2. Geographical Features

To the very south of Morocco is a region of geological wonder that’s virtually all uninhabited: massive sand dunes, hundreds of feet high and unquestionably the most breathtaking in North Africa. These great drifts have defined the image of the Sahara in the minds of travelers, and climbing them is one of the world’s great challenges. This is a pure place, a landscape extolled for its glories since men and women began to freely roam the earth, and nothing compares. Stark beauty combines powerfully with total silence in a heart-stopping spectacle. The constantly changing light and the endlessly varied hues and shadows of the shifting sands form a spellbinding combination.

The Erg Chebbi dunes rise almost 50 meters, 250 meters at the highest. The backdrop of fiery red sand contrasts well with the clear blue sky. The small hamlet of Merzouga is enveloped by the largest expanse of erg in Morocco, said to cover the cemetery, the land in front of the military post, and the commune garden to the southeast. The nearby palmeries in Oum Tidri and Jdida have become a good stop-off point when the southerly desert conditions start to develop. It was said the erg began to develop in the 20th century after the drought. Without vegetation, the sand was swept together by wind into wave-like shapes to form the erg. Today, the dunes continue to grow, slowly creeping into the village, but fortunately not at an alarming rate.

2.1. Location and Landscape

Merzouga, located in southeastern Morocco, is nestled atop the lovely Erg Chebbi, a large sand dune field created by windblown sediment. Merzouga consists of a fairly extensive area of kasbahs, modest houses, and hotels located in a lush area near an oasis that is well-facilitated by the town’s somewhat limited infrastructure. Tourism is, no doubt, the most significant economic activity, and the income from visitors during the short tourist season helps many of the local populace during the rest of the year when times are more difficult. Tourism, cousins who live far from the area, and ancestral ties to the land are enough to maintain loyalty to the harsh land of Merzouga. The surrounding area is dry, eroded, and almost uninhabited by humans except for the ancient ksars and ksours that once protected this area. A moderate number of other professionals, including shopkeepers, camel owners, and a few other ancillary economic businesses with a service orientation sustain the local populace. Of course, success in all of these tourist businesses depends heavily upon local weather conditions, the ability of local businesspeople to service customers, and upon the satisfaction of vacationers, ensuring their return if not of the family connection to the desert, then certainly to the accommodations they might enjoy.

2.2. Climate and Weather Patterns

In order to understand the space of Merzouga, it’s wise to become acquainted with the country and its natural borders. Morocco is located in North Africa and is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Algeria to the east and southeast, and by Western Sahara to the south. This location gives a natural border of its own to guard the east of Morocco. The Atlas Mountains and the Sahara to the south of it do the same. This leads us to an understanding of the type of climate that is found in this area. Both the Sahara and the Atlas Mountains hold a dry desert climate, although the High Atlas Mountains and other higher terrains have different variations of climate conditions. Because Merzouga is located in the Sahara, it has the typical climate of a dry, hot desert.

The climate of Merzouga is formed by the weather patterns that come from both the northern tropical air and the southern arid states. This gives Merzouga weather patterns that vary. There is a difference in climate from the inland desert to the coastal areas. The coastal areas have a more Mediterranean climate. Along the more northern and southern regions, we can find high mountain ranges with high plateaus. These are a barrier and cause the weather patterns to not reach every part of the country. For the Merzouga area, the Tafilalt region, the weather patterns don’t reach very far. There is one rule that explains how the weather is in the desert and how it works. It is a simple rule, really; it is always the same, always hot and always dry. The day temperatures fluctuate from 25 °C up to 50 °C in the months of July and August.

3. Cultural Heritage

The settlement known today as Merzouga epitomizes the peculiar historical synergy that Africa—a continent viewed by many as separate in culture and heritage—has always had with its western neighbor, Europe. Prehistorically, we know that typical African arid-lands flora began to reach the Atlantic shores of Morocco about 100,000 years ago, long before transatlantic traffic. The Muslim conquest of the Maghrib, begun in 647 A.D., expanded into the Andalusian city of Carmona in 711 A.D. Within 40 years, the advance ended because a ruler chose to send his army east to arrest the advance of the marauding Muslims. As aforementioned, individuals brought themselves and their remaining associates to the area we now call Merzouga in the late nineteenth century. Their focus on date farming and active interest in promoting a mock Moroccan-type district outside of England and in the manifold activities of the Sahara Company would certainly have historical angles had anyone enough interest, time, and funds to follow the unexpected web of human interests tied to the former Sahara Compagnie region that rests just south of the nearly forgotten settlement.

The most general aspect of the Merzouga cultural heritage lies in the religious and political risk residents have recently assumed for their very survival. For centuries, trade and religious pathways connected Merzouga to the distant oases, the Atlantic shore, Katawara—Merzouga’s northern neighbor, known for pilgrimage traditions that existed for centuries—Moulay Driss, the first-born of the culminating years of a history punctuated with struggle and determination for believers alongside Saint Sidi Boulfrais and then inside Hassi-Labied—the nearest village of Draa-Tafilalet tribes—enabling connections with other tribes of the area. Through the community-environment plan, to the independence for the two precursors of the newly formed American-style district within the wealthy Sovereign Moroccan Kingdom, and finally into the mere communal council, lies the very real and very manipulable promise of land reform and developing a relatively urban area fully cognizant of the attraction wielded by the nearby natural sand field and the promising image on the dune that together make Merzouga an international holiday paradise.

3.1. Berber Traditions

The Berbers are the northernmost peoples in Africa, but they are not recognized by their own name. North Africa is known in the wider world as Arab. The Berbers refer to themselves in the context of the development of Muslim North Africa and the preservation of Berber language and culture. Berbers constitute the original ethnic identity of the North African countries and have played a significant role in the history and development of the region. The presence of the Berber language is proof of Berber culture, which has been preserved throughout the history of Islam. Today, the suffering and deprivation have not made the Berbers abandon their language, nor have they lost their spiritual identity. Berbers can be proud of what their ancestors have done and be inspired by it. The strong fortress of Tamazgha, Morocco, is not only a climatic and geographical wonder, but also the site of the merging of many cultural strands. These cultural strands are visible through ancient and timeless heritage, reflecting the various tribes and conflicts interconnected throughout the ages.

3.2. Local Festivals and Celebrations

One of the important moments in the life of the people of Merzouga, especially the descendants of the Alawi-Hasani creed, is the annual religious festival called the Mulud. West Moroccan tribes and sedentary Berbers take their merits seriously, giving various freedoms to the religious festival, which lasts from nine to twelve days. Although the real reason for appearing at the Mouloud is a long journey to the tribe, there is a special joy for men during all these days; their friends are near, and time passes pleasantly for them. The Mulud should take place in the city of Rissani, but in this case, people and animals will have to travel on the road, and practically for the entire congregation of this place, it is much better to celebrate the holiday right at home.

In the tribal market, two or three rahbas with horses are sold. One of these rahbas takes part in the commercial economic affairs of Rissani, which men perform outside the boundaries of their homeland. Military affairs, which touched on the city of the Mouloud, are relatively simple; the caravans, when moving in the column, are protected by only two groups of armed horsemen. The horses were sheathed in long scarves of white cloth that hung to the ground. It is worth mentioning two more religious festivals annually celebrated in the tribe: another Mouloud, which is devoted to El Hajj Ahmed Ben Isa, and calls Banu Ali. The number of descendants of the creed that is celebrated is not very large; a small part of the tribe is also interested in the relatives of the subjects who go from the adjacent area.

4. Economic Activities

Tourism, particularly ecotourism, cultural tourism, and winter sports, represents the most important ingredient in tourists’ experiences. This phenomenon can change the identity of rural societies through the introduction of new lifestyles, new values, new forms of organization, and new approaches to land and cultural heritage. The rural environment has its own rules of use. A poor knowledge of these rules is one of the principal causes of tourist failure. The golf courses and apartments in Peru also create clashes and problems since tourists enjoy noble silence and quiet nature, while the real residents create sounds working their land, animals, traffic, aircraft noise, etc. Due to tourism, cities occupy the fertile lands intended for food cultivation, as tourism occupies its place within the service industry above commerce and transport. It is important to take measures to mitigate the negative effects of tourism, such as soil degradation, deforestation, soil erosion, pollution, and congestion of roads and systems, and to avoid conflicts generated by it so as to proceed in the same development and resolution of economic issues through tourism.

The High Atlas in Morocco maintains and retains values of remote regions. This could be the major reason explaining the little research carried out in this area. Due to its geographical isolation caused by its geographical configuration and the decrease of agriculture linked to the abandonment of the mountain, a precious landscape of great beauty and purity has been conserved. The whole High Atlas is almost a nature reserve. Local society and territorial organization assure a protective mechanism for its environment and culture. Contained and protected are a collective way of appropriation and territory organization, a feeling of closeness with the earth, and structuring of the county in territorial units closely related to rural concepts. They also have a decorative element of territorial organization. It is characterized by the capacity to attract tourists. Economic richness capable of attracting tourists seeking to discover a still virgin, wild, and original atmosphere is provoked by the harmony of the earth and the men with the constraints of nature. They are dependent on and informed by the environment: occupations linked to traditional ways of life that can be observed, crop rotation, use of water, building types, etc. The continuity of existence, population, and economic activity, water rather than land rights, determine territorial organization. Small divisions of the land are difficult among children and numerous products of their small property. Such conditions are characteristic of the High Atlas and contribute to its originality.

4.1. Tourism Industry

Morocco, located in the northwest of Africa, offers a rich cultural and geographical experience that has attracted growing numbers of travelers from all around the world to visit and explore its different cities, landscapes, and cultures. Merzouga, similarly, has been slowly advancing into a town with better infrastructure and modern technologies. This rural oasis in the Sahara Desert is a traditional nomadic settlement close to the Algerian frontier, and its charming Erg Chebbi sand dunes are highly attractive to travelers, just like the flawless summer blue sky. Contrary to the rapidly growing urban cities such as Marrakech, Casablanca, and Agadir, which are gradually becoming the most commonly visited locations, small villages such as Merzouga are left out of the benefits of the traffic generated by tourists.

Lately, international travel corporations and new finding websites have prioritized advertising these unexplored settlements. However, this fast-growing traffic movement has not previously caused serious problems that might endanger Merzouga’s fragile aquifers bit by bit. In addition to the very few Moroccan native families dwelling in the town center, the population is mainly composed of immigrants, nomads, and some travelers en route to Tunisia, Libya, or Algeria. This is a characteristic of the accumulation of travelers in constant movement that differentiates Merzouga from the large coastal tourist destinations or the historical Moroccan blue town.

4.2. Agriculture and Livestock

The main agriculture that sustains the town is date farming. The sustainable aspect comes from the fact that people never sell the date farm solely, but rent it to keep it always producing. This dates back to the era of Ismail the Sultan, whereby an entirety of land used to serve him, and only the laborer used to change. The work of collecting the dates is sufficiently long, with a period of three months, November–December for the first set of dates, and January for the other set. However, the dates are still valuable and somewhat attractive jobs; thus, they are collected very carefully and used in numerous original ways, including the making of local alcohol. The entire date cluster is hung in rooms to form a circle of chandeliers over each room to provide heating during the cold weather. Dates are then used to make animal feed, a thin powder that is of no value. Visitors can also find dried dates that are associated with traditional experiences like ceramics. With the exotic plants, Morocco rarely suffers from a lack of food, as the blend of desert, winter, and summer makes it self-sufficient.

Relating to the animal ecosystem, there are not only the camels that the area boasts of. However, there are a number of other creatures, including cows, sheep, and an extreme variety of chickens. Roosters sound all day and at all times. The fascinating element is the presence of billy goats, which are normally found high in the mountains. These billy goats, however, are the fruit of the following myth: “When a man arrives at the desert normally after a divorce or the death of a wife, he is offered a small plot of land with a goat by local tribes to build his green area, the billy goat.”

5. Tourist Attractions

People all over the world hear about the various tourist attractions in Morocco, but in fact, the number who visit them is very limited. This is mainly because, until now, Morocco is marketed in the world outside as a NW-SE attraction only. Day to day, for many tourists, this means that they visit a very limited amount and do not go beyond Marrakech. A new vision in terms of marketing and targeting these sites should take into account one specific question: What kind of tourist the marketing of these sites is targeting. This may be even harmful to these sites in the future. Are these sites built for mass tourism? The weakness of the organization present or future respected for these sites may be fatal.

Nonetheless, the deep trip in Dadès Gorges as well as that between the cities of Ouarzazate, Merzouga, and Tinghir is the best opportunity someone can get to visit frequent nomad tent life. Especially the early period of this trip is at the time of the Green date Collecting Season. Each person can go to visit an oasis that is far enough so as to be away from the look of so many tourists. Once they are there and after having talked and explained in basic details how these people live and travel in the region, then, tourist’s eyes look in the direction of the borders and they can see the borderline with the Algerian territories.

5.1. Erg Chebbi Dunes

Erg Chebbi Dunes are the most imposing dunes in Morocco, located near the sleepy town of Merzouga, which is not abundant with desert activities nowadays, only for the tourists who came for a night experience. The region’s sand has a Sahara quality of a lovely rose-red color, and the wind-wrought dunes themselves are truly majestic, where they can tower about the town 20 km away. Beyond the adobe walls and streets, the desert takes over, but there are still a variety of snakes, and thus barking dogs or chirping birds show a sort of upside-down nature park. Rising starkly above the plain, the huge mounds of burning golden sand are a truly dazzling spectacle.

The Sahara of Erg Chebbi is quite easy to explore, where it has an incredible feeling when you are in the desert under the stars. Several of the native Berbers have the knowledge of the desert and have wandered for over 1,000 years across these vast stretches of sand. You have the chance to feel the beauty of the surrounding desert and the nomadic lifestyle at Erg Chebbi, and also enjoy the comfort of friendly local Bedouin parks around this duneland. A camel trek at Erg Chebbi is common, as the twisted forms make exploration by camels across the dunes easier. Yet a vast hotel sector has emerged with the appeal of the Sahara, with numerous tracks from all sides readily connecting Merzouga to the sand sea.

5.2. Camel Trekking Experiences

The distinctly Moroccan experience of camel trekking is a modern infatuation. Tourism has stoked this preoccupation with little festivalized adventures, tours stretching from half-day snoops up to month-long marathons. Having formed the swift and loping feet at Merzouga for another special project, we have some humble cards to play, showing glimpses from the board, and recording not the aesthetics and logistics of this novel international pastime, but some anthropological items that surely these tourists are ignoring.

Mauritania and Morocco are packed with tribes touched by tourism, and while we step briefly into one just for a casual glimpse, we think of the freedom in an anthropology that can promise to return. We are in no hypothesis. We will offer too little. It is just that each passing technical anecdote might make a sparkling spot on the background map, and it is from the spots that trends will emerge. Around the blue fingers of tourist assault, Merzouga Bedouins support the assault, and we love to travel with them.

5.3. Local Craftsmanship

Local craftsmanship is rather rational in terms of the source of the material and the practical solutions being used. Almost all materials for handicrafts are derived from palm trees. However, in the case of specifics to build a tent or windproof Bedouin tent, dismantling houses, or making a chimney for cooking, sand-based solutions will be applied, such as cutting sand built in the right shape and mixing it with organic material to keep it in a straight position. Also, before the building of anything for protection from the wind, people will look at the sand form created by the wind, and it is interesting that the presence of any constructions, electrical wires changing position for the extreme traveler’s camel race, or human cars, moves the process since the wind is being provoked.

Creating or building the old type of house is now used for commercial purposes such as making a café or hotel, but originally, it was to protect from sandstorms. It was built partially underground, with high and thick walls, cave-like insides, and small holes for daylight. All craftsmanship using clay material can last longer when applied to the larger wall, for example, a house or a store made from palm tree wood and reeds covered with clay, making a thick wall that can last for decades even with heavy rain. Digging in the ground with water to prepare the clay also has the function of building a wall, but to avoid damage when the water is no longer in the ground, lime is used for special protection. A natural heating reaction will create an even tougher composition. By adding more watered clay to the walls, families help during wedding preparations. Approximately six to eight months before the wedding celebration, families prepare the newlyweds’ house by adding water to the mixture of water, softened straw, and clay walls, making the structure stable by the wedding celebration day. It is interesting that the main room points in the direction of Mecca, and the opposite room is the general reserved room.

6. Flora and Fauna

Morocco, known to the ancient Romans as “Tamazgha” in reference to its indigenous Berber inhabitants, is a predominantly Muslim country with a blend of Moroccan, African, and European cultural influence. Morocco’s wild animals are similar to those of Spain and include monkeys, wild boar, and hyenas. Merzouga, a small hamada and erg (sandy desert) village, lies like an oasis on the edge of the desert. The settlement is recognized by the enormous golden-red sand dunes of the Erg Chebi. The Saharan town is only about 20 km away from the border with Algeria; in addition to being a starting point for travel across the Sahara, “Merzouga” is the name of a tribe typical of this region. The site is attractive because the shifting dunes have their own particular shapes and resemble waves. In Merzouga, people speak Arabic, Berber, and sometimes French. The major livelihood in the village is purely based on tourism, as the easy availability of water makes the village an attractive place to live. Although some houses are made of clay and mud, the majority are made from wood. The typical diet of the local people mainly consists of bread, meat, and dates. The animals include camels, goats, and sheep; agricultural crops such as vegetables and palm trees are also grown. The people plant ghassoul, an Arabic word referring to a mineral-rich clay, one of the world’s traditional beauty ingredients. Merzouga’s charming landscape, particularly in the evening, is famous because of its shape and total area. Animal-related tourist attractions, such as the Dayet Srji, are generally the first stop on a visitor’s travel itinerary. The lake is home to a large bird population, including smaller birds and migratory birds. The lake also provides grazing grounds for camels and cows. People typically enjoy picnicking around the lake. The gigantic sand dunes are perfect for sandboarding. Nighttime is the best time to look for scorpions in the dunes. A salt mine is present in Merzouga; dark crystals can be explored within the mine with the guidance of a local tour guide. Many tourists also visit a local festival: a unique experience of Berber and Gnawa music influenced by the neighboring African-Sahelian region. Enjoying the Merzouga landscape during the night is called Sahara Étoile. Tourists remain in the vast base camp for one or two nights, learning all of the necessary information from the tour guide, and from there, another explorer awaits a fascinating set of experiences.

6.1. Desert Ecosystems

Although it is one of the harshest environments on the planet, deserts are home to a surprising amount of life. The complexity of desert ecosystems is due to both the highly specialized physiological and behavioral adaptations of a wide range of organisms to a water-stressed environment, and the often very high species richness of particular taxonomic groups, such as plants, reptiles, and small mammals. The basic elements of arid ecosystem structure include photic input, soil, water, primary production, consumers, predators, detritus, and decomposers. Efficiency of resource use in space and time, both at the level of individual organisms and whole ecosystems, characterizes desert ecosystems. Processes of nutrient cycling in deserts are often more complex than in other environments, due to microspatial variability in concentrations of biologically important ions and elements, aridity-induced increases in volatile forms of essential elements, and the structural characteristics and life history attributes of dominant organisms.

Despite harsh climatic conditions, plants and animals are well adapted to this environment. Many are able to carry out life processes at the margins of survivability. The adaptations of desert biota permit them to capture and conserve moisture and make use of food resources sporadically available. These adaptations result in complex relationships among community components, the trophic structure, and species interactions. Increased mortality during harsh climate conditions is a key element of desert mortality and has had profound evolutionary implications for desert flora and fauna, promoting many of the morphological and physiological specializations attributed to them. Intra-specific variations in morphological and ecophysiological responses to local climatic gradients in both common and rare plant species emphasize the diversity of environmental adaptations and suggest the flexibility with which key species may be able to adjust to future climate change in desert ecosystems.

6.2. Endemic Species

Since the desert does have drier conditions and other obstacles for life, it has caused the majority of larger mammals to live in the semi-arid environment surrounding it, mainly in mountains and oases. Desert foxes, goitered gazelles, sand cats, and others are more common there. This is why it is also considered by many to be a great place for the conservation of endemic species, such as the Egyptian Nightjar, Thick-billed Lark, and Desert Sparrow. The Egyptian Nightjar is specially adapted to live in the desert, such as its ability to blend in during the day and its appetite for specific species of moths only found living in the sand dunes of the desert.

Although it isn’t a large place, the Sahara Desert is an interesting and diverse environment. Its flora and fauna have all managed to adapt to the hot and dry conditions, such as by evolving the ability to camouflage and mechanisms for water storage. Its beauty, tough and foreign, may always remain a mystery to people in the world who haven’t had the opportunity to lay their eyes on it. Only within a smaller perimeter does it show its true depth, its unique entities that it harbors, which no other place in the world can replicate.

7. Historical Significance

The village of Merzouga has the only collection of Mauritanian and Numidian petroglyphs in Morocco. The etched rock carvings are not inscriptions; they depict such things as animals, hunting scenes, and geometric symbols. The majority of the petroglyphs we encountered were mistakenly said to date from the 13th to 14th centuries, but stylistically they could be much older, possibly pre-Islamic. Other carvings are topographical, including geomorphs of the sand dunes, and some depict sea life. There are many camels and elephants, making this perhaps the most diverse archaeological site in Morocco. Residents of the area and villagers of Merzouga believe that Ali Baba was buried near here with his treasure, and stories about him are known to the inhabitants of the place, yet no outside study has been conducted.

It is a notable record of the cultural history of this area and provides information for our understanding of this important place. The Mauritanian and Numidian petroglyphs of Merzouga and the surrounding area contribute to our understanding of the vast number of landforms carved into the extensive yellow sand dunes of the Merzouga petroglyphs. This world heritage site provides an astonishing wealth of geomorphs that have only recently become the subject of scholarly research. Such knowledge would serve to crystallize the demand for the preservation and management of such a site as if it were, instead, a desideratum through decree alone. The anthropologically significant imagery of the petroglyphs represents the view of ancient times, depicting the influences of two prehistoric cultures. The site deserves to be examined through an interpretive study of the information by means of evaluating and deciphering the relevance of petroglyphs in a geographic context and terrestrial landscape. Hence, legacy data, indigenous knowledge, on-site observations, and current research methods are all reviewed to reveal the ethno-geological importance of the site.

7.1. Ancient Trade Routes

Merzouga is situated on the edge of the Sahara, at the cusp of two regional geographical features: the largest desert on Earth and the well-traveled Atlas Mountains. Both areas have a rich history of trade and exploration that goes back to the beginnings of Western civilization. The Atlas Mountains are difficult to cross in a straight line, but fossils, gold, salt, and other mineral resources have been transported over these mountains for thousands of years. The tallest of the Atlas Mountains is also one of the largest sources of Milo soapstone. Saharaite stone found in the Merzouga area was used to make sculptured female figurines over 5,000 years old; this art survived in the area through the Iron, Bronze, and Copper Ages, improved by technology that included the iron chisel and the bow drill. Black powder was used to draw the designs.

The earliest art is still visible at Amtoudi, where deep-pocked graffiti can be seen on the canyon walls. After the Sahara was green enough to support herding and agriculture, tribes created cities in the southern regions of Morocco. The largest trade products transported from Timbuktu through Merzouga were gold, then ivory, slaves, spices, and medicine, divided into groups called caravans that could travel over the desert together without getting lost. The dunes of the desert often still mark the way, but flash floods can make crossing difficult or dangerous. These trade routes opened up the world to new ideas and cultures. As the world turns to increasingly hot deserts for power, the Saharan region is still positioned for growth. The Merzouga paved road is part of the Trans-Sahara Highway, and south of the town, steel structures now forecast concentrated solar power.

7.2. Colonial Influence

The entire southern region of Morocco is not densely populated, and this is mainly due to reasons of climatology and poverty. Many streets were poorly built and made of simple adobe or outdated and deteriorating buildings. This is where the powerful colonial influence of the last century is most evident. The result of this colonization takes the most extreme forms of oppression, theft, and displacement of local people and has survived into the distant past. The buildings in this area, such as educational buildings, infirmaries, and other facilities, remained polished for the glory of the colonizers, while the local residents, who had returned from hardship during the two world wars, were left behind.

Impossible and harsh exploitation and appropriation lasted through to the independent era of their liberation in 1956 and permanent resentment. These streets may not be pretty, but they are filled with local residents left behind the old wall, and they attract pedestrians with tall buildings illuminated by the late sun or, on the contrary, with their desperate roofs standing in front of the scene. They are very lively at the time of the daily stop and may make you feel that you are involved in the filming of a natural documentary. At this point, we are in the present since construction is not going to destroy the beauty of this city. In fact, many roads are out of reach for several stately buildings that were built for this purpose.

8. Transportation and Accessibility

Getting to the heart of simplicity and novelty is not easy. My first visit to Merzouga in May had less advantage than the second trip in September. Connections to this town smoothed the entry in a way that was appreciated. Simply, the weather was two different months: semi-summer-hot September and summer-hot May. But the two visits shared some important features from Albuquerque to Dubai, Dubai to Casablanca, and Marrakech to Er-Rachidia by train. The first trip was through Supratours travel between Er-Rachidia and Merzouga. The second trip was through AFA transport in Merzouga, which was expensive, less informative, on time but comfortable, and air-conditioned. The length of the trip through Supratours was longer than AFA transport. In general, the two transport services helped the visitors not to miss their transportation dates as much as possible and to keep it affordable.

8.1. Road Networks

The appropriateness of input data is crucial to avoid misleading analyses. In the same way, the object, the method, and the goal that should be pursued by those who will use the data should be taken into account. Nevertheless, the availability of inputs is a serious problem due to both a lack of specific data and human resources who are able to provide high-level information. This involves a sort of standardization of different remits and different resolution data to support various purposes. To overcome this problem, there is a need to build a comprehensive, integrated understanding of the users’ interrogatives. To this aim, the dimension and complexity of the data to be analyzed require the choice of a more robust statistical instrument, able to taxonomize and classify objects into case studies. Starting from these considerations, a dataset of road links has been collected. Even if the availability of data regarding the road infrastructure is quite extensive, experimentation and adjustments are necessary to produce a dataset suitable to respond to the objectives of this research. Transport demand is largely dependent on the effectiveness and efficiency of transport infrastructure. The poor conditions of roads affect their effectiveness and efficiency, which depend on the type of road path proposed and assigned. A solution to this problem is needed to develop more detailed studies about it, showing, analyzing, and appreciating each inefficiency of the generating conditions. Four classes of links that mainly describe the characteristics of the infrastructure were considered. In particular, class 1 includes road links that are national roads and the A3 highway, while link classes 2 and 3 are secondary roads, and class 4 includes track roads.

8.2. Public Transport Options

When visiting Merzouga or the surroundings in the low season, there are hardly any organized trips. The best way to come here is by public transport. There is only one bus going a day, culminating in a Toyota minibus from Rissani to Merzouga, which departs at 16:00 from Rissani straight to Merzouga. There is normally a bus service between Taourirt and Merzouga. Furthermore, grand taxis can often be taken. However, don’t expect the services to be as regular as they are in the north. If you are looking for a real adventure, the trip by bus or shared taxi can already be an adventure on its own!

When taking public transport, most services are done in and out from Rissani, and there is a direct bus connection to other cities. This also means you’ll often quickly meet fellow travelers and share travel tips and suggestions. Bus drivers tell everyone to get off at the designated stops, which might be feasible for one- to two-week trips, but don’t use the bus drop-off points to find accommodation, especially in low season where you are better off asking around. After all, many hotels can close after rough weather incidents such as sandstorms, not only because no visitors have shown up due to canceled flights, but also because of the destruction that comes with it. If staying in a small guest house is not an option for you, better book in advance and let the driver know what you expect from the guesthouse or hotel; then he might even negotiate a better price for you. In any case, enjoy the trip.

9. Local Cuisine

Non-vegetarians will find several interesting local items on the menu, including the classical Kedra, a tasty dish made from lamb liver and intestines soaked in a sauce of spices and herbs. Potato and cabbage pieces are also included. This is appreciated. Mechoui is a traditional Berber dish that translates as roasted lamb. The meat is roasted in underground ovens that bring out a unique flavor in the roasts. This dish is offered as part of any Berber feast, but it is not available in the absence of a guest. The same is true of guinea fowl, another local favorite that finds its way into stews and tagines. Goat and camel meat are also quite popular and can be found at most restaurants. Vegetarians will not feel neglected, as they can order the local Berber pizza, which is very different from the Italian version, and contains vegetables and other products. Many other dishes, juices, or purees made with almonds, dates, and rose petals are all part of the local scene. Berber tea and drinks are also available at most places. You can shop for food items you want to take with you to your campsite in the local market, or watch how things are converted into local dishes in the traditional way.

9.1. Traditional Dishes

There are various dishes associated with Moroccan culture, including B’stilla, which comprises flaky pastry, pigeon, almonds, poultry, preserved lemon, and a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar. Preserved lemons are another component used to add its unique flavor. Various meats—beef, lamb, fish, or chicken—can be made into a tagine dish. It is essentially a thick stew that is served using a molded oven pot with a cone-shaped lid to retain the flavor with evolving tastes. Harira is a delicious soup dish that is traditionally eaten to break the fast of Ramadan among Moroccans. It contains chopped meat, celery, tomatoes, chickpeas, lentils, fresh herbs, vermicelli noodles, and spices in a clear yet thick soup base. It should be enhanced with some freshly squeezed lemon juice and served with warm bread. Mint tea is the most popular drink mentioned by anyone visiting Morocco. People regularly drink mint tea at gatherings or just for its amazing and refreshing taste; however, it can vary in quality from cafes to bistros. Essentially, each Moroccan café offers coffee; it is served in a delightful bright red cup. Arabic coffee is strong and is characterized by its thick base that is eventually poured with a foamy top. It is generally served with dates or desserts, or even offered as a social drink. In southern Morocco, a visit to a Berber home is not an official affair, but a friendly and relaxed occasion, with stimulating conversation, interesting local insights, and high-quality coffee.

9.2. Culinary Influences

The culinary practices of the Saharan nomads were comparatively simple due to the scarcity of food and the lack of utensils and cooking facilities. However, the Moroccans developed a national cuisine of their own, transforming the basic ingredients used in the Berber diet and adapting culinary techniques to local conditions. Many of the dishes and culinary practices of today have Berber ethnic roots. A significant influence on the development of Moroccan cuisine came from the Moors who succeeded in taking over Andalusia in the 13th century. French influence dominated during the 40-year protectorate of Morocco in the early part of the 20th century, as well as the period of Spanish political control of Northern Morocco.

In addition to the Berber dishes, other influences were imported from other North African countries or through trade with Asia. This is why today the Berbers and the Moors of Morocco prepare a variety of foods, some very old and some more recent, using various culinary techniques. Regional influences are also significant. For instance, in the mountainous region, dishes usually consist of a combination of meat and spices; however, in the mid-Atlantic, the emphasis in cooking changes from meat to fish, and a variety of citrus fruits are more often used.

10. Environmental Challenges

Merzouga encapsulates the beauty of the Moroccan Sahara, a zone coveted for its unique environment and aromatic flora. The current landscape is the outcome of long-term climatic processes and human interaction. The area has, over the past few thousand years, witnessed more humid conditions than currently dominate. The now arid zone was then covered with herbages and even leafy trees. Animal herds took full advantage of the rich variety of plants distinctive to this climatic and environmental entity. Animals were able to breed and feed on the abundance found in this savannah-type setting.

Today, the Moroccan Sahara is illustrated by a fraction of the expanse it once covered. Climatic changes from wet to dry have triggered erosion, the desertification process, and an extension of sand dunes. The deterioration continues into the present. The Moroccan government has instituted partnerships with other governments and non-profit agencies to help combat the trend. One such local effort is reflected in the planting of trees in the Merzouga zone, funded by a fraction of the tourism monies which go to conservation efforts. With inappropriate use of water supplies, exploitation of water storage, and further climatic changes, one day this group of sand dunes may become an extension of the hyper-arid core that makes up a portion of the greater Sahara.

10.1. Desertification

Desertification is an environmental process that often occurs in arid, semi-arid, or dry sub-humid areas in which biological productivity becomes extremely low following the destruction of the native plant cover. As a consequence, in those parts of the world, large areas are turned into barren land where the land is incapable of growing crops or vegetation. The worst recorded desertification is the Sahara Desert. Over the last part of the 20th century, the Sahara is reported to have expanded to the south at a rate of up to 48 kilometers every year. The main reasons for desertification are due to poor land management, deforestation, and overcutting of trees. With the continuous overplanting or overfarming on the land and the absence of control, lands accelerate spalling, making the lands at risk.

Desertification may also take place because of climatic changes that may be natural occurrences or environmental manipulation, like global warming or cooling. Global warming correlates with desertification: it is a result of the sum of human activities, for example, the burning of fossil fuels, the destruction of forests, and the degradation of soils. Human activities also modify the landscape, and the urbanization process leads to the concentration of cities, which may result in open wastelands far from the markedly developed areas of cities. In this case, one can expect that communities close to cities may be threatened by the reduction of fertile lands, loss of forests, forest degradation, lack of vegetation, and desertification.

10.2. Water Scarcity

Regarding our resources, scarcity does not stop at the level of soil quality. It goes further. Water scarcity leads to the present and future regret of specialized studies in the economy that mark the use of water according to the abundances and scarcities of its source. The water problem affects all facets of life and impacts human, animal, plant, and industrial activities in the same way. Sustainable development remains only a call for human societies if water is not the subject of debates and regulatory action. Economic, social, cultural, and ethical issues arise when the problem of water is analyzed.

Geography refers to considerable disparities according to the areas considered: it highlights, for example, the presence of surfaces with high water potential and zones that have deficits of some water resources insufficient to meet their needs. The problem has international resonance since it is permanent on the planet, with external dimensions linked to its location and boundaries. The protection of water is necessarily a world problem, which must be approached within the framework of international law, providing all peoples with satisfactory access to water while respecting the principles.

11. Community Development

Well, it seems that one of the main reasons for this being so is the fact that the hotels have become estranged from the inhabitants of the village, who are the ones who actually keep it functioning. Some time ago, it was decided that the village was too poor and an eyesore, and so it was decided to build an asphalt plant there because Merzouga has large deposits of both sand and salt but nowhere to produce cement. The community was so saddened that it was decided not to go through with the building of this eyesore. Everyone finds that the way things are presently is very comfortable and beautiful. From a cultural point of view, some more understanding—like providing folk transportation—might be extended by these hotels to the local community. With these thoughts of development, I am hoping that the architectural plans that are designed are made in the image of the Berber building techniques and materials and are presented in such a manner that the hotels will look like they have been there for centuries—as if the modern style was a copy of the ancient ones. For indeed, the so-called “factory,” which was once a home housing the armed guard, is considered an anomaly in the sense that it is found leaving footprints in a time that does not correspond to the desert village and is an eyesore. Upon observing this, I felt a comfort and solidarity that is built up, and so I believe that development will be very much worthwhile.

11.1. Local Initiatives

The Berber Cultural Association, Friends of Merzouga, has for the past six years provided educational activities for differing generations. Adolescents in the ‘Jeunes Leaders’ project were trained as music leaders and teachers, and accompanied the primary and secondary school musical lessons for two years. The association forged links with researchers who studied the self-generated lyrics and musical compositions by the students, thus providing them with a sense of achievement and pride. We should also mention the professional training of young sporting leaders, who improve their skills as trainers and organize sports activities in Merzouga and surrounding villages while strengthening their partnership links with teams. Another project, ‘Ortigas’, aims to foster cultural exchanges within Naghiro, thus contributing to the development of the village.

In addition to its work within the Adassil School Cultural Project, the Ministry of Education has also undertaken the renovation of various educational infrastructures: a multi-purpose room was opened. The dormitories for primary school boarders were renovated. The latrines and the central school heating system enable the opening of cultural projects with other regional actors. The educational policies implemented by policymakers are particularly innovative in their choice of the cultural development approach. The educational action plans undergo regular evaluation, and progressive changes take place in light of their reports.

11.2. Role of NGOs

Now let’s talk about the modern altruists. Here I would like to consider the role of foreign and international organizations in Merzouga. Once I coincidentally read a newspaper article devoted to one good tradition. The British periodically come to another northern Moroccan mountain village with Njom. As representatives of the old school of sociology, they consider that the community of this place has grown poor, however, wishing to preserve themselves in good condition. They bring bread and semolina for the descendants of those who are sharing, without doing anything for years. To the poor mountain village, they bring something to strengthen the population at least for some time. Njom is a narcotic drug, causing enduring effects on the population; dancing is arranged, reflecting the happiness or dissatisfaction of the spirits based on the happiness of the population.

In Merzouga, there are no British, and no problems with Njom (only at the opposite end of the village). However, nowadays the village faces some new problems, such as water consumption. The village depends on income from tourists, becoming more materialistic, and it is true. The people who more or less recently gained wealth from growing and selling dates to the tourist buses, of course, benefit from it. It is natural that Merzouga, like all of Morocco, is becoming more materialistic. The question is whether the village people need this or not. The answer is vague. It would be imposing to impose an opinion from the outside. However, people in the village have come to the decision that they need a non-government organization concerned about the development of the environment and cultural life of Merzouga. Such an organization also helps to collect payments for using the environment by large numbers of tourists. The money wouldn’t be spent on crucial irrigation of the desert, but for environmental actions such as creating a cultural center, library, and among others. The guests became more charitable when animals were dressed in cultural attire. The last sentence was a joke, and the non-government organization is not a joke; it is a requirement of the time. Today, the village seems to be developing with the greatest possible concern for the environment. With respect to hotels in the village, it is proposed not to allow their functional growth, so that prices do not increase. They should remain affordable forever to be visited by poor tourists accordingly.

12. Cultural Exchange and Interaction

Throughout history, many groups of people have spoken of their world as being a wheel, which suggests continuous movement and change, both in space and time. All human cultures at some time or other have made and received contributions of items of experience, thought, art, or technology from or about the world in which they live. One might say also that the human body and the human intellect have repeatedly been the transmitters across cultures. People in all societies have a natural curiosity about knowledge and technology, thereby creating the movement that propels the wheel. Furthermore, the elements of culture, often transmitted by travelers or exchange of objects, may gain life and social dimension in subtle geographies. Mutual and reciprocal scenic viewpoints need to be developed further in order to initiate a contemporaneous dialogue and interaction of an interdisciplinary human geography. Until relatively recently, human cultures were reasonably homogeneous, and people living a continent away possessed the same mental frame of reference. Today, rapid population growth and an accelerating rise of material standards have linked distant areas through a remarkable increase in the volume and variety of interaction and interchange. Many people, particularly young individuals, tend to emphasize the similarities of races without exploring their differences to develop their identity and values. In meeting this challenge, greater emphasis must be placed on learning about the roots, development, systems of values, and lifestyles of the other cultures encountered.

12.1. Impact of Tourism on Local Culture

Just as increased modernity has changed the character of national life, tourism has played a role. The presence of tourists signals the receipt of hard foreign currency, and the sight of males on the street, their friendly interactions with local women, their purchases of beer, and their dances at parties give young men in the city an impression of modernity and freedom that did not exist twenty years ago. However, while some young people can derive economic benefits from the industry and gain superficial exposure to foreign culture, they are unlikely ever to leave Morocco or to gain a deep understanding of the society which they admire.

For most other Merzuqis, their experiences with older visitors at least put a human face on an incorporeal concept. Even if tourists come bearing expensive cameras and large telephoto lenses which they aim at the partygoers and seated pedestrians in the streets, what has changed as men age is that they are primarily interested in the women of the locale. If they wish to learn about other aspects of life, they will ask. Random tourists’ questions revolve around the physical beauty of the region; again, the perception projected is of a people who live in a land richly endowed with natural beauty, but whose concerns are centered around the fundamentals of life. These tourists contribute to a perception which may well be shaped by a pre-existing desire within the Moroccans to appear model citizens in the eyes of God. That this perception is somehow more virtuous than any other seems of little interest, so long as their bombarded city friends continue to send foreign currency which can be exchanged for goods not available in the interior.

12.2. Cultural Preservation Efforts

Morocco as a whole does a good job of preserving its culture with the influence of King Mohammad VI. Merzouga faces more challenges with the tourism industry, which has caused the younger generation to lose interest in keeping their traditions alive. Merzouga’s older generation is doing something to preserve their culture, although there is always more room for improvement. With the high volume of tourists during the summer, more funding is required to maintain and preserve what they have, as the visited sites get worn down from the natural effects of blowing sand and discarded litter. Funding is a key issue that needs to be addressed and prioritized. Gaining World Heritage Site status may help with this problem. In addition to preserving their culture and natural environment, another goal of the people of Merzouga is to develop faster adapting ways to utilize and benefit from the tourism industry. Collaborating with other Bedouin tribes throughout the world that face the same challenges would be beneficial to everyone involved. This could include the formation of committees to organize and create operational plans and ideas, stage and perform traditional music, songs, and plays, hire guides, and improve designated camping areas.

13. Future Prospects

This ongoing research may lead to further collaborations with members of the local community, as a large part of the scientific process should be to share our findings with the community members who inform us. Many different aspects require further development. Among these are the accumulation of further GPS data, along with their associated time frames in order to establish a greater understanding of both the areas with the highest footfall and when these visits occur. Satellite imagery can also aid in the location of encampments. Also, relatively simple post-processing techniques can enable data such as visit duration, while possibly the most challenging is to utilize time-based fractal analysis to determine aspects of population flow and demographic distribution. Field trips are essential to perform physical validation of the satellite imagery produced results and also act as a way to establish the level of trust required to allow information sharing to occur. It is also hoped further interpretations will enable a greater array of remote sensing technologies, ultimately producing the best data. It is thought that further engagement and site interpretations will assist the community in refining and ultimately better protecting their current secretive nature from the commercial tourist trade, ultimately giving a much-needed part in the educational and cultural exchange for the Berber people of the Merzouga village.

13.1. Sustainable Tourism

Nowadays, the inhabitants of Merzouga make a living from tourism. The locals have organized themselves to practice sustainable tourism in order to avoid ruining this wonderful area. This sector has created many jobs and opportunities for development in the area. In fact, the residents have several ideas to practice sustainable tourism, such as changing the old equipment for new equipment that produces smaller quantities of CO2, and many villages are turning natural guesthouses into homes that receive tourists. In order to keep the treasures of nature untouched and undamaged, solid waste and everything that pollutes are thrown in designated agricultural areas, and someone is appointed to look after it. Inhabitants and those responsible for the guesthouses provide food and drink to the tourists with organic or homemade products. Many gardens with various kinds of vegetables supply the guesthouses with good products while the guides in this sector practice sustainable tourism. The safety of tourists and the cleanliness of the environment are the priorities of the residents and the responsible individuals. The government has started to invest in the area’s infrastructure to attract more and more tourists, and now Merzouga is experiencing all seasons, not just summer. It has started to rain in autumn, recognized in the field of sustainable tourism. Government support is important for practicing sustainable tourism in the village, for instance, starting with the maintenance of the infrastructure and the training of the locals, providing financial resources, communicating well with the locals, and connecting the province to the public electricity network. In conclusion, with its beauty and the rational use of its human and natural resources, Merzouga is able to provide a wonderful experience within the limits of the desert.

13.2. Economic Development Plans

The Ziz River’s rich agricultural potential has sparked considerable commercial interest in the valley lands and resulted in a number of industrial buildings near the edge of the oasis and in the areas of Rhiate and Haratid. Scholars have taken note of the commercial and industrial structures erected with funds from local initiatives, often considering this development an impetus for the continuous increase of economic stratification, depauperization, and its associations with modernization and urbanization. The building style is “bluntly Arabic style,” colored yellow with green designs on windows and cornices, giving the structures a “pseudo-Mudejár appearance.” These commercial and industrial buildings facilitated year-round business activity for the Saharan oasis. The majority of shop owners, groceries, post offices, and administration offices were built in the “pseudo-Mudejár style” and bridged traditional Merzouga with the modernized commerce and commercial relations of the valley proper.

Comparison and juxtaposition of the modern commercial area to the other Ait Khebbach areas serve as a jarring example of the economic alignment of a desert town to the monumental and geographic success of local economic development plans. The majority of people residing in the commercial area are non-Merzougis who stay in Merzouga only during the workweek, returning to their homes in the valley. The destruction and construction of the area beheld the erection of hotels, cafes, and the new multi-level parking and commerce center. Residents of the commercial area live in apparent isolation; their social life is limited to the shops and streets, prompting the social comment that social life is also brought in. Economic activities are carried out in parallel with the traditional form of Saharan desert life lived in the private and personal oasis parceled house. Buildings and projects related to the Ksar were mostly built during this time, which provided leisure facilities and construction services to create an infrastructure to support various activities.