4x4 in Morocco: bad news

[Afrikiya]

Hope the translator worked fine:

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The original link in Spanish

Ya no será tan fácil el 4x4 en Marruecos - Revista 4x4 digital [ Noticias, Motor, Competición, Aventuras, Clubs TT, GPS, Accesorios... ]

[Niva Say Never]

Hi,
It looks like this is aimed at organized events, of no real concern to independent overlanders???

Sam

[RussG]

Well having being basically driven off the road (not easy to shove a G Wagen out of the way) by a bunch of complete loons in Spanish 4x4’s in the Dades Gorge area there is no surprise here.
The speed and the arrogance was astonishing not to mention dangerous.

What a shame



Russ

[Peter Girling]

Hopefully this is only targetting the rally/raid groups.

I was in Zagora a couple of years ago, just after one such event. They had a large encampment to the north of the town and had brought everything with them, food, water, fuel etc. The locals were understandably ticked off with them racing up and down the main drag before heading out to the desert for more fun & games.

Their main concern was that the group had turned up, had their fun for a week and then cleared off without local folk getting any benefit from their presence, or getting to know anthing about the region.

Let's hope it doesn't spoil things for the rest of us who have enjoyed many years of travelling throughout the country meeting new friends and their families.

Happy trails,

Jojo

[Niva Say Never]

Originally Posted by JoJo1

Let's hope it doesn't spoil things for the rest of us who have enjoyed many years of travelling throughout the country meeting new friends and their families.

Happy trails,

Jojo

I'm with you 100% there Jojo

[Afrikiya]

Much more detailled information here (in Spanish)

4x4 EN MARRUECOS: ya no será tan fácil..en teoría...

[pera]

This is not intended for us, as jojo1 says it tryes to regulate organized events not only by 4x4.

I think they are good, not bad news. There was a luck of regulation that makes people go to Morocco for do things forbiden in their countries. On the other side Morocco needs to take profit of the great investment in formation of tourist guides, hospitality and I think is a good way to do it.

Also it´s a warranty that organizators are acredited organizators as this regulations requires the acreditation as organizer, insurances, correct quartermaster, etc


sadly I must agree with RussG when you talk about the attitudes of many spanish 4x4

[Tim Cullis]

For the last ten days Morocco has been heaving with the number of Spanish 4x4 a**holes driving at high speed on the pistes. So if anything I view this as a positive move by the authorities. Next target might well be the French campervans as they don't exactly contribute to the economy either.

The authorities took the same view during the hippy invasions in the 1960s/70s and refused entry to many. Fortunately my hair wasn't too long.

[pera]

You talk of speed but these goes further, is a luck of respect to other people and many times to the manners of the country where they are guest. I know what I say, I´m Spanish and have lived my 42 years in Spain.

Also, as we are very near Morocco, there are many false guides in Spain that goes one time with an organized tour and next time becomes organizers.

I confess I like drive fast off road and Morocco is a good place to do it and there are places where you can do it without annoying anyone and always having present that there you don´t have an 112/911 to call...

Yes, is incredible the number of French and Belgian campevans that invades Moroccan coast in winter. Most of them even take the drinking water from home.

[Peter Girling]

No problems entering Morocco if you're a smallish group. We've done it twice recently - 6 cars - and no-one's batted an eyelid.

Most of our Spanish friends have returned home following their Semana Santa holiday. It's now the turn of the French and Italian motorhomers. 47 of the buggers on our campsite tonight!
We're off to the desert tomorrow!

Happy trails;

Jojo