasures: the habitats are very diverse, being able to spot numerous species in mountainous environments, in steppe and desert areas and also in marine and lacustrine environments. The latter play a key role in international migratory routes, and throughout the country there are more than twenty Ramsar sites. To choose one of them, we can mention Merza Zerga, a large coastal lagoon in the Atlantic Ocean, near Moulay Bousselham, in the north of the country (Rabat-Salé-Kenitra province). Among the many species to be seen are the long-eared owl, the marsh harrier, the common sandpiper, the marbled teal and, of course, the greater flamingo.
Ifrane National Park, for Barbary Macaques
Wild terrestrial fauna also captures many eyes for lovers of observation tourism. And although in Morocco there are no large safaris like those that may exist in other sub-Saharan African countries, it is possible to go to the meeting of a very iconic species for the country: the Barbary macaque. The conservation status of the species is very delicate and therefore, the individuals that can be observed in certain areas of the country are a real treasure. The place where it is easiest to find them is Ifrane National Park, about 60 km south of Fez, also popularly called Monkey Forest because its cedars are the ideal habitat for them, to the point that they have constituted here the largest population of today.
Erfoud, for the Discovery of Fossils
Tourism related to fossils has differentiating characteristics: it requires the traveler to search, research thoroughly and establish contacts that facilitate access to places and pieces where to trace the most remote past of life on earth. And once the piece or the site is found, much observation is required to appreciate the singularities of each fossilized mark. In Morocco, the destination of reference is, without a doubt, Erfoud, near the Merzouga desert. The desertification of the land and the extraction of marble facilitated the appearance of very diverse remains, including those of dinosaurs. The most numerous and characteristic species are the ammonites and trilobites.
