will you have any problems in Merzouga-Zagora area?

wanted to go dirtbike exploring and you could end up close to the Algerian border.

is the border open or fenced and/or mined in that region?

Merzouga-Zagora is one of the most popular desert pistes in Morocco.
I have never heard of any landmine incidents, only people being sent back north by Mk army when they inadvertently stray too close to the unseen border. There is no fence, mostly natural formations.

The military are being extra vigilant at the moment and I was turned back at checkpoints in the hamada that I've not been turned back at before. Also I was turned back by a mobile patrol at N30 33.312 W4 39.598 just 800m short of the dinosaur site of Mou Mrid which I know people have visited, and that's 20-30km from the Algerian border. I tried to persuade the patrol to come with me and view the site, but they weren't having it.

Having said that I also made it through some other remote checkpoints, though it took 15 minutes to get clearance at this one which is on a southerly loop from Foum Zguid...

Hi Tim,
Yes, I've been delayed there a few times awaiting clearance from the senior officer. Last time I bypassed it and went further South only to find another checkpoint.

Will be going Merzouga-Zagora-FZ tomorrow so will report back in a few days if anything's changed.

Happy trails,

Peter