After a pleasant hike from the Auberge on Friday, it was time for the day hike on Saturday. Still with a lack of confidence about having a guide organised, we decided to take Aziz with us again. Even though he spoke no English, we had a couple of Arabic/French speakers with us who could translate. We started from the forestry office at the south western edge of Tazzeka National Park, from we we did a circuit - along the valley gradually climbing up on the way in and high up looking down on the valley as we returned.
It was amazing - one of the few places in Morocco where you can go hiking and not see people for a few hours, no plastic bags lying around and I think we saw a grand total of ten houses in 7 hours of walking (excluding the village from where we started). Beautiful scenery as we wandered along under shady trees including the oak-cork tree while listening the bubbling of the stream in the valley floor. As we climbed higher we past patches of lime green bracken fern above which were two brown cows.
Then we hit the "flowers". Next to an earthen house nested in to the mountain slope was a barley crop bordered by yellow daisies, white daisies, red poppies and other yellow flowers. Lots of photographs were taken as it was so pretty.
Then as we walked through the next crop it was lots of red poppies (plus thistles) leading a traditional rose bush covered in pale pink flowers. All this with a backdrop of the towering, mostly forest-clad mountains.
After lunch we headed back along the other side of the valley. The most amazing sight for me (and there were many) was a rocky mountain slope entirely covered in lavender with its purple spikes. Picking a flower I could smell the invigorating scent so placed it behind my ear. Then in between the patches of lavender were other flowers, including lots of golden daisies. The floral display went on and on.
A haven for wildlife, it was not only flowers we saw, but also a large frog and lots of lizards including one with an orange and yellow striped t-shirt below its jade green head. A bouboris said Aziz, but I have no idea how to spell the name. I can't find it on the internet but will have to try and find a book to find out what it is.
Even members of our group who have lived in Morocco for years, and done much hiking in this country, all said it was one of the best, if not the best hike they've done in Morocco.
After a pleasant hike from the Auberge on Friday, it was time for the day hike on Saturday. Still with a lack of confidence about having a guide organised, we decided to take Aziz with us again. Even though he spoke no English, we had a couple of Arabic/French speakers with us who could translate. We started from the forestry office at the south western edge of Tazzeka National Park, from we we did a circuit - along the valley gradually climbing up on the way in and high up looking down on the valley as we returned.
It was amazing - one of the few places in Morocco where you can go hiking and not see people for a few hours, no plastic bags lying around and I think we saw a grand total of ten houses in 7 hours of walking (excluding the village from where we started). Beautiful scenery as we wandered along under shady trees including the oak-cork tree while listening the bubbling of the stream in the valley floor. As we climbed higher we past patches of lime green bracken fern above which were two brown cows.
Then we hit the "flowers". Next to an earthen house nested in to the mountain slope was a barley crop bordered by yellow daisies, white daisies, red poppies and other yellow flowers. Lots of photographs were taken as it was so pretty.
Then as we walked through the next crop it was lots of red poppies (plus thistles) leading a traditional rose bush covered in pale pink flowers. All this with a backdrop of the towering, mostly forest-clad mountains.
After lunch we headed back along the other side of the valley. The most amazing sight for me (and there were many) was a rocky mountain slope entirely covered in lavender with its purple spikes. Picking a flower I could smell the invigorating scent so placed it behind my ear. Then in between the patches of lavender were other flowers, including lots of golden daisies. The floral display went on and on.
A haven for wildlife, it was not only flowers we saw, but also a large frog and lots of lizards including one with an orange and yellow striped t-shirt below its jade green head. A bouboris said Aziz, but I have no idea how to spell the name. I can't find it on the internet but will have to try and find a book to find out what it is.
Even members of our group who have lived in Morocco for years, and done much hiking in this country, all said it was one of the best, if not the best hike they've done in Morocco.
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