I would love to get a taste of Africa before serious planning on crossing it, so a small vacation is ideal, I was thinking Morocco, going as South as possible in what time I may have. My problem is that I will probably only have time of in August, maybe 25 or so days, and wish to do it alone.
Having never been in Africa, I´m somewhat aprehensive regarding the summer weather, I was told that in Morocco it never gets as hot and nasty as in countries that are farther away from the ocean. I would like to hear from people with knowledge of this part of the world, and mostly, Morocco in the summer.
I would be riding a 2004 Transalp, would like to stay out of double lane motorways , and use as many easy dirt pistes as possible.

Let it rip, thanks

I've been in morroco two years ago in August. I was by car and it was hot. Very hot. But I hadn't problems with that, and I think it's quite bearable. The southest (hottest?) places I was, were Erg Chebi and Ouarzazate.

kr,
Manuel

Morocc will be very hot at that time of year, make sure your bike is in good conditiona as the desert is not only hot but high and therefore the bike will run even hotter.

As for your comfort remeber riding a bike at speed in the desert cuases dehydration problems take and use a camel back or similar and stay well covered up against sun burn.

The road will also be very hot and prone to melting in areas of prolonged sun exposure. The melting tar cuases the roads to become very slippery and cuases the road stomne to sink and the tar to float (fatting) this is very dangerous on mountain roads and when tying to brake, ride with care.

I would not like to ride there Cross country in summer as you will sweat more than you can hydrate especially picking up bikes extra.

Climate chart link. The desert will be hotter still.

http://www.wordtravels.com/Travelgui...rocco/Climate/

Charlie

Hey Pedro,

I experienced riding in extreme heat in Rajasthan in India last April. Around 43 degree C in the shade and it was TOO MUCH in the sun. I had to leave early and stop by around 10.30 in the morning or risk passing out while i was riding. There's an opposite to wind chill and with your body's core temperature being only 36 degrees i find it hard to see how it keeps functioning in such heat, but it does by sweating lots, so as Charlie says dehydration is a real problem. The danger is that you are not in the habit of drinking more so you might not drink enough. Just make sure you do and adding some rehydration salts to your water wouldn't hurt if you can find some nice tasting stuff!

As for Morocco, I was there last year from mid September and if anything it was already 'out of season' and getting too cold then, certainly for the Atlas. It seems like mid summer is the only time to get the best of the weather in the mountains. North of the Atlas has pretty much a European climate but even south doesn't seem to be as hot as you'd imagine and if you're from Portugal i wouldn't let it worry you so much that you don't go. If it's too hot in the sand go up to the mountains! Er Rachidia is around 1000m altitude and you can ride down to Erg Chebbi in a morning to test it out. If it's unbearable head back up the next day. Sand storms permitting Besides if you want to go to the desert you've got to have a bit of heat. You've going to experience it sometime if you're planning on a big trip, best to know ahead how bad it can get.

Have fun
Neil