Long days drive to Sahara desert

An early start meant that the alarm was set for 5.30 , however I woke for the loo at 3.20 and only dozed after that.
Leaving at 6 after a quick breakfast we had a very long day of driving to the Sahara desert for a camel caravan ride to our campsite for the night.
We were away before the traffic really got going, Fez was a huge sprawling city to drive through. Passing through lots of very different areas as we got on our way.

The drive was very long but we stopped plenty of times. The first terrain was very rocky and dry. Then we passed through some huge cedar forests and then oak trees. There were huge areas that went on for ever and were very samey. Sand stone coloured rocks covered the ground, thousands of small ones and later great cliff's and formations of them. Then came a flat topped hill in the distance it was difficult to work out how high or how big area it cover but it was not small.
Later there were more similar, smaller ones.
We entered an area which seemed like the Grand Canyon, a deep valley with bare tall cliff's as far as the eye could see. The strata easily visible. There were several dry river beds and some with a trickle of water flowing through. We approached a large reservoir the water looking turquoise under the blue, cloudless sky.

We had passed many simple one story dwellings, made of whatever could be found. Bricks, seemingly borrowed from snow walls in places! Wood, plastic and other rubbish and straw and other plant materials. These were the homes of nomads who live in these areas in the summer and moved on to find warmer weather as winter snows approach.
They mostly had a vehicle, dogs and sheep or goats hanging around outside and were in various states of repair.
There were flocks of sheep and goats everywhere simply herded by a single male who was often sitting in the shade nearby watching over them. The sheep in the area mostly had black heads and were quite tall.
There were a lot of feral dogs some alone and others in two's and three's.

One area well into the journey had field upon field of apples growing some under netting and others not covered. They were laden with apples. The whole city appeared wealthy, very green lawns and gardens on the approach and smart buildings names Apple D'Ore or something similar.

Then came the palm trees on much lusher ground, green with vegetation and with a river running through. The rock's went back to deep cliff's of grey strata on both sides of the valley, once again similar to the Grand Canyon but on a much smaller scale.

Eventually we began to see some sand dunes in the distance and couldn't help but hope we were nearly at our destination. However we still had to travel another hour until we stopped at hotel close to the sand dunes.
We had packed small bags as we were to ride camels to our camp for the night.
The camels were sitting patiently waiting for us. I was the first to clamber aboard. Feeling very ungainly as the camel stood front legs first then back, rocking me dangerously forward and back.
As they walked the gait swung us back and forth, with each step, their feet moving in opposition, not together as horses do.
We had to hang on until we got into the rhythm of it. James was infront of me, I was the last in line. My camel had beautiful long eyelashes and soft looking eyes. It kept putting its head very near to James.
It was hard work hanging on with our thighs especially when going down hill.
We stopped and dismounted to take photos as the sun disappeared behind the sand dunes.
Climbing back onto our trusty beasts we still had thirty minutes till we got to camp.
There were several camps of white tents set out amongst the huge sand dunes. They looked very attractive with lights set iut to guide us.

We were pleased to arrive and be welcomed with a cup of mint tea snd some nuts. Then we were shown to our tents, we had a big double bed and electric lighting and a wash tent a few doors down!
Dinner was rice and chicken tagine which was nice. We had stopped to pick up a couple of beers on the way and they went down well.

There was a camp fire and we sat around and the locals made music and sang to us.
Tired out we headed to bed before 10. But have to be on the road again at 6.30.Read more