Birding trip to the Northern 8 Days/7 Night

1. NOTE: If you have a specific date please let us know your arrival and departure dates!
2. Tour Cost: The price is depends on number of participants, for the price please contact us
3. Group Size: Max 8 people, if you are a tour company or big group please contact us

Description:

Superb 8 days birdwatching tour to the north of Morocco and Zaida plain. From the north of the country to the middle atlas mountains and Zaida plain, but this tour goes further than a simple birdwatching tour, the culture and history of the region will amaze you, and the landscape will take your breath away. We will be covering most of the northern part of the country, including all the most amazing and incredible birdwatching places: the Atlas Mountains, the Atlantic ocean, the lagoons, and the forests. All these places are of great importance to millions of birds during the spectacle of spring migration from Africa to Europe.

Itinerary

Day 1 Marrakech – El jadida

Meet and welcome you at Marrakech airport in the morning or anywhere in Marrakech, we will drive north-west to El Jadida, where we will spend the night. En route, we will keep a lookout for White Stork, Cattle Egret, Calandra Lark, Little and Pallid Swifts, Crested Lark, Common Bulbul, and Spotless Starling.

Day 2 El jadida – Atlantic coast – Casablanca – Rabat

Following an early start, the whole day will be devoted to our search for the elusive Small Buttonquail along the Atlantic coast. There is, of course, no guarantee of this bird but we will be visiting sites where we have seen them recently and at the best time of year. Further new species for the tour should include African Reed Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Sardinian Warbler. Late in the afternoon, we drive to Casablanca then to Rabat.

Day 3 The Zaers – Sidi Boughaba Lake

An early start today is essential for a trip southeast of Rabat into the King’s hunting forest, the Zaers, to see and hear Double-spurred Francolin, a secretive game bird that calls from the tops of tree stumps. Other woodland species possible include Black-crowned Tchagra, Black-shouldered Kite, Woodpigeon, Greenfinch, Serin, Pied Flycatcher, Redstart, and Barbary Partridge. We’ll spend the afternoon along the Atlantic coast, visiting lagoons and saltpans including an excellent freshwater lake, Lac de Sidi Bourhaba. Good numbers of Red-knobbed Coots should be on the lake as well as Marbled Duck and White-headed Duck, while Western Marsh Harriers quarter the reed beds.

Day 4 Merdja Zerga Lake & African Marsh Owl

After breakfast, we head north to Merdja Zerga, which means “Blue Lagoon”, a sweeping wetland on Morocco’s Atlantic coast south of Tangiers. Merdja Zerga is famous amongst birders as the last known winter haunt of the legendary Slender-billed Curlew, a bird now sadly presumed extinct. None have been seen here since 1995. Despite the demise of its Slender-billed Curlew, Merdja Zerga is still a magnificent wildlife site. Here a variety of terns stop to feed and breed, while waders probe the mud in their thousands, amongst them Greenshanks, Spotted Redshanks, Whimbrels and Avocets. We’ll stay until late afternoon, for then we have a chance of seeing the extremely rare Moroccan Marsh Owl.

Day 5 Rabat – Meknes – Cedar Forest in Azrou – Middle Atlas Mountains – Zaida

Driving south-east to Midelt, we will stop first to search for Lesser Kestrel in Azrou town and then at excellent sites in the Middle Atlas for seeing Levaillant’s Green Woodpecker and Atlas Flycatcher. In the Cedar forests, we may also see Wood Lark, Firecrest and the local races of Great Spotted Woodpecker, Coal Tit and Barbary Apes.

Day 6 Full day birding in Zaida Plain

We will leave early to search for Dupont’s Lark in Zeida Plain. This very difficult high-plains species disappearing amongst the tussocks. Excellent chances exist for seeing Seebohm’s Wheatear, Desert Wheatear, Red-rumped Wheatear, Black-Bellied Sandgrouse, Spectacled Warbler, Thekla Lark and Short-toed Lark. If the heat allows, we will dedicate most of our day to exploring this area.

Day 7 Zaida – Middle Atlas Mountains – Beni Mellal – Marrakech

Transfer day from Zaida to Marrakech, drive through the Middle Atlas Mountains. We will do some birding stops on the road. Late in the afternoon, we arrive in Marrakech. Free evening to visit the old quarter of Marrakech and the impressive Jema-el-Fna square which is an unbelievable experience for any visitor – water sellers and spice stalls plus the charm of bargaining in the Souk (OPTIONAL).

Day 8 Marrakech – Airport

If time allows some more birding in the Marrakech, then transfer to the airport where the trip ends.

1. NOTE: This is a flexible itinerary that may be adjusted to allow for changes in arrival and departure times, weather conditions, and other related factors.