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North Africa Topics specific to North Africa and the Sahara down to the 17th parallel (excludes Morocco)
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



Trans Sahara Routes.

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  #1  
Old 21 Feb 2005
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morocco in the spring
im thinking of going to the atlas mountains in spring in my land cruiser with a roof tent. First question is whats the night time temperature there in April amd is there are book on 4x4 routes in the Atlas and sahara..thanks
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Old 21 Feb 2005
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sorry just seen post on "piste de Maroc" which answers my second question...right wheres my English/french dictionary??
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  #3  
Old 21 Feb 2005
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No need for a dictionary Jeff - click the 'Sahara New Edition Out Now' box flashing above left. 13 meaty Mk desert routes in the there (though scores more in the 3 Gandini books).

Chris S

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Old 21 Feb 2005
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Jeff - cold. Snow wouldnt be surprising, especially higher up and on western or northern slopes. Youll be fine, but take a decent sleeping bag. Its been rightly said by the Berber that Morocco is a cold land with a hot sun!
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Old 21 Feb 2005
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Last year I crossed the Atlas from Ouarzazate to Marrakesh the first week in May. It was freezing. -2C and snowing.
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  #6  
Old 22 Feb 2005
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@ Jeff: same as Dizzie and Runner. Could even be risky... you're better off south of the Atlas in april.

@ Chris: what a shame! discouraging people to improve their french!
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  #7  
Old 22 Feb 2005
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thanks all perhaps wimp out and go to southern morocco, ill have another look at your bok chris i used it as a bible when driving through to south africa . My french is good providing no one cuts my hands off!! deux comme ca!! easyyyyyyyyy!!
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Old 22 Feb 2005
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I'm in Er Rachidia currently and this year Morocco is having a very cold winter. Lots of snow on the mountains etc.

I was here last year over winter when it was much warmer, and the family I am staying with have had an influx of reletives coming from up north to avoid the snow/cold. It even snowed in Er Rachidia a few weeks ago.

But I guess it will warm up as the weeks go by...
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Old 23 Feb 2005
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Crossed the atlas from Middelt to Tinerhir in early april 2003, was about 8 deg C at 2500 metres, about the same last year by day, maybe +2 by night on the main road across the atlas between Meknes and Errachidia. No snow except on the high peaks, most of us were reasonably comfortable in tents. Some of the passes are not officially open until after the winter months, which can be april or may - maybe it would be prudent to seek local advice on weather/piste conditions prior to taking mountain pistes??

Andrew.



[This message has been edited by Andrew Baker (edited 23 February 2005).]
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  #10  
Old 24 Feb 2005
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Did the same route as Dizzie but the reverse direction in April last year by bike - no snow and not particularly cold. Same crossing from Errichidia to Meknes. Obviously with weather anywhere, it's all in the hands of the gods!
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Old 10 Mar 2005
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Isn't there a site with weather data for the cities east of the atlas, like quarzazate?
i am planning to go agadir-quarzazate-oujda-spain in march and april and am expecting temps from 10-25 degrees C.
Iwould expect the very low temps experienced in the spring, to be only in the mountains?

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Old 14 Apr 2005
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For the record, the weather on our trip in late March/early April 2005 was pleasantly warm (low 20s) with hot sunshine. A few showers up north. It's fine if you can keep moving or find shade, but not too bad even if you are out in the sun.

Some rain figures I found on-line:

Meknes (north-ish) 79 mm of rain in March.
Rabat (coast) 66mm during 10 rain days in March.
Beni-Mellal (inland) 10mm.
Marrakech (near mountains) 36mm during 6 rain days in March.
Ouarzazate (eastern side) 10mm.
Errachidia (desert) 20mm.
Biskra (Algerian desert) 18mm during 5 rain-days in March.

(For reference, Cardiff averages 63mm rain in March.) These figures were drawn from various sources.
http://uk.weather.com/search/drilldo...ter=M&letter=R
Click on the letters to see other towns and cities.

http://weather.yahoo.com/regional/MOXX.html
Click on a town, then on "Records & Averages" (metric figures are available too.)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/world/c...ml?tt=TT000420
There are links to detailed tables of temp/rainfall etc.

Sites that show daytime temperatures indicate that temperatures everywhere are normally in the low to mid-20s in the day. Thermals will be needed only for the mountain passes. You may know that Nick Sanders' group got stuck in snow when crossing the Rif last year!
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Old 15 Apr 2005
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And so is Moroc not a good place to visit in December/January?

I was planning a trip then, but have no heating in the car and am now worried about the amount of snow that the Atlas gets....

Who has managed a trip across the mountains to the south in Dec/Jan?
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Old 17 Apr 2005
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I just returned from Marokko. Agadir, erfoud, merzougameknes, ceuta. In 2200meter the morning temp was 5 degree C, but no snow, in the desert it was 25-30 in the afternoon. I brought a good sleeping bag, a windjacket, a fleece jacket, a woolen cap, a pair of thin gloves, long trosers, shorts, thin sports t-shirt and I used it all, at some point or another. All over, in the desert, in the mountains, morning temps could be low. The sun would warm considerably, but if there was a wind, it could be cold or cool.

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