Geography Trip to Morocco 2008

During the Easter break a group of intrepid explorers returned to Morocco and to the remote Berber village of Agouns in the High Atlas Mountains.

Mohamed, our Moroccan guide greeted us early on the first morning and following a drive deep into the mountains it was time to pull on our hiking boots and begin our trek. Mules were loaded with food, bags, bedding and DIY supplies and in pursuit of Mohamed we set off to cross a mountain pass (known locally as a tizi) and to the village of Agouns, only accessible on foot or by mule. The village clings to the steep, barren sides of the Ourika Valley, and is home to 600 people who live an almost self-sufficient lifestyle farming their terraced fields. 

The villagers were delighted to meet us again and were keen to show off the reservoir and water supply which last year’s group helped to install.   Armed with mops, buckets, paintbrushes and hammers we set about emptying the village school, repairing and cleaning the desks, cleaning out the classrooms and finally painting the interior and exterior of the school.   The next morning we put up posters and maps and invited many of the village children in to see our handiwork, tracing their handprints on the freshly painted walls.  Mohamed then demonstrated his teaching skills with a lesson in English for the village children and in Berber for the Dollar visitors.  The group had carried over supplies of pencils and jotters and in a delightful ceremony these were distributed to the children.

We were welcomed with true Berber hospitality, being invited into their homes to drink ‘Berber whisky’ i.e. mint tea and consume pancakes, dates and nuts. Everywhere we went the local children followed, delighting at meeting us and receiving the small gifts distrubuted. On the final night the village men entertained us with traditional Berber music and dancing. The evening and the community project were rounded off with all, villagers, cooks, mulemen and Dollar pupils, joining together for Auld Lang Syne.

The next morning the mules were once again loaded up with our bags and we began the long walk down the Ourika Valley, descending along ancient mule tracks and through the terraced fields, finally reaching our destination and yet another sumptuous Berber picnic was laid out before us.  Following our camping, community project and long trek we were all delighted to be reunited with flushing toilets and showers.  It was time now to enjoy some relaxation, bartering, shopping and camel riding in the delightful coastal town of Essaouira.  After a visit to an argan oil cooperative (the oil is extracted from kernels which have been digested by goats!) we arrived in the vibrant city of Marrakech to finish our expedition exploring the souks and observing the snake charmers, musicians and acrobats in the Djemma el Fna.