The Camel
Admin on May 04 2009 at 10:41 pm | Filed under: Moroccan Food, Photographs, Travel
The Camel has a single hump,
The dromedary two,
Or is it just the other way,
I’m never sure — are you?
Ogden Nash
Well in fact, it is the other way around…the dromedary camel has one hump!
Ten years ago, for our honeymoon we went elephant riding in Zimbabwe, so what a better way to celebrate ten years of marriage than going camel riding with our three beloved children in one of the two Saharan “ergs” (dunes) in Morocco, Erg Chebbi !!
On arrival in Merzouga we were met by our transportation of choice for the journey and Mohammed, our camel man. Now for those of you who have never ridden a camel before, they are quite tall and they get up quite fast when you sit on them. Quite a surprise when you have not really had an opportunity to acquaint yourself with the seating arrangements for the next few hours!
We headed off into the dunes at a steady pace; Mohammed’s extent of English was “good??” which I think suited everyone as between trying to photograph, remain onboard and admire the scenery it wouldnt have done to have a chatty tourguide!!!
The dunes are amazing, stunningly beautiful and the most phenomenal colours with the changing light. And of course the silence…. (except of course for the steady grinding of the camels teeth……..aaaaargh!!!)
We stopped for the night (and again, camels sit down quite suddenly to!!!) and headed off down the dune to camp. The kids had a ball; they ran up, down and around the largest sand pit they have even been in!
Mohammed made up for his lack of English with his cooking skills. We had a wonderful typically Moroccan Salad and a fabulous chicken tagine, all prepared as quick as a flash and presented in the salon tent.
Tummies full we all collapsed on our mattresses with blankets in the nomad tent that was home for the evening.
The next morning we woke up at 05h00 and clambered to the top of the nearest dune to see the sunrise…This was not to be as it was a bit cloudy and the wind was starting to blow, but it was still worth it!
Mohammed served up a breakfast of boiled eggs, bread, jam and olives with freshly brewed coffee.
All set, to go we herded up the camels and headed back to town in what was now just short of a sandstorm!
The trip was spectacular and I would highly recommend it, even if my camel and I were very happy to part ways at the end of it…he could go off and grind his teeth in peace and I could have my feet back on “terre firma”!!!
Great trip, would of loved the tents, they looked to be of the same standard as the ones at Bateleur Camp. By the way Happy 10th Anniversary.x
What stunning, stunning desert pictures!