"The Kasbah du Toubkal" Imlil, High Atlas,
Morocco.

Morocco
Morocco
is a country of superlatives, the meeting place of Europe and Africa. There's a wide variety of scenery with snow-capped mountains, lush forests, mountain lakes, rolling plains and desert areas with palm filled oases. The Imperial cities like Marrakech, Fes, Meknes and Rabat provide a rich backdrop to the day to day life of an exploding population with Berber tribes, Arabs and Jews each with
their own language, traditions and architecture forging a vibrant
country.
"The Kasbah du Toubkal"
Discover acquired "The Kasbah du Toubkal" which was a
fortified house in the village of Imlil and this has been converted to act
as a base for Discover's operations in Morocco and the High Atlas in
particular. The conversion was done entirely by hand with local craftsmen and materials and has resulted in a Green Globe Commendation Award by the World Travel and Tourism Council. The Kasbah provides basic facilities for the operations of field
study and adventure trips but also remains sympathetic with the local
environment and the conversion of the house to a centre has been helped by
Sussex University who are using the
centre as an opportunity for research.
Data collection from the area is
high on the priority list and it will be collated at the centre and these
pages will present parts of that data to provide a unique resource for those
worldwide who wish to study the High Atlas. You may look at pages of partial
data or download files. (The file index page
is here and the Berber
partial data index here.)
The Kasbah du Toubkal is situated in one of the
most spectacular settings in Morocco, as you can see it is set against a
backdrop of stunning, sometimes snowcapped mountains in about 3 acres of
grounds above Imlil. Looking down the valley from the centre viewing balcony
there's the village and the valley widening as it stretches North to the
village of Asni and to either side mountains and hills with little Berber
houses clinging tightly to the hill sides. The whole area is criss-crossed
by mule trails to link the settlements with Imlil and then by the unsurfaced
road to the outside world. In the other direction are the mountains with the
peak of Jbel Toubkal at 4165 metres, being the highest in Africa, north of
the Sahara.
Fieldwork
Morocco offers
endless fieldwork opportunities. There's an enormous variety of
physical and human environments in an Islamic Kingdom with a population of
about 26 million people , about half of whom are under 20. The variety of
scenery and culture is exceptional. A wide range of projects can be
undertaken and the potential for student learning is impressive. Students
who leave Morocco will have learnt far more about a lesser developed nation
in their short visit than they may ever do in the classroom. They will also
leave with a much greater understanding of the value of geographical
experiences. We have prepared some additional web pages with data from
the Imlil valley which you are welcome to use, please click on this link to access them.
If you wish to do some reading
on the subject of fieldwork, may we suggest "Marrakech and the High Atlas,
Environment and development in a Moroccan context" edited by D.C.Funnell and
R.B.G.Williams and published by Sussex University.(ISBN
0-9526984-0-4)
For information on travel in Morocco please use this
link to our page of notes
especially helpful for the first time traveller.
8 and 10 day tours of Southern Morocco
Our
tours visit some of the most spectacular and contrasting locations in
Morocco and start by flying into the enchanting city of Marrakech, the
meeting place of the plains, mountains, the Arabs and the Berbers. We then
travel into the High Atlas Mountains where our permanent centre is located -
"The Kasbah du Toubkal" at Imlil. We can experience at first hand the Berber
way of life, invited into their houses and share their food. This gives a
unique insight into the Berber society and way of life of these proud
mountain people.
Berber society has its own distinct culture which has
changed little over the centuries and some of the villages are so remote
they can only be reached by mule or on foot. All are without services that
we take for granted in developed countries, such as electricity and mains
water. We arrange for you to visit the real Morocco which is an opportunity
where one is encouraged to question and think about a way of life and a
culture very different from our own. The inhabitants of Imlil are our
friends, Omar, "Maurice" is on the permanent staff of Discover and
he and his family along with the British centre staff, make visitors most
welcome. The opening of the centre was a cause for celebration in the area
as the inhabitants see visitors as an essential part of the planning of the
future of the economy and they are extremely pleased that a British company
has made a large financial commitment to their future.
The 8 day tour
concentrates on Marrakech and the High Atlas, whilst the 10 day tour
includes a crossing over the Atlas into the Presahara where there is a
dramatic change of scenery and habitat to the mountains. There are visits to
the ancient Koranic library and the modern pottery makers of Tamegroute as
well as the village of Tinfou which is fighting for survival against the
encroaching sands of the Sahara desert. For those who choose and we highly
recommend it, there's a one day camel expedition to spend a night under the
stars in the desert with the Tauregs, the famous "Blue Men" of the desert.
We ride out on camels, set camp and prepare an evening meal in the
traditional way, such as the baking of bread on hot stones.
Waking up to
a desert sunrise is truly unforgettable.
Our
prices are fully inclusive.
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