Morocco: Camel trekking and hiking in the desert with Akabar - Sahara Treks - individual - personal - flexible

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Hafid Benyachou, Zagora is responsible for organisation, trekking, homestay and round trips. He descends from a nomad family of the Ait Atta tribe. After his abitur Benyachou studied teaching in Agadir and taught for several years children and young people at the nomadic school of Tafraout. He is the consultant for the nomads of Tafraout area and supports them actively in enforcing their interests outside the desert. So he set up with them the association "Association Akabar for Sustainable Development and Culture"; furthermore he is contact person and translator for the Italian organisation Il Mondo Incantato and for the German voluntary organisation "Ingenieure ohne Grenzen" (see aid projects for nomads). Hafid has several years experience as a trekking guide for the company of his brother. In 2014 he founded his trekking company "Akabar - Sahara Treks". Hafid has visited Germany in 2013 and during his stay he visited travel agencies and the head office of "Ingenieure ohne Grenzen" in Berlin, where he described the water situation of Tafraout area and asked for help. In November 2014 two teams of "engineers" examined the water situation of almost all wells in Tafraout valley, supported by Hafid and the nomads association Akabar.



 

2020 Portraet

Photo: Inés Boelke

 

My name is Monika Boch-Jacuk and I am responsible for creating the website, contacts to interested travelers and travel advice. I studied International Business M.Sc. (GB) and worked for several years in banks. Desert and its inhabitants have always interested me; since 2009, I have done 14 hiking tours in desert (Tunisia, Morocco, Oman, Mongolia and Algeria) for many years and thus gained my trekking experience. In 2011, after a trekking tour through the desert of southern Morocco, I stranded with nomadic families far away in a remote valley. I have been there several times,  taught young nomads in English and now I am trying along with H. Benyachou to help them to an additional income by offering trekking and homestay. Hereto, there are reports in Stern Magazin Viva ! No. 2/ 2013 and in the in-house newspaper of the Sparkasse Markgräflerland " Hausgeist 2013 ".

By chance, I stumbled upon the commitment of the German organisation "Ingenieure ohne Grenzen" and as at that time (summer 2012) some families already left the valley of Tafraout due to dwindling wells, I described the situation to the employees of the Berlin headquarters of "Engineers" and asking if help would be appreciated. In August 2013, Hafid Benyachou and I visited the responsible engineer of Berlin headquarter, who informed us that the engineer's group "Munich" was already interested in the task. There was a lot of correspondence, Skype and the sending of rock samples to Munich. In November 2014 two teams of "engineers" examined the water situation of almost all wells in Tafraout valley, supported by Hafid (as translator and organisator of food etc.) and the nomads association Akabar.

I am voluntary engaged for the people of Sahara and in supporting business of "Akabar - Sahara treks"; thus no extra costs from Germany are included in our prices.


            

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

 

  P1000768 Lahsen Rabouze, older brother of Yusuf, is our cook. From breakfast to dinner he conjures delicious Moroccan cuisine on the "table"

 

 

 

 

 

P1020417 Mohammed Oukhayi is nomad, chamelier and a great cook. He guides especially our very small groups like single travellers and couples. Mohamed can read from your face. He is responsible for the camels; for the treks he takes the camels of various nomadic families of Jebel Bani and Boujah area, who thus have an income.

 

 

 

 

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  Ydir Oukhayi is Mohamed's older brother and responsible for guiding and camels. And like his borther also a great cook; his plain breads baked in sand or on hot stones are very delicious.

 

 

 

 

 

Said1   Said Azmamar is our english speaking guide. He stems from a nomadic family of M'Hamid area and is experienced guide.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 P1000737 Yusuf Rabouze is our experienced junior guide and also chamelier. He is from a nomad family who lived with it's herd until last year in Jebel Bani mountains, yet moved near Tafraout village. Yusuf is about 20 years old, went to the nomad school of Tafraout, thus speaks a little English. He is always very happy to accompany interested travellers on their trekking tour. He knows the desert - mountains and dunes - by heart 

 

 

 

 

 

20150407 162946 Kopie   Yusuf Karmoud is chamelier/nomad from a hidden valley in the Jebel Bani range; some of our treks are passing his grounds.