Asilah
Asilah is a fortified town, found on the northeastern tip of the Atlantic coast of Morocco. Built by the Phoenicians around 1500 BC, Arzila as the town is commonly referred to in Morocco was used as a trade base by the Phoenicians but was later conquered by the Portuguese. The Portuguese eventually lost it to the Moroccans who used the fort town as their pirate base. The Spanish later took over Arzila between 1912 and 1956, and the fort went under the name Spanish Morocco. Asilah was restored to its initial beauty in 1978 and the town’s original ramparts and gate works are still intact.
Seaside resorts and plush holiday complexes accompanied by annual music and art festivals are carried out at Asilah and so is the popular painting festival called murals. Its ancient structures and visitors are assured of a homily ambience from the friendly locals.
Bab Rouah
Bab Rouah is located in Rabat, in proximity to Dar Al Makhzam – the official residence of Mohammed VI, the ruler of Morocco. Popularly known as the Gate of the Winds because it is usually swamped by coastal winds, Bab Rouah was constructed in 1197 by Yaacoub Al Mansour Al Mouahidi. It has got 5 entrances with 1 in Rabat which was used as the entrance to the city; the humongous gate towering over the visitors usually sends a chill down the spine. Free entrance into the Bab Rouah gives the visitor an opportunity to view the opalescent interior which perfectly compliments the entrance which is decorated with exquisite floral and shell embroidery.
The art gallery that lies in the Bab Rouah offers Moroccan art in its richest form as depicted by talented Moroccan artists.
Boulaouane Kasbah
Kasbah is the native Moroccan name for a castle, located south of the port city of Casablanca, the Boulaoune Kasbah was built as a fortress overlooking the Wadi Oum Er-Rabia River in 1710 by Moulay Ismail as a vehicle to usher tranquillity in the then hostile region. The Kasbah gives the visitors beautiful scenery of the port city of Casablanca from the castle’s 10-meter-high tower. It is important to note that it contains the remains of a native Moroccan saint: Sidi Mantar and a palace known as the sultan’s palace which hosts the ruler of Morocco – King Mohammed VI when he visits the fortress.
Boulaone Kasbah is embedded in mosaic decorations and thick protective walls, all streamlined in top-notch architecture. It is a perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Citadel of Chellah Gardens
Located in Garden city which is Rabat’s pseudo-name, Chellah Rabat has been known to be the first area of settlement mostly along the Bou Regreg River in the 3rd century. Initially burial grounds for royals, the gardens are graced with beautiful flowers that give them a radiant scene and luscious scent, especially during springtime. The entrance is in heavy Arabic calligraphy, giving the visitor a beautiful sight to take pictures of. This coupled with the lush gardens gives the ideal picturesque. Also visible, are destroyed structures and tombs which were affected by an earthquake that rocked Rabat in the 18th century.
El Bahia Palace
Located in Marrakech, this richly architectural building was built at the end of the 19th century by 2 high-ranking political heavyweights also called viziers. It is rumoured that Si Moussa and his son Ba Ahmedis built this palace to house their concubines. It was built in 2 stages: the older part contains apartments surrounding a marble-paved courtyard donned with orange and cypress trees and 2 star-shaped pools. The newer part contains plush apartments facing the tree courtyard.
The El Baha palace was decorated by the best craftsmen in the land, at the time and is decorated with Meknes, marble and cedar from the Atlas Mountains. The main courtyard built for the viziers’ concubines has got marble and zellij tile work with 3 fountains surrounded by a gallery of exquisitely finished columns.
The reception is decorated with arabesque and a cedar ceiling bound to give the visitor a perfect site for picture taking. The palace has got 160 different rooms including lavishly decorated private quarters, reception rooms and courtyards with fountains and gardens. El Bahia is open from 9.00 am in the morning to 6.00 pm in the evening.
Mohamed V Mausoleum
This is the resting place for 3 of the past royals of Morocco King Mohammed V and his two sons King Hassan II and Prince Abdallah. Located in Rabat opposite the Hassan tower, the Mohammed V Mausoleum is considered an architectural paragon as it was built in ancient royal Moroccan architectural style. Outlined in white with a green tiled roof, this architectural and historical masterpiece was completed in 1971 by 400 skilled workers over a period of 9 years. The last royal buried there was King Hassan II in 1999.
Saadian Tombs
Located in Marrakech, the Saadian tombs were only recently discovered in 1917 by General Hubert Lyautey. They contain the remains of over 60 members of the Saadi dynasty who ruled the south of Morocco and originated from the Draa river glen. The tombs date back to the reign of Ahmad al Mansur (1578-1603) the then sultan whose remains lie there together with those of his sons.
The tombs have 3 rooms with the most radiant being the one in which the sultan’s son’s remains lie. Furnished with cedar woodwork and stucco landmarks with monuments choreographed in Italian Carrara marble, a breathtaking scene is guaranteed. Outside the tombs is a garden where the sultan’s soldiers and servants were buried.
Mamora Forest
Home to 50% of Morocco’s cork trees approximately 134.000 hectares, Mamora forest is located in the vicinity of Rabat. The Mamora Forest provides the visitor with a view of a vast number of cork trees, along with pine groves, wild pear trees and eucalyptus trees. It is very famous for birding as many bird species have their nests there. The most common among the bird species is the Sparrow Hawk (Accipiter nisus) and the Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus).
Friouato Caves
Gouffre de Friouato caves are the largest known cave patterns in Northern Africa, near the town of Taza. First explored by Norbet Carteret in the year 1930 and now a major attraction for visitors, the caves stretch for 8.3 kilometres underground, thus the visitor has got to descend down a hundred-meter shaft to access the caves underground. It should be noted that only experienced cavers are advised to descend the whole 8.3 kilometres.
The caves are decorated in beautiful stalagmites and rock features with a water stream although. It is believed a river flows underneath the caves. It is home to many bats and is worth a visit because it gives a true experience of pitch-black darkness.
Menara Gardens
Located in Marrakech, the Menara Gardens is like an oasis in a busy city. It was originally built in the 12th century by the Almohad ruler, Abd al-Mu’min. The gardens feature orchards of palm trees, fruit trees and olive trees, as well as irrigation canals which draw water from as far as 30kms using a complex system called the Qanat. The Qanat fills the basin with water from Marrakech located miles away. It is very important to note that the gardens are strategically located at the entrance of the Atlas Mountains.
The pavilion was built by the Saadi dynasty in the 16th century and was renovated by sultan Abdurrahman of Morocco, who used to spend his summers there.
Sand Dunes
There are 2 sand dunes in Morocco: the Erg Chebbi and Erg Chigaga. Natively known as an erg, sand dunes are simply sand hills. In native folklore, they are believed to be formed as a punishment from the gods as a punishment for turning away a weary traveller in the desert by the people.
The Erg Chebbi is the bigger one standing at 150 meters high and running for 22 km i.e. from North to South and 5kms wide. Erg Chebbi is 40 km from Erfoud and a 10 hours drive from Marrakech.
The local tourist centre is Merzouga. Sand dunes are very popular for their magnificent sunsets and sunrises accompanied by footprints everywhere. The Erg Chigga on the other hand is much smaller than the Erg Chebbi and was a major route of the Dakar rally before the event was moved to South America.
Atlas Mountains
Spread across 3 countries i.e. Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, the Atlas ranges cover a distance of 1.500 miles with the highest peak Jbel Toubkal in southwest Morocco standing at 13.671 feet. Its geographical significance cannot be ignored seeing that the Atlas ranges separate the Mediterranean and Atlantic coastlines from the Sahara desert. The Atlas is divided into the middle, high and anti-Atlas ranges.
The Atlas ranges are home to some of the most endangered and rare flora and fauna like the Atlas cedar, Atlas bear (Africa’s only species of bear), Barbary Leopard/Lion/Macaque, and the Atlas viper. However, activities like trekking the Atlas can be organized all year round although April-October is the best time to trek. Horseback riding and windsurfing, and skiing in the middle Atlas ranges are some of the activities one can indulge in during their tour of the Atlas ranges.
Other tourist attractions are
Golfing since it is a very popular sport in Morocco because King Hassan II was an internationally ranked golfer and the existence of tip-top golf courses at Royal Dar-Es-Salaam Golf Club in Rabat explains it. Major golf tournaments are hosted in Morocco like the Hassan II trophy.
With the abundance of water bodies in Morocco, many water sports can be tried like: swimming, deep sea fishing, water rafting, diving and sun roasting which is well facilitated by the summer heat accompanied by the homily sand beaches.
Camel riding in the Sahara desert.
Site seeing like a proper tour of the city of Casablanca, which is one of the largest artificial ports in the world. The Djemma El Fna is one of the busiest squares in the world and home to several markets with lights picturesque at dawn. Better still, a tour of the Dar al Makhzen – King Mohammed VI’s official residence in Rabat which comprises a mosque, and racetrack and is of political significance as it houses the prime minister’s office and the supreme court would make an excursion worthwhile.
