how to find a good camp spot
 

Through out my travels i'll be wild camping whenever i have the opportunity to - how do you pick a good campsite? Do you camp in remote or populated areas? Behind rocks, under trees or not? Facing the wind? North, south, west or east? These are the sort of questions I would appreciate clarification and guidance on. Experience is the best teacher, but hey, figured i would leverage this amazing forum once again. Thanks, Leo.

First point is understanding the rules

In Morocco and the WS Wildcamping is prohibited on beaches and in national parks. If its private property you need to owners permission first.

Then the normal common sense wildcamping process, away from roads and villages etc, preferably out of sight and leave no trace you were there.

Wildcamping used to be tolerated along a lot of the coast line except between Essaouira and Sidi Ifni where is has been tightly restricted for 20 years or so due to problems with hoards of campervans. Recently there is an increase in reported smuggling operations so there has been an increase in reported problems camping along the coast.

Otherwise I have no really hard and fast rules for finding a wildcamp spot. I normally start looking around 2hours before sunset but often find its a case to camping where you are before the day light is gone.

Morocco you suggest deviating from the main road and finding a "remote and hidden area" or what about asking around with the locals for a spot? WS get off the main road, not towards the coast and go in land to set camp? What about the rock formations built by fisherman by the coast; are those ok to set camp behind? And Mauritania same deal as maroc?

No matter where you are, some chancer will likely come along, claim you are on his property and ask for money.

I only camp in really remote areas where there are no hotels, so I find a track around sunset, then branch off that and go really offroad, and set up camp *without lights* in the last light before full dark. No noise, no lights, otherwise you will be 'Berber TV' for local kids.

However... if I remember correctly you are going in September, and that's rather hot for camping IMO.

Yes get off the main road and look for somewhere, asking locals can be an asset as well although your more likely to have some company.

Inland has a higher chance of not being disturbed. The are coast guard posts along the coast who will notice you. Sometimes they will be fine with you camping or ask that you camp near their post, other time they will just tell you you cant camp.

Following my normal routine I've only ever been disturbed by locals a handful of times in the last decade. Only time I haven't set up camp until the sun has set is if I keep looking for perfect spot and run out of time. Certainly never worried about lighst after dark. This spring I wildcamped for 45 nights and only once did we have a visitor and that was a less than ideal spot. Turned out to be a great guy tough. cr

Hotels in the WS away from Laayoune and Dakhla can be a bit basic and sometimes worse than camping in my experience

Moved my trip to mid october; i can "avoid" the heat.