Morocco - Tizi n Test
Take the Agadir to Ouarzazate road and 30km outside
Taroudannt turn off left (road no. S501) to the Tizi- n- Test Pass, just before the summit of the pass
you will come across La Hotel Belle Vue, with its panoramic
views, then start the long winding down hill from the top of
the pass at 2089m.
This road takes you through Berber villages
which have been hardly changed by the passage of time.
At the
village of Asni take the road to Imlil,
and a summit attempt of Toubkal (highest
point in Northern Africa) is possible before dropping down into
the valleys of Imnan and Azzaden, where you will see the beauty
and touch the culture of the High Atlas Mountains.
Then on to
the flat valley floor at Tahannaout and Marrakech,
only 30 km in the distance.
This road does not have many places
to overnight, the steeps of the mountains does not leave much
flat space in the valley for camping, so either you can overnight
at La Hotel Belle View or use the deserted house at the top
of the pass (2089m)..
Otherwise you will have to wait until you are near to Asni,
were you will find a great camping site next to the river. After
that you will have to wait until you arrive in Marrakech and Camping Feradous which
is situated 15km outside Marrakech on the Casablanca road.
Driving
This road trip should
only be done during the hours of sun light, due to the lack
of barriers and large lorries.
The road between Taroudannt and
Marrakech is a no-go zone after sundown due to it being a main
link for the overladen 7.5 ton lorries crossing the High Atlas
Mountains heading for the distant towns and villages in the
Atlas Mountains.
These drivers do the same trip for 20+ years
and they know the road, like you know the back of your hand..
This road is only one car
wide in places, with 500m cliffs common on the unbarriered road and no
road markings. Taxis, coaches and lorries come around the corners
at high speeds. On the same corner you will have the distraction
of locals selling minerals and cooking herbs, drive slowly........
Sport
The mule tracks which crisis cross the high passes and valleys are the
haven for any serious off-road biker,
with the terrain changing from harsh mountains and forests to
desert and sand , you will find something for all levels.
This
gives the tracks a great wheel line, which will at times make
you feel as if you are riding a roller coaster.
Watch out for
the hard working donkeys, mules and camels which will be sharing
the route with you (a dead sheep will cost you about 1500 DR,
imagine the price of a camel...)
as you wind your way through the endless corridors of dry river
beds you will pass through valleys where time seems to have
stopped.
The only petrol driven traffic
on these mule tracks which wind their
way into the mountains for hundreds of km will be the scooter.
The river Oued Souss has a
large catchment zone, taking water from the High Atlas snow
fields to the Atlantic Coast 500 km's away. The river has good rainbow
trout which took a liking to my Shakespeare No 3 spinner!
