Our next stop was Camping Aain Nakhla at Guelmim – home of Salah and his family. Salah had helped us out when we were stuck in Morocco during Covid when the country’s borders were closed. Their camp site was close to a Marjane – the major supermarket chain in Morocco. Our truck was really too big for the Aain Nakhla camp site so our plan was to stock up with fresh supplies, spend one night at Guelmim before moving on.
However, it turned out to be such fun at Salah’s, each day there was an interesting bunch of travellers arriving at the site. Salah was a bit of a showman and in the evening they would often light a bonfire and guests would be able to gather around the camp fire when it got dark. There was a Swiss couple staying on the site – he was a musician and one evening he gave recitals on his saxophone and clarinet. He played big band music filling the Moroccan air with Glen Miller “In The Mood” and other evocative melodies of the 40s and 50s. We loved it!
We also met a group of 15 tourists travelling Morocco on horseback. The riders were from all over Europe, as well as one woman from Kansas. The tour was to last four weeks during which time they would cover 850 Km. They were accompanied by two guides and a support vehicle. Normally they wild camped in tents but they were taking a much needed break for a couple of nights at Salah’s. They told us that they were often in the saddle from 8am until 6pm – with a break for lunch. Moroccan camp sites always had basic guest accommodation either under canvas or in simple rooms.
