Morocco day 12. Sahara desert, Erg Chegaga

Submitted by maria on Wed, 18/09/2024 - 10:27

We got up at dawn to watch the sunrise. Spectacular.

Amanecer

In the desert you should bring warm clothes, as the nights are cool and the sunrise is the coldest time of year.

Camp

We have breakfast in the dining tent, egg tajine, bread, jam, cheese, butter, natural juice, coffee or tea.

We pick up our things and say goodbye to the camp. They have been very kind, a wonderful experience.

Cartel

This time we return to Mhamid, our driver Omar has contacted other companions and it is feasible to get there.

Mhamid is a decadent town very close to the Algerian border through which the caravans of traders from central Africa used to pass. A sign reminds us that there are still 52 days to go before we reach Timbuktu in Mali.

We stop for coffee in Mhamid at the Ghizlane café.

Cat

We continue our journey north along the N9 to the town of Tamegroute, where we visit a pottery workshop, the ksour and the most important library in Morocco and one of the largest in North Africa.

Tamegroute was founded in the 11th century by the Nasiriya Sufi order. In the 17th century a madrasa (Qur'anic school) was established where more than 1,500 students came to study. Known as La Zawiya, the library contains manuscripts of great importance, including an 11th-century Qur'an on gazelle skin. Photography is not permitted. Admission is 20dh/pax.

La Zawiya

Today the madrasa welcomes free of charge all children from the surrounding area who wish to study and provides them with food and lodging.

Next to the library is the mausoleum, accessible only to Muslims, to which people with mental problems make pilgrimages.

Next to the authentic ksour is the Maison de Poterie pottery factory where you can learn about the manufacturing process and buy pieces at a good price.

Pottery factory

We continue our journey north and stop for lunch at the restaurant next to the Kasbah Oulad Othmane where the day before we were given a taste of dates.

At 4.30 pm we arrive at our hotel in Ouazazarte. We paid the driver and the guide and said goodbye to them. An amazing trip.