camping safety in Morocco

[sally]

How safe is Morocco for camping overnight in the desert - a man, a woman, a landrover and a tent? Would we be soft targets for thieves and bandits? Are some parts safer than others or are the only safe places to sleep in a tent secure camp-sites? We are intending to visit remoter areas off the tourist trail.

[Toby2]

Bush camping in Morrocco was fine. Whilst you can always be unlucky and have a bad experiance (that can be said of any country), we found it great for bush camping. We did this in the Altas mountains including in the Todra gorge, out in desert, etc and it was really good. In heavily built up areas its probably worth finding a campsite, not so much of the risk of getting attacked, far more of someone hassling because your camping on their ground. Out in the Atlas / deserts its fine. (If its of any use, my girlfriend spent the first 2 months of our UK - Cape Town trip including throughout Morrocco awake all night because she was petrified that something was going to happen then sleeping in the truck during the day whilst travelling because she was exhausted. However we never had problems and she got used to it after that and was fine for the rest of the trip.

[Runner]

We have always been fine out there in a single vehicle. However we did have one weird experience where we encountered gunrunners right up on the Algerian border about 4 years ago, and they avoided us. Locals in the next village said it was because our vehicles were blue and white and they thought we were border police.

Id quite happily go out there and camp alone in a single car - but I'd always have my ears open

[NCR]

Hi,

I've camped many times in Morocco, including in the Riff mountains (where they grow cannabis) and had no problems.
It's wise to camp away from roads or vilages to avoid local's curiosity.

Regards,

NCR

[joaopdelgado]

Well. Morocco is a quite safe country to camp in the desert/mountains. Anyway, take the usual precautions. Sleep near the car, always have an extra credit car hidden somewhere, and always have your car key near your hand.

João Pedro

[Stuart H]

Never had any problem sleeping out in the more isolated parts of Morocco in many trips going back over 30 years. When I have met people I've been on the receiving end of far more kindness than problems. In urban areas I'd stick with hotels or camping sites

[roamingyak]

Yip, just to repeat most of the above - been here 5 months so far and camped out a lot - no problems, quite a few goat herders turn up in the morning to say Hi, always friendly if slightly miffed as to what you are doing (Im a late sleeper which is why I think). Usually ask for food or clothes. Or if you have seen their camels.

So that is on the pistes and desert areas.

Near or in large cities (casa, fez, marra etc) you really need to use a campsite, though I often sleep in petrol station carparks, the big ones with restaurants attached open 24/7, buying something from the shop and having an exchange of greetings with the pump attendents helps.