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Wildlife of the Moroccan Sahara
Tour Code: MAR11An 8-day holiday focusing on the special desert wildlife and landscapes of Iriqui National Park in the Moroccan Sahara.
£2,295
£1,995
Highlights
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Summary
Established in 1994, Iriqui National Park spans an impressive 123,000 hectares in southeastern Morocco, dedicated to preserving its unique flora and fauna. Despite its rich potential for wildlife watching, the park has been seldom visited by naturalists, primarily due to its historical isolation. However, recent improvements in transportation – including regular flights to Morocco’s south and enhanced road access – have made this remote and exciting sanctuary more accessible.
This seclusion has played a crucial role in safeguarding the park's wildlife, making it arguably the premier location in Morocco to find species such as the elusive African Houbara. The park's avian residents are a sought-after mix, featuring the lively Fulvous Chatterer, Tristram's Warbler, African Desert Warbler, Spectacled Warbler, Trumpeter Finch, and a robust population of raptors. Come early spring, these residents are joined by northbound migrants, including the dazzling Blue-cheeked Bee-eater.
Our local guide, with deep-rooted nomadic expertise, will lead us to hidden water sources, offering the best chances to observe sandgrouse species such as Crowned, Spotted, and possibly even Lichtenstein's! The park also boasts the reintroduction of rare Saharan mammals like Addax, a large, Critically Endangered, member of the antelope family, which had previously vanished from the region.
For any naturalist, the prospect of encountering the elusive Fennec Fox adds to the park's allure, and we'll enjoy at least one nocturnal foray to increase our chances of a sighting. For those with an interest in reptiles, Iriqui National Park provides Morocco's best opportunity to see Desert Monitor – a smaller relative of Komodo Dragon – alongside Desert Horned Viper and several other fascinating species.
For the avid wildlife photographer, the landscapes – especially the dunes – offer unparalleled opportunities for a short-haul holiday; the long shadows and soft sunlight during winter and early spring create ideal conditions for capturing stunning images. On this 8-day tour we’ll have the privilege of exploring these habitats using 4x4s and our Sahrawi guide's intricate knowledge of the desert.
- A photographer's paradise with stunning landscapes and sensational night sky
- African Houbara, Tristram’s Warbler, Spectacled Warbler and Fulvous Chatterer all very likely
- Excellent chance of Addax and Dorcas Gazelle
- Larks and wheatears galore, plus many other specialities including sandgrouse
- Other tantalising species occasionally seen include Fennec Fox, Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse, Desert Monitor and even Libyan Striped Weasel
- Led by a Naturetrek naturalist alongside and Sahrawi desert guide
Outline Itinerary
What's Included?
- Flights
- Accommodation:
Comfortable tourist hotels on Day 1 and Day 7, and a comfortable fixed camp (see photos in the tour gallery) where rooms are private but facilities are shared (3 hot-water showers between 8 fixed tents) whilst in Iriqui National Park. The sleeping tents are well-appointed with king-size or twin beds, linens and blankets, and electricity supply to charge camera batteries.
- Food:
All included starting with dinner on Day 1 and ending with breakfast on Day 8
Dates & Prices
2026
Tour Leader: Martin Pitt
Martin has had an interest in wildlife since an early age and, although he worked in development and consultancy across the globe, he has always kept this interest going. He has been leading tours for Naturetrek, both in the UK and overseas, since 2017.
Primarily interested in birds and mammals, his time living in the Middle East (a year in the UAE and 2 years in Israel) gave him a deep love of desert ecosystems. More recently, he has spent an increasing amount of time focused on butterflies and dragonflies. He is the author of the ‘Crossbill Nature Guide to Southern Morocco’ and as of 2023 he is also the Bird Recorder for Hampshire.
Martin has led a number of tours, including day trips and weekends in Hampshire and the adjacent areas, as well as tours overseas including Austria, Ethiopia, France, Mexico, Morocco, Poland, Romania, Spain and Uzbekistan.
Tour Leader: Martin Pitt
Martin has had an interest in wildlife since an early age and, although he worked in development and consultancy across the globe, he has always kept this interest going. He has been leading tours for Naturetrek, both in the UK and overseas, since 2017.
Primarily interested in birds and mammals, his time living in the Middle East (a year in the UAE and 2 years in Israel) gave him a deep love of desert ecosystems. More recently, he has spent an increasing amount of time focused on butterflies and dragonflies. He is the author of the ‘Crossbill Nature Guide to Southern Morocco’ and as of 2023 he is also the Bird Recorder for Hampshire.
Martin has led a number of tours, including day trips and weekends in Hampshire and the adjacent areas, as well as tours overseas including Austria, Ethiopia, France, Mexico, Morocco, Poland, Romania, Spain and Uzbekistan.
2027
Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?
For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.
Enquire
Why Naturetrek?
At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:
- The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
- Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
- Outstanding value and exceptional customer service
Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!
