Morocco, a land of diversity - surf and ski within a day and all in the desert! Not frequented often by South Africans, Morocco is one of the most upcoming surf destinations on the planet. If you are searching for uncrowded solid waves, book your trip to Morocco now!
Not just a surf destination, Morocco is a place to explore the culture, cuisine and a completely different way of life.
As with many destinations, the weather usually determines the best time to travel. During the winter months, from November to March, it can get quite cold and rainy especially in the Atlas mountains. But this is swell and wave season! The peak tourist season in Morocco is July and August. If you want to avoid the crowds and the heat, travel before or after this time. Best surf is November till March.
Capital: Rabat
Visas: SA PASSPORTHOLDERS DO REQUIRE A VISA Most nationalities including those from the US, Canada and the UK do not need a visa to enter Morocco as a tourist. If your nationality is not on the following list, then you should contact a Moroccan Embassy and apply for a visa.
Language: Arabic, Berber and French. English is increasingly spoken by young people especially in tourist areas
Currency: The Moroccan unit of currency is the dirham which is divided into 100 centimes. There are ATM's throughout Morocco in all of the major cities and most towns. Credit cards are accepted at most of the higher end hotels, restaurants and shops. You can change money and traveller checks at all major banks, bureau de change and some hotels. +/- 1 Dirham = ZAR 0. 90
Climate: Semi desert to desert landscapes. It is cooler in north, and hot in the south. Hot months are June to August; Spring is April to May; Winter is October to March.
Best time to travel: It is year round. Best temperatures are in October to March, when it is cooler, but still very pleasant and popular with many Europeans getting away from winter up north. During the winter months, from November to March, it can get quite cold and rainy especially in the Atlas mountains BUT this is SWELL and WAVE SEASON! The peak tourist season in Morocco is July and August. If you want to avoid the crowds and the heat, travel before or after this time. Best surf November till March and Best Kite Boarding April till October.
Health: The climate and general conditions of Morocco shouldn't pose a risk to most healthy people. The Atlantic Coast, however, will pose a problem for asthma sufferers, people with rheumatism and people who have liver problems. Due to the extreme heat during the summer months, it is recommended that you keep plenty of water and fruit on your person. Please visit a travel clinic. No vaccinations are required but Typhoid and Hepatitis are common in certain areas. Buying food from street vendors carries some degree of risk and tap water should not be drunk. There is plenty of bottled water available throughout the country. Luckily Morocco is basically malaria-free. There are a few areas near the border with Mauritania that can harbour malaria but it's an unlikely destination even for the hardiest of travellers.
Immunizations: No vaccinations are required by law to enter Morocco but Typhoid and Hepatitis A are two vaccinations that are strongly recommended. It is also a good idea to be up to date with your polio and tetanus vaccines.
Travel Insurance: We highly recommend travel insurance (Please ask consultants for a copy of the policy we recommend)
Water Most minor health complaints can be solved by visiting a pharmacy. However you can also try and be prepared for certain health complaints that you can expect along the way. You should also pack in water purification tablets. Drink Bottled water only!
Diarrhea: Most visitors will experience diarrhoea at some stage. This is usually due to a sensitive stomach not used to the spicier foods. If it occurs, it is suggested that you change your diet to simpler foods and take measures to re-hydrate your body.
Dangerous Animals: If you are trekking or hiking in Morocco, you should know that there are several hazardous if not potentially deadly creatures living in the area. Snakes, scorpions and palm rats can all deliver nasty and dangerous bites in the blink of an eye. However, being bitten is not a frequent occurrence and most travellers will never even see these animals. Morocco is considered to be a non-malaria region so you do not have to get any inoculations.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases AIDS, hepatitis and other sexually transmitted disease do exist in Morocco, though the rate of infection is very low. If it is your intention to practice sexual acts in this country, it is suggested that you exercise the same amount of caution as you would in any other country. It is also not a bad idea to bring your own condoms.
Terrorism A series of terrorist attacks took place in Casablanca in May 2003, killing 45 people. The targets included hotels, cafes and other areas which tourists frequent. The Moroccan authorities claim to have caught the perpetrators, but there is still some risk of further attacks. Despite the unpopularity of the American presence in Iraq and its support for Israel, attacks against US citizens have not been reported. Most Moroccans, to their credit, do make a distinction between US Government policies and US citizens.
Crime Violent crime is still quite rare in Morocco but getting harassed by "guides" and petty theft is fairly common. Avoid walking alone at night especially in unlit areas and on the beach. Take care of your valuables and don't flaunt your jewellery.
Drugs: Morocco has strict penalties for those caught purchasing or using drugs including "kif" as the local marijuana or hashish is called. DO NOT BUY OR TAKE ANY DRUGS – PENALTIES COULD RESULT IN LIFE IN PRISON HERE!!!!! That said, "kif" is smoked by a sizeable percentage of the Moroccan male population and many, young travelers in particular, visit Morocco with this in mind. Just be careful. The Rif mountains, where most of the marijuana is grown, is notorious for forcing their wares on unsuspecting tourists and the police are in on the scam. Do not buy "kif" from anyone who approaches you (and you will be approached) it is usually of inferior quality and you don't want to spend a lot of time with these folks.
Women Travellers Morocco is an Islamic country so be modest in what you wear. No short skirts, shorts or tank tops. Wear a bikini or swimsuit only at a pool or on a beach. You'll attract attention regardless what you wear, just ignore it and move on, most of it is harmless.
Gay Travellers’ Homosexuality is considered a criminal offence in Morocco (so are sexual relations outside of marriage for that matter). So just be careful of overt displays of public affection, although handholding between men is very common.
Getting Around Morocco:
By Train Trains in Morocco are among the best in Africa; fares are cheap and trains are efficient and comfortable. You rarely have to book in advance, which is good since you can't book trains outside of Morocco. Trains travel between Tangier, Meknes, Fes, Oujda, Rabat, Casablanca and Marrakech. The Moroccan national train service ONCF lists all the schedules and fares.
By Air If your time is short and you want to get around quickly, air travel is a good option but it is expensive. Royal Air Moroc flies most domestic routes and you can look at their web site to check fares and schedules.
By Bus There are three national bus companies that operate between most major towns and cities in Morocco. They are Supratours, CTM and SATAS. According to recent traveler accounts on VirtualTourist.com SATAS doesn't have a very good reputation. Since Morocco's rail network doesn't extend to some popular destinations like Agadir and Essaouira, you'll probably use a bus service while traveling around the country. Long-distance buses are comfortable and usually air-conditioned. You can buy your tickets at the bus depot.
Taxis You'll usually see two types of taxis in most major Moroccan cities, "big taxis" (grand taxis) and "small taxis" (petit taxis). The grand taxis are shared taxis and will cover longer distances. The petit taxis work like regular taxis everywhere. If the meter doesn't work, negotiate your fare in advance. If you don't have a lot of luggage, then always opt for a petit taxi for trips around town. It is much cheaper.
Renting a Car Renting a car in Morocco is not always cheap. BUT used cheap/ small cars can be rented for about R350 per day. Most of the major car rental agencies have offices in Morocco and there are plenty of online car rental portals to book from, Car Hire Express is just one of them. The roads in Morocco are quite good but be aware that the distances between major towns can be significant. This distance finder should help you plan your trip. NOTE- driving in Morocco is pretty hectic and experience all of its own.
