Salam! (Hello!- in Arabic)
As part of our trip to Morocco, we wanted to ride camels in the Sahara desert.
To get to the Sahara desert from Fes, we had to go on a long drive. We had a guide with us as well as a driver for our trip. Our driver Hassan and our guide Hamid were both very friendly and made the seven to eight hour drive seem shorter. Hamid gave Mikhaila and I some brain teaser games to pass the time.
We all received different names while on the trip. Our first names were traditional Moroccan names and our last names were traditional Moroccan foods.
Hassan: Hattdo Nouga (Nougat), Hamid: Moha Nana (Mint tea), Dad: Ishu Harcha (breakfast food- Bread with fresh cheese), Mom: Merika Msemen (breakfast food- Thin pancake), Mikhaila: Aisha Tagine, Me: Fatima Couscous
Camels and Desert
When we arrived at the Sahara desert, we were amazed…. The desert was HUGE with really soft sand; the wind was not blowing and it was not hot…. it was just the right temperature!
We saw four camels waiting for us to begin the journey over and around the sand dunes.
When we started riding the camels, the one I was riding was not attached to the other three. I had my own separate rope and guide.
After a few minutes, the guide attached my camel to the front of the line. Behind me…. Well, more like beside me, was the biggest camel with Mikhaila riding it. Her camel’s head was always beside me because it wanted to be in front. It also was breathing in and out really loudly!
We had a lot of fun riding the camels. I really liked being in the front because all of the camels were going to the washroom and I did not want to watch them from behind! 🙂
Here are four steps for having a smooth camel ride:
Step One: Get to Know the Camel Saddles
The camel saddles are made out of pieces of wood that fit on the camels back. On top of the camel saddles, there are blankets to make the ride more comfortable.
Step Two: Mount Smoothly
To mount smoothly, lean backwards when the camels stand up on their back legs, and lean forwards when they get up on their front legs so you don’t fall off.
Step Three: Hold onto the Bar and Don’t Let Go!
Once you are sitting, hold on to the bar in front of you that is attached to the camel saddle.
Step Four: Take A Lot of Pictures
Take a lot of pictures and have fun but don’t let go of the bar while you are taking a photo for too long, or else you will fall off!
As we stopped on top of a sand dune to watch the sun set, one of the guides took the camels around the dune because it was to steep for them to climb up. Since all four of the camels were tied to each other they all had to follow the one at the front. When the guide came back we looked at the camels and saw them walking away! The guide had to run down the dune and get them back! 🙂
Instead of walking down the sand dune towards the camels, Mikhaila and I got to SANDBOARD! Sand boarding is when you are pulled down the sand dune on a blanket really fast like tobogganing on snow! This was a much warmer experience!
Glamping- Glamorous Camping
We went camping in the Sahara desert…. Just kidding, we went Glamping- glamorous camping!
Glamping is more than just sleeping in a nice tent…. It is sleeping in a tent with lights, a flushing toilet and a full bathroom with warm water for the shower and sink. My parent’s tent had a four poster bed and Mikhaila and I had three- two poster beds. It is like a hotel, the only difference is that the lights turn off at 11:00 because the camp is solar powered.
But wait…. There is MORE! For breakfast, we ate outside on soft, colourful benches covered in patterns and sequins. For dinner, we ate in the restaurant tent with a fancy table setting.
But wait…. There is EVEN MORE! All along the sand, leading to the main entrance, restaurant, and both tents are pathways made from Moroccan carpets to make sure we don’t have to walk on the sand and get our feet dirty.
After dinner we had so much fun running up and down the dunes surrounding the camp. Mikhaila and I even slid and rolled down! 🙂
Before leaving the desert, we stopped where three of the camels were staying. Mikhaila and I had one banana each and fed them to two of the camels.
We had so much fun glamping in the Sahara desert and riding the camels and I hope to go back next year!
Masalama! (Good Bye- in Arabic)
Comments
26 responses to “Sahara Desert Experience”
Seems like this was the excursion of the trip so far. What a unique, once in a lifetime experience. I hope you didn’t get spit on by the camels. I recognize the Arabic words you used from the movie Aladdin.
Salam!
The camels were so nice so they did not spit on us! 🙂 You are right, it is a once in a lifetime experience! 🙂
Wonderful , wonderful, wonderful! This brought back such memories….I was fortunate to have had a similar experience in 2010 and it will stay with me forever as this will with you. The cultural differences will start to be more and more diverse. Enjoy, learn and appreciate .
Hi!
What did you do in 2010?
We had a great time, and the camels were really nice!
In 2010, a after a year in South Africa as a teacher volunteer, my friend Margaret Whewall and I rewarded ourselves wilt 14 days in Egypt. This included a 5 day trip down the Nile, visits to many wonderful cities, as well as a camel ride in the Sahara. I have a photo of myself that Margaret took from behind that infers me looking to future travels .Egypt was particularly interesting as we were there shortly before their riots, and we could feel the undercurrents of tension .
Hi!
Wow! That sounds like a lot of fun!
Now camping isn’t exactly my type of thing, but glamping may just be! If you hope to go back some time, I think I may join you!
Hi!
I don’t know about the rest of us… But I REALLY want to do that again! You can join me! 🙂
Awesome report Zoe! Looks like such an amazing experience and the dunes are so beautiful. Thanks for sharing all the details and instructions for camel riding.
Hi!
One of my favourite parts of the desert was the sand…. It was so SOFT! 🙂
Salam Zoe,
Great report Zoe! I am so glad that you listed the instructions on how to mount the camels because, should I ever go, I would want to have a smooth mount! I really liked the fancy tents and the luxurious furniture. Imagine to be able to have a shower in the desert and washroom facilities as well!
All of you looked great with your scarfs wrapped around your face and head! Do you think a red colour would suit me? The photos were great! Masalama , Zoe. Love, Baba
Hi!
Red would be perfect for you! When we return, I can teach you how to wrap your head up like we did! 🙂
Unbelievable!!! What an experience!! Worth every minute of that long ride!!
Pigs and goats on a farm seem so tame after an adventure like that! But everything bit of the journey is special in its own way. Thanks for sharing
Hi!
Maybe I should get a dog, pig, sheep and camel….
Wow! What an experience. Thanks for the great reporting.
Sandra
Hi!
Sage and Max would love to ride camels! 🙂
Salam, Zoe, I am so glad that I can travel with you. I had a big smile on my face while reading your posting. It looks like you all had a lot of fun. The photos are, as always, amazing. I love the one where it shows your shadows. The sand dunes look sooo big, I can’t even imagine this. And then, like a Fata Morgana, these amazing luxurious living quarters (flushing toilettes? who’d have thought) and carpets in the sand. Were the camels friendly? they always look so aloof. I am glad I don’t have to ride a camel, because I would fall surely off. Great posting, Fatima Couscous
Hi!
I am sure you would do fine riding a camel! 🙂 Next time, you and Opa can join Anastasia and I to go glamping! 🙂
Zoe, aka Fatima Couscous
I am sooooo jealous. What a great trip you had in the desert! Amazing pictures, great blog, such solitude!
Love Teta Doreen xoxox
Hi!
We took so many pictures, we did not have enough space to put them! 🙂 I think there was over 500 different views! 🙂
Salam Zoë
Up until now I’ve most enjoyed your recipe posts. Up until now that is. This latest post, by far, trumps all others. WOW!!! What an exciting adventure you are on with your family!!! That having been said, I’m looking forward to more recipe posts (love that muesli
Hi!
What if we showed you a recipe from Morocco that you can make?….. Would it be even better?
Just wondering if you happened to bump into Alice the Camel? I believe she retired there after many renditions of her humps. She certainly was the kids’ favourite camel. Found myself singing the song when I saw this blog.
Now Glamping would certainly entice Sophie, Helen and Natalie to take part; so, maybe we can plan a family caravan next time. What a picture that would make!
Hi!
We were wondering if the camels had names so we asked….. None of them had names, so Mikhaila and I named the biggest one (the one Mikhaila was riding) Alice!
We did not name any of the other camels… We were too busy looking at the views!
It would be great to have all of the family come to Morocco and go glamping!
Hi Zoe,
Aunt Mary really knows Sophie, Natalie and myself very well. Glamping is definitely the way to do it in the Sahara desert. But are there any mosquitoes?
🙂
Loved the pictures of this exciting excursion – totally WOW!
Lots of love,
Teta Helen
Hassan: Hattdo Nouga