65 km of natural reserve to explore
Journey from Agadir: 1 hour
For our trip in the Souss Massa – Taroudant – Tafraoute – Tiznit loop, we decide to go through the Souss Massa National Park before going up to Agadir. After the charming Medina of Tiznit, we head to the coast towards Sidi R’bat – Sidi Binzarne which is one of the accesses to the Park at the mouth of the Oued Massa.
Arrived in the evening in a hotel by the sea in Sidi R’bat, we have the choice between the Berber tent or the terrace to enjoy a wonderful fish tagine with vegetables (olives, potatoes and carrots). We are very impatient to discover what is in store for us tomorrow. Accompanied by a guide, the Saharan fauna and the birds of the wonderful Souss Massa nature reserve await.
The day begins with a trek on a donkey to discover the ornithological reserve of Oued Massa. The walk is great for children and parents alike. We are all in the great outdoors and the setting offered by the Oued Massa estuary makes us want to extend our stay in Sidi R’bat.
Birds are everywhere: you can see flamingos in flight and bald ibis frolicking in the sand dunes. Many birds are posed at the mouth of the Oued but, to preserve their peace, we do not approach.
After our lunch break – sandwich at the Rokein reserve, we set-off with our guide on a safari tour on the trails offered near the coast. We see again some bald ibis, which is one of the emblems of the park, a very beautiful chameleon and the dromedaries ever-present! Then the trail in the heart of the the dunes makes us dream when we see red-necked ostriches, addax antelopes, oryx and gazelles as we progress through the Park.
It’s a great time to spend in this immense unspoiled coastal area. Summary of the day: The 4×4 trip shook us enough to throw us, on arrival, into a glass of delicious mint tea and plates of traditional pastries. We always think of the children on their little donkey and of the safari which allowed us to discover beautiful flora and fauna (euphorbias as far as the eye can see).
Visiting advice: Put the local structures to work (association of guides). These people master all the corners of this huge nature reserve. It is essential to find and observe the different species of the park in their natural environment. Thanks to the guides, you will spend a beautiful day full of discovery.
You should plan a day to visit the whole park, given its size. To fully enjoy the park, a 4×4 is preferable and don’t forget the binoculars. For those in a hurry: half a day is sufficient to visit the Rokein Reserve.
There are several options to organize your day at the Park:
- Entry point 1: Rokein Information Center (30.289792, -9.561270) located 15 km south of Agadir, provides access to areas of Saharan fauna (antelopes and ostriches).
– Access and walk on foot along the pedestrian trails recently arranged within the park (3 km+).
– 4×4 in the sand dunes and discovery of Saharan fauna (antelopes, gazelles and ostriches).
– Lunch break (grilled fresh fish) in Tifnit
- Entry point 2: Sidi Binzarne eco-guide kiosk (30.063240, -9.660609) located 60 km south of Agadir, provides access to the ornithological reserve of Massa (Ramsar site – Bald ibis and migratory birds).
– Trek on a donkey
– Oued Massa trail
– Bird watching
– Oued Massa mouth
