Visiting Ouzoud Falls
Hidden within the Atlas Mountain range, 150km northeast of Marrakesh is Ouzoud Falls. The falls and the surrounding countryside is a popular day trip destination for both visitors and locals alike. Visiting Ouzoud Falls is definitely a welcomed break from the busy streets of Marrakesh. Its varied landscapes with jaw-dropping cliffs and lush vegetation provide travelers with a breath of fresh air that’s severely lacking in Marrakesh. In addition to the falls, the area that surrounds it is also famous for spotting wild monkeys and a great place to learn about Berber culture.
Visiting Ouzoud Falls
How to Get There
The falls is within the Berber village of Tanaghmeilt. The drive from Marrakesh takes about two and a half hours, with the latter portion made up of winding roads. Upon reaching the village, you’ll have to hike down for about an hour before reaching the river bottom where wooden boats are waiting to paddle you near the drop. There are also a few restaurants towards the bottom with excellent views of the falls. All of them are serving Moroccan cuisine whose dishes are prepared and cooked by local Berber village women.
Most visitors join a tour group and spend 3-4 hours in the area including lunch. If you want more time to explore the surrounding region, rent a camper van and stay a night or two. There are a handful of accommodations to choose from with rates starting at $21 for a simple room. Not only will you get to experience the falls without the hoards of tourists, but you’ll also get to connect with the locals and the wildlife that live in the villages around the falls.
Some guidebooks will advise you against hiring a local guide. Though it isn’t absolutely necessary, it’s helpful to have someone to assist with navigating the trails especially if you have limited time. Guides are relatively inexpensive ($4 per person) and are often locals themselves who live in the nearby Berber villages. Keep in mind however, that some of them speak just enough English but almost all of them speak French.
Activities While Visiting Ouzoud
Swimming is one of the popular activities for those visiting Ouzoud. Despite the colder river temperature, you’ll see a number of visitors floating on the river bottom. There are also sections deep enough for cliff jumping. Daredevils who don’t mind getting a bit wet can jump from rocks up to 15 feet high.
Camping and hiking are also activities travelers can partake while visiting Ouzoud. A small campground with space for rental camper vans and adobe housing called Camping Zebra is just 15 minutes by foot from the top of the falls where visitors can begin their hike down. There are two trails frequented by travelers. One starts just off the main road and is down a path filled with olive trees. It also cuts through the old village of Tanaghmeilt where it’s not unusual to run into Berber families living within. The trail is very scenic but has some challenging sections. The other is above the falls where old mills still in use today to grind grain remain.