Wildlife Holidays in Morocco

Both the Mediterranean and Atlantic coastlines of Morocco harbour verdant wetlands that, especially in winter, abound with birds avoiding harsh northern climes. Perhaps most famous of all is the lagoon of Merja Zerga, the last known refuge of the now-extinct Slender-billed Curlew. While the curlews may be gone, the area still supports a phenomenal avifauna, with Audouin’s and Slender-billed Gulls, Whiskered and Lesser Crested Terns, innumerable wader flocks and even the elegant Marsh Owl regularly encountered. Freshwater wetlands host an additional assortment of species, from Western Swamphen and Greater Flamingo to Moustached Warbler, Purple Heron and the cryptically beautiful Marbled Duck, while nearby cliffs and meadows are amongst the only remaining habitats of the rare Northern Bald Ibis. These humid areas also provide a refuge to a number of relict reptiles, such as Puff Adder, Sahel Egg-eater and Egyptian Cobra, which are predominantly found in sub-Saharan Africa.

Looming over the coastal lowlands are the mighty Atlas Mountains, North Africa’s highest peaks. The lower slopes support mysterious oak woodlands, home to the iconic Barbary Macaque and distinctive birds such as Levaillant’s Green Woodpecker, Atlas Flycatcher, African Chaffinch and African Blue Tit. Higher still, rocky crags and montane scrub are the haunts of Red-billed Chough, Peregrine Falcon, Black Wheatear and the stunning Moussier’s Redstart, while upland meadows are also superb for butterflies, including the Moroccan endemic Vaucher’s Heath, and others like Atlas Blue, Berberia Grayling, Atlas Goldenring and Barbary Featherleg.

Beyond the mountains, towards the African interior, lies the great sand sea of the Sahara Desert. Typical birds of the stony wastelands on its periphery include Lanner Falcon, Pharaoh Eagle Owl, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Temminck’s Lark and Red-rumped Wheatear, while Fat Sand Rats are food for Long-legged Buzzards, and dainty Greenish Black-tips are amongst the only butterflies able to make a living. Merzouga, where the first towering dunes rise up above the rocky plains, provides access to Morocco’s finest array of true desert specialities, including Desert Sparrow, Egyptian Nightjar, Spotted and Crowned Sandgrouse, Cream-coloured Courser, Fulvous Babbler, Bar-tailed Lark, African Desert Warbler and Brown-necked Raven. The reptiles are no less distinctive, with Moroccan Spiny-tailed Lizard, Desert Monitor and Desert Horned Viper amongst their number. After dark, these breathtaking landscapes offer up arguably Morocco’s best mammal-watching, with Ruppell’s and Fennec Foxes, African Golden Wolf and even Sand Cat and Caracal all possible. Larger mammals are scarce in Morocco, but the vast and remote Iriqui National Park has seen successful reintroductions of critically endangered antelope such as Addax and Dorcas Gazelle. The park’s seclusion has also made it a stronghold for the elusive Houbara Bustard.

What’s Special About Its Wildlife?

There is arguably nowhere other than Morocco that offers so varied and distinctive a wildlife experience within such easy reach of Europe. The country’s Mediterranean location often gives its coastal habitats a familiar feel, with an assortment of birds similar to those found in the iconic wetlands of Spain or France. However, many of these species are present in vastly greater abundance, alongside others that are more typical of sub-Saharan Africa. Morocco is a part of the Western Palaearctic, the biogeographic realm that encompasses Europe, North Africa, parts of temperate Asia and the northern half of the Arabian Peninsula. The presence of many creatures, including birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, that are predominantly African makes Morocco an irresistible country for visiting naturalists keen to add unusual species to their regional lists.

The secret to Morocco’s allure as a nature destination lies in the impressive diversity of its habitats, as well as their relative proximity to each other. Coastal areas host Greater Flamingo, Marbled Duck, Northern Bald Ibis, innumerable gulls, terns and waders, Marsh Owl, Puff Adder and Egyptian Cobra, while the spectacular peaks and dense forests of the Atlas Mountains are home to Barbary Macaque, Atlas Flycatcher, Red-billed Chough and Moussier’s Redstart. Most magnificent of all are the astonishing desertscapes of the Sahara, where only the most resilient animals of all can survive and thrive, such as Desert Viper, Fennec Fox, Addax, Sand Cat and Spotted Sandgrouse. All of these varied environments and species can be experienced within a short visit from Europe, making Morocco a must-visit wildlife destination.