Situation Sahara Routes in Morocco
 

Hi all,

we're leaving Germany today for an off road trip to Morocco with our KTMs.

We are going to take the following Sahara routes mapped by Chris Scott:

From Boudnib to Merzouge - ME2 & MS11
From Merzouga to Zagora - MS06
From Zagora to Foum Zguid - MS08 & MS07 & MS77
From Foum Zguid to Tata - MS08

Are these routes currently passable? I ask because these routes are close to the border with Algeria and are partly marked as closed on our map.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Best regards,
Manuel

google?
lots of rain it seems- high up likely to be worse.
What can be 'passable' this morning can become 'impassable' in a manner of seconds when Mother Nature gets busy.
And:
"and are partly marked as closed on our map." Which map would that be?

Calling Tim Cullis

I don't know Chris's route designations, however...

I've ridden off-tarmac from Boudnib to Merzouga without problems.

From Merzouga to Zagora you have two options, one is to head south past Taouz cross the Rheris at Ramlia, then on to Tafraoute Sidi Ali. This is often difficult, the flood plain is very wide and the channels change with every rainfall.

A better option (in my opinion) is to head north west from Merzouga to Rissani and then west to Gara Medour (which was where the KTM 790 launch video was shot). Then at N31° 16.201' W4° 21.951' head south on one of the old Dakar Rally pistes heading for Foum Mharech (gap in mountains) at N30° 45.587' W4° 33.807' I can particularly recommend Les Jardins de Tafraoute as an overnight stop at N30° 40.973' W4° 41.342' From there it's west to Oumjrane and Zagora.

From Zagora you would head south to M'hamid where there's a choice of a terribly stony track in the lee of the range of hills, or take pot luck in the sand across Lac Iriki lake bed a little to the south. The most southerly route would take you past the military post at N29° 46.159' W6° 53.940' and then through the sawback hills you can see in the video below at N29° 48.632' W6° 56.223'



From Foum Zguid you could retrace your route towards the sawback hills and then continue to head south west to pick up the track to Tata, but the last time I tried this (about eight years ago) I was turned back by the military.

Thanks Toyark and Chris for your answer.
The map I‘m referring to is called Marco Polo Maroc.
Find screenshot attached.Attachment 28517

and thank you to Tim Cullis.
I can't see a reply from Chris- but then I need new glasses... so

I assume you like exploring so I would not be worried about what your map says but perhaps more what eyeball Mk1 says / or the Authorities if you are that concerned.

If you approach any sensitive area where there are 'no go' zones like military bases, dams etc, there will always be someone watching and they will make their presence known to you and your options- Remain polite, be thankful, (always handy to have some good dates to offer as a gesture of apology) and follow their lead and you should be fine!
Of course, if they don't like KTMs'...

I was hunting down the site of a dinosaur dig to the south of Lac Maider in the Kem Kem region and was only 600m away from the waypoint when a military jeep came into view with three soldiers (just one gun between them).

I was told to turn back. I tried explaining what I was doing and they didn't understand, told me that 'Auberge Dinosaur' was to the north.

Eventually I used the words antiquity and excavation (same words in French). They then seemed to understood but still wouldn't let me pass. So I turned back.

For route conditions, as has been suggested, it depends on the amount of rainfall and how long ago it fell. You will have to use your judgement as you go unless someone has been there very recently and adds a comment.

For legality and proximity to the Algeria border, as has been suggested, the only area likely to be a problem is between FZ and Tata, and this is only at the Tata end of the piste. If you go too far west on piste before turning north to the highway, the army will spot you quite quickly, but they are generally friendly and have great patience with foolish tourists, as long as you are polite and humble.

Foum Mharech and the dry lake to the south, Oued Rheris, Lac Maider, Chegaga and Lac Iriki were all badly affected by the floods and still not dried out.

It is not possible to get to the south side of Chegaga at the moment and crossing the north of Iriki has soft spots and huge amounts of Feche Feche. I wouldn’t stray off the defined route though for a few more weeks.


The piste marked on the map above isn’t prohibited, but there is a route that loops south from there that is. Generally after Lac Maider to Tagounite anything to the south of the piste will see you picked up by the military and asked politely to go back north.