The Grand Morocco Birding Tour
We guide this grand tour of Morocco into the best birdwatching sites in the Atlas and the desert. Top sites as Oukaïmeden, Erg Chebbi, the Tagdilt track and Ouarzazate are visited
Our Morocco birding tour is designed for wildlife enthusiasts visiting Morocco for the first time. The tour starts at the interesting city of Marrakech. From there we will enjoy birding as we cross the mighty Atlas mountains and huge predesertic valleys towards the outstanding immensity of the Sahara desert. A fantastic combination of the best birding areas in Morocco, outstanding scenic views, amazing food and a bit of cultural immersion.
Day 1: Crossing the Atlas
We set off birding right at our meeting in Marrakech in the morning, looking for Maghreb Magpie right in town! We'll enjoy birding on route as we cross impressive scenery and the snow-capped mountains of the Atlas, including the Tizi-n-Tichka pass. Some of our targets include African Blue Tit, the Moroccan subspecies of Red Crossbill, African Chaffinch. Night in Ouarzazate.
Day 2: Plains and Gorges
A journey that will take us to the gates of the desert. We should encounter a variety of Wheatears and Larks from now on. Mouth-oppening landscapes throughout the journey. We'll be looking at river cliffs and gorges trying to locate one of the most emblematic birds in Morocco, the Pharaoh Eagle Owl. Night in a lovely riad in Boumalne Dades.
Day 3: Tagdilt track
One of the most productive sites when it comes to birding in Morocco is the Tagdilt track. Three of the top species we hope to find here are Thick-billed and Temminck's Larks and African Long-legged Buzzard. A journey that will take us to the gates of the desert at sunset. Night in Merzouga near the sand dunes.
Day 4: Desert expedition
A day to be spent in the Sahara desert looking for the local specialities. We'll try to get Desert Warbler, Desert Sparrow, Brown-necked Raven, Hoopoe Lark, Egyptian Nightjar, Cream-coloured Courser (difficult) and Pharaoh Eagle Owl. On this day we'll count with the invaluable help of a local guide,4x4 drivers and even a shepherd! Night in Merzouga.
Day 5: After tricky birds
A transfer day with multiple stops along the route. We'll be looking for Fulvous Chatterer, Trumpeter Finch and other targets that we might have missed previously. Once near Ouarzazate we will scan the shores of the Al Mansour reservoir which will hopefully provide much more than birds! Night in Boumalne Dades.
Day 6: Ouarzazate
The journey will start with some nice birding in the vecinity of Ouarzazate. We'll focus on the species that we may have missed, allowing multiple stops on the way across the Atlas. Night in Marrakech.
Day 7: the High Atlas
Today we will make a day-trip to , in the High Atlas. First, the we'll walk a delifhtful track in the Ourika valley to look for one of the most charismatic birds in Morocco, the Moussier's Redstart. Once at the ski resort of Oukaïmeden (2700 m high) we will be looking for purely mountain species such as Crimson-winged Finch, Atlas Shore Lark, Alpine and Red-billed Choughs and Rock Sparrow. In the afternoon we will head back to Marrakech and visit together its bustling main square for a delicios last supper.
Day 8: Marrakech
After enjoying our last breakfast together -binoculars on!- the tour ends. We hope this Grand Morocco Birding Tour has very much pleased you!