Heading to Marrakech very soon. Advice appreciated. (1 Viewer)

[B Whyte]

I'll be there for 7 nights from 31st of March this year and would appreciate any tips on birds in the region that i may be able to get.

Also advice on getting around would be great. Is it best to hire a driver like a random taxi driver and negotiate a price for the whole day or is there a bird guide company that i could hire for the day.

I normally hire a car and find my own birds when im abroad but i'm not sure what it would be like driving over there and up into the mountains etc. Again any advice on this much appreciated.

Any species i simply should not miss or prioritise over others? I know Crimson-winged Finches are highly regarded but can be tricky. How would one seek them out?

 

[Steve Lister]

I would think about having a car for at least a couple of days and spending a night in the mountains at Oukamaiden for Crimson-winged Finch, Alpine Accentor, Atlas version of Shorelark, etc plus nice birding on the way up and down including Levaillant's Woodpecker and maybe Tristram's Warbler. The road is not bad for driving.

 

[trw]

I'll be there for 7 nights from 31st of March this year and would appreciate any tips on birds in the region that i may be able to get.

Also advice on getting around would be great. Is it best to hire a driver like a random taxi driver and negotiate a price for the whole day or is there a bird guide company that i could hire for the day.

I normally hire a car and find my own birds when im abroad but i'm not sure what it would be like driving over there and up into the mountains etc. Again any advice on this much appreciated.

Any species i simply should not miss or prioritise over others? I know Crimson-winged Finches are highly regarded but can be tricky. How would one seek them out?

We hired a car in Morocco. The roads are generally fine until you get into the Atlas mountains. A few bendy steep roads , but manageable.

 

[DMW]

Agree with others, driving in Morocco is straightforward and having your own car will really increase your opportunities. Just be aware that the police are quite predatory, and there can be random speed traps in the middle of nowhere.

 

[Dutchbirder64]

Agree with others, driving in Morocco is straightforward and having your own car will really increase your opportunities. Just be aware that the police are quite predatory, and there can be random speed traps in the middle of nowhere.

Agree completely. Did it in 2023. Watch out for the police. They look for every opportunity when you enter towns. I had it at on the road to Essaouira. They said I was driving 100 instead of 80 and a camera proofed that. I said to him we drive back together and check where the camera is. That moment he changed the story, asked me where I come from, talked about football and Badr Hari and I was free to go. I learned the phrase Badr Hari is my good friend in arabic. Came out handy.

 

[Soof90]

I'll be there for 7 nights from 31st of March this year and would appreciate any tips on birds in the region that i may be able to get.

Also advice on getting around would be great. Is it best to hire a driver like a random taxi driver and negotiate a price for the whole day or is there a bird guide company that i could hire for the day.

I normally hire a car and find my own birds when im abroad but i'm not sure what it would be like driving over there and up into the mountains etc. Again any advice on this much appreciated.

Any species i simply should not miss or prioritise over others? I know Crimson-winged Finches are highly regarded but can be tricky. How would one seek them out?

Morocco is actually a great idea! I'm looking for countries to go bird watching. South Africa is also supposed to be nice, I just heard, but Morocco is a great idea as well.