scorpions and snakes in Morocco
 

I couldn't find any threads about them here and I am wonder how safe/clean "motels" in Morocco are. I mean can you sleep at night or you're just hunting bugs and S$%t :) Do I have to watch my panniers so nothing would crawl in there? I'm not planning to camp there but my bike is going too...

I've stayed in pretty grotty hotels in Morocco but not seen anything more than a cockroach or mosquito. You should be fine in hotels etc

There are scorpions and snakes. I've only seen 2 scorpions in 15 years travelling Morocco but a friends misses managed to get stung twice by the same one. I've never seen a snake alive in Morocco but they are there.

Keep your tent zipped up when camping and check your shoes before putting on if they've been left outside and you should be ok

Ants !
 

The only issue I've ever had in Morocco is a stay in a 3rd floor hotel room, when I was awoken by a minor burning sensation. This turned out to be Ants in my bed! 100's of them. There was a trail up the wall from the ground, across the balcony, through a small hole in the door frame, across the bedroom floor into my bed? There were single beds in the room, my wife would not swap beds the next night :innocent:

In 40+ years I've seen one snake and no scorpions. Bit disappointed really.

But I did see some an army of caterpillars which turned out to be the quite dangerous processional pine caterpillars.



Twice I've experienced bed bugs, both times in Chefchaouen, once in 1974 and again in 2011.

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Get yourself a 'black light' torch and have a look around at night - scorpions glow under a black light and you might be surprised at how many there are ;-)

i've seen a fair number of scorpions over the years but never in hotel/auberge rooms - usually while camping. Found this critter on the Palmerie campsite in Zagora.

http://i1012.photobucket.com/albums/...g/L1000064.jpg

Normally found under groundsheets or firewood. Big claws means small sting - fairly mild. Small claws - powerful sting. Not sure I fancy a nip from either end of this one.

Tim's caterpillars seem to be a regular fixture at Camping Timnay. Keep dogs away - they'll sniff them get spines in their nose which transfer to their eyes possibly causing infection and blindness.

Seen a few snakes on the road but too quick to get a good look. Black and about 30-40cm long.

Happy trails,

Peter

Camped in the wild some nights in marocco, never had an issue in gear or tent. Also the rooms (cheap cheap) where ok. No worries I'd say! But tap your shoes the next morning to be safe ;)

Fortune and Glory, kid. Fortune and Glory.