“RAID MAROC” – EDITION - REVEILLON DU NOUVEL AN!

A TRANS MOROCCAN 4X4 ADVENTURE DRIVE - “FROM MEDITERRANEAN TO ATLANTIC”

DRIVING PARALLEL TO THE ALGERIAN BORDER, FROM NADOR ON THE SUNNY NORTH EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN COAST, ALL THE WAY  TO THE MASSIVE, IMPOSING, CLIFFS OF THE WILD ATLANTIC COAST OF WESTERN SAHARA.

“WHAT IS IT?”

WE’VE BEEN REPEATEDLY ASKED FOR A MOROCCAN 4X4 ADVENTURE RAID AND THAT’S WHAT YOU GET!

PLEASE NOTE, THIS IS NOT A CONVOY DRIVE. IF YOU WANT TO DRIVE “EN CONVOI”, PLEASE TRY ANOTHER ORGANISATION – NO POINT IN READING ON – SORRY.

“RAID MAROC” (NEW YEAR EDITION or REVEILLON DU NOUVEL AN)

IS AN OUT AND OUT 4X4 ADVENTURE RAID WITH SOME 90% plus OF THE DRIVING “SUR PISTE” - IT’S NOT A CONVOY DRIVE AND WE MOST DEFINITELY AVOID THE PANTOMIMES OF MARRAKECH & FES (you can always do that on your way home!)

USING A COMBINATION OF CURRENT MAPS, ANCIENT CARAVAN TRADE ROUTES AND MORE RECENT EXPLORATION COMPANY MAPS WE HAVE COMPILED A TRULY TRANS MOROCCAN ADVENTURE DRIVE IN  --  “RAID MAROC”

“IS IT FOR ME?”

BLOODY OATH IT IS! – THAT'S PROBABLY THE REASON YOU'RE READING THIS! - EITHER THAT OR YOU'VE ASKED US TO SEND YOU A LINK TO THIS PAGE AS YOU’RE THE SORT OF PERSON WHO’D ENJOY IT (ex Raid Asterix etc) or LIKE US YOU’VE GOT EITHER BORED OF OR BUGGER ALL ELSE TO DO OVER NEW YEAR!

“HOW DOES IT WORK?”

AS WITH ALL OUR RAIDS, IT’S ON ROAD BOOK, IF YOU WANT TO DRIVE WITH A ‘MATE’ or ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT’S FINE BY US. HOWEVER YOU WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DRIVE YOUR OWN ROUTE USING THE INFORMATION PROVIDED, COMPLETE WITH GPS WAYPOINTS, BEARINGS & DIRECTIONS.

LIKE OUR OTHER RAIDS, “RAID MAROC” IS DESIGNED WITH A 4X4 AS THE BASIS FOR YOUR TRANSPORT AND A DRIVER & NAVIGATOR WORKING TOGETHER TO GET FROM YOUR DAILY START POINT THROUGH VARIOUS RV PTs TO THE EVENING NIGHT HALT, BUT STILL ALLOWING YOU PLENTY OF TIME DURING THE DAY TO SEE THE SIGHTS, STOP AT THE VILLAGE MARKETS, TAKE PLENTY OF PHOTOGRAPHS & TRADE IN THE WIFE FOR A MUCH NEEDED CAMEL OR TWO.

MOST OF THE DRIVING IS "SUR PISTE" (non tarmac or bitumen surfaces)

YOU’LL TRAVEL ALONG ROUTES COMPILED FROM VARIOUS SOURCES, INCLUDING CURRENT AND OLD MAPS WE’VE OBTAINED FROM EXPLORATION COMPANIES (minerals, fossil fuels & precious metal exploration)

FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE FRENCH FOREIGN LEGIONNAIRES AS WE TRAVEL ACROSS STONY & SANDY DESERTS FROM FORT TO FORT AND REMOTE OUTPOST TO REMOTE OUTPOST.

ANCIENT TRADE ROUTES, STILL USED BY MODERN DAY CAMEL TRADERS, AS WELL AS THE LATEST ROUTES FROM THE PARIS-DAKAR RALLY.

THE ROAD BOOK INCLUDES SEVERAL STAGES FROM VARIOUS PARIS-DAKAR RALLIES (including 2007 Lisbon-Dakar) PLUS SOME OF THE FASTEST GRAVEL ROAD STAGES OF THE ENTIRE RALLY !

“WHAT’S THE ACCOMMODATION?”

ACCOMMODATION IS A COMBINATION OF DESERT AUBERGE, CAMP SITES AND BUSH CAMPING.

AUBERGE THESE ARE USUALLY FRENCH OWNED AND PROVIDE CLEAN, BETTER THAN BASIC FACILITIES WITH WELL-PREPARED MEALS.

CAMP SITES ARE WELL – QUITE FRANKLY MOROCCAN CAMP SITES, BUT THANKFULLY WE USE VERY FEW!

BUSH CAMPS, ARE NIGHTS OUT UNDER THE STARS IN MOUNTAINS AND BOTH STONY AND SANDY DESERTS.

PLEASE NOTE: YOU WILL NEED TO BE PREPARED TO SPEND IMPROMPTU NIGHTS UNDER THE STARS.

THE TERRAIN AND CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED, PARTICULARLY AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, CAN MEAN UNSCHEDULED OVERNIGHT STOPS, ESPECIALLY AFTER A PROLONGED OR EXCEPTIONALLY WET WINTER.

“HOW DO I GET THERE?”

MEET AT THE RV Pt, YOUR CABIN ON THE OVERNIGHT FERRY FROM ALMERIA (or Malaga) TO ARRIVE IN THE SPANISH ENCLAVE OF MELILLA IS PRE-BOOKED - FROM MELILLA THROUGH THE SPANISH & MOROCCAN BORDER AUTHORITIES (set your watch to “Africa Time” and allow a few hours here!) – AND YOU'RE INTO NADOR, Morocco.

“WHO GETS TO GO?”

RAID MAROC IS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SOME, EVEN BASIC, EXPERIENCE OF TRAVELLING IN REMOTE ARES WITH A 4X4, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY – KNOWLEDGE OF NAVIGATION – PARTICULARLY WITH A GPS!

THE ROAD BOOK IS SIMPLE TO USE, HOWEVER YOU WILL NEED TO HAVE SOME EXPERIENCE OF NAVIGATION.

WE ARE, AS USUAL, QUITE LITERALLY RIGHT BEHIND YOU ALL THE WAY, HOWEVER SOME NAVIGATION SKILLS ARE “ESSENTIAL” TO COMPLETE THE DAILY ROAD BOOKS.

WE WILL NEED TO KNOW SOMETHING OF YOUR EXPERIENCE BEFORE A PLACE IS ALLOCATED TO YOU ON THIS RAID, HOWEVER DON’T WORRY, PRE RAID PEP TALK DAY (with Autumn BeerBQ) CAN BE ARRANGED IF NECESSARY.

Remember, we only have small intimate groups and never take more than six or seven vehicles on our Raids.

“WHAT TIME OF YEAR?”

NEW YEAR! – 'NEW YEAR IN THE DESERT' (or as the French say, Reveillon du Nouvel An) IS A FANTASTIC TIME OF YEAR TO TRAVEL IN MOROCCO, PARTICULARLY WELL SOUTH OF THE ATLAS AND INTO THE WESTERN SAHARA.

“WHY NEW YEAR”

1.     VERY FEW TOURISTS (except the big New Years Eve / Reveillon parties in the Erg Chebbi dunes)

2.     WARM ENOUGH FOR CAMPING

3.     IF IT’S BEEN A GOOD WET SEASON THE DESERT CAN BE IN FULL BLOOM AND THE OUED (river) CROSSINGS CAN BE MORE THAN INTERESTING.

4.     BEATS HAVING A HOUSE FULL OF RELATIVES DRINKING YOUR CELLAR DRY

5.     YOU WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FOLLOW THE PARIS-DAKAR** (**Please note; We unfortunately missed the 2008 P-D due to cancellation, current speculation appears to be the 2009 edition P-D may not be in Morocco)

AFTER THE WINTER RAINS, THE OUEDS WILL HAVE SCOURED OUT RIVER BEDS, WASHED AWAY TRACKS AND INFLICTED NEW DAMAGE ON THE LANDSCAPE, ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT TRAVELLING AROUND NEW YEAR IS YOU ARE GENERALLY WITHIN THE FIRST FEW PEOPLE TO START PUTTING IN THE “ANNUAL” ROUTES THAT OTHER TOURISTS MAY FOLLOW ALL YEAR.

AFTER A GOOD WET SEASON THE DESERT CAN BE A BLAZE OF COLOUR

MANY EUROPEANS LOVE THIS “TRAILBLAZING” TIME OF YEAR AS NEW ROUTES, DETOURS & OUED CROSSINGS NEED TO BE FOUND ALL THE TIME.

YOUR ROAD BOOK IS THEREFORE ONLY AS GOOD AS THE LAST TIME IT WAS DRIVEN, MAKING THE NEW YEAR PERIOD A GREAT TIME TO EXPLORE

“IF WE’RE IN THE DESERT FOR NEW YEAR – WHEN DO WE HAVE TO SET OFF TO BE THERE?”

THAT’S THE WHOLE POINT – YOU GET THE PERFECT EXCUSE TO BUGGER OFF IMMEDIATELY AFTER CHRISTMAS DAY!

WHAT BETTER EXCUSE NOT TO INVITE THE MOTHER IN LAW OVER FOR CHRISTMAS AND LEAVE THE WHINGING, TURKEY FILLED FAMILY BEHIND?

NO COLD TURKEY CASSEROLE UNTIL FEBRUARY, NO OVERCROWDED SKI RESORTS, JUST A FEW LIKE MINDED FOLKS ENJOYING THE ISOLATED DESERTS NIGHTS AND DAYTIME HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF THE WEEKLY VILLAGE CAMEL & DATE MARKET.

WE NEED TO BE MEETING AT THE RV PT ON or AROUND THE 30^th DECEMBER** IF WE’RE TO GET INTO THE DESERT FOR NEW YEARS EVE. **EXACT TIMES/DATES WILL BE ANNOUNCED WHEN SAILING SCHEDULES ARE PUBLISHED FOR DEC 2008 / JAN 2009

IF THE LADIES or NAVIGATORS DON’T FANCY THE DRIVE DOWN THROUGH FRANCE & SPAIN, IT IS FEASIBLE TO FLY OUT FROM THE UK TO BE COLLECTED FROM AN AIRPORT SUCH AS MALAGA or ALMERIA.

AGAIN FOR THE LADIES / NAVIGATORS, IF THEY DON’T FANCY THE FEW DAYS DRIVE HOME AGAIN THEY CAN ALWAYS FLY BACK FROM MOROCCO (Agadir, Marrakech, Casablanca or S. Spain; Malaga, Granada or Gibraltar)

(Marrakech is a long days drive North East of the finish point, and Malaga saves the drag across Spain & France if you don’t fancy it)

“HOW LONG ARE WE THERE?”

THE RAID ITSELF IS GOING TO BE OVER SOME 15 / 16 DAYS (depending on what we encounter & at what speed) YOU’LL ALSO NEED TO ALLOW A FEW DAYS EITHER END TO GET THERE AND BACK AGAIN.

IF YOU WANT TO DO THE TOURISTY BITS OF SAY MARRAKECH or CASABLANCA THE RAID FINISHES ONE LONG DAYS DRIVE (ON THE BITUMEN) SOUTH EAST OF MARRAKECH

“VEHICLES”

OUT AND OUT 4X4’s – (NOT SOFT ROADERS)

GOOD VEHICLE PREPARATION IS ESSENTIAL AND SHOULD IDEALLY INCLUDE FRONT STEERING / AXLE PROTECTION

APART FROM LR 90’s – NO REAR DROP DOWN TOW HITCHES. (It’s only a few bolts, so take them off!) OK! - THAT’S NO REAR DROP HITCHES ON DISCOS, RANGIES, 110’s, CRUISERS ETC – REMOVE THEM “BEFORE” THE RAID - YOU WILL HOWEVER BE REQUIRED TO HAVE A FRONT AND REAR RECOVERY POINT ON YOUR VEHICLE.

“WHAT EQUIPMENT WILL I NEED?”

AS EVERYONE TAKING PART WILL HAVE EXPERIENCE OF OVERLAND TRAVEL, OURS IS NOT TO PREACH ON THE EQUIPMENT FRONT, TAKE WHAT YOU HAVE, WHAT YOU PREFER OR WHAT YOU THINK YOU MAY NEED. (Including a few vehicle spares!)

WHAT YOU WILL NEED HOWEVER IS: -

1. FIRST AND FOREMOST A G.P.S. THE BEST YOU CAN AFFORD – A PROPER ONE (not a mobile ‘phone sized one) – EASY TO READ AND FORMAT.

REMEMBER YOU’LL NEED TO PROGRAMME EACH DAYS ROAD BOOK INTO YOUR UNIT SO MAKE SURE IT’S USER FRIENDLY

2. A PROPER 4X4

NOT A SOFT ROADER. SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF A DEFENDER, DISCOVERY, G WAGON or CRUISER.

3. CAMPING GEAR; TO INCLUDE TENT, COOKING EQUIPMENT AND BEDDING. Please Note, IN THE FAR SOUTH OF THE TRIP THE TEMPERATURE CAN BE WELL INTO THE MID TO HIGH TWENTIES CENTIGRADE, HOWEVER, IN THE NORTH NIGHTS CAN STILL BE QUITE CHILLY, SO IT’S PROBABLY WISE TO TAKE A WINTER WEIGHT SLEEPING BAG or DUVET – PARTICULARLY IF YOU’RE PLANNING TO RETURN TO EUROPE VIA THE ATLAS MOUNTAINS AFTER THE RAID.

“WHAT’S THE DRIVING LIKE?”

IT’S A BOAB 4X4 DRIVING HOLIDAY – WHAT DO YOU THINK!

GRAVEL TRACKS, OPEN STONY DESERT, ROCKY MOUNTAINS, SAND DUNES AND “FECHFECH”

1. GRAVEL TRACKS ARE FAIRLY OBVIOUS, TRAVERSING DIVERSE ROUTES SUCH AS PLAINS, MOUNTAINS AND SO ON.

2. STONY DESERT, UNIQUE HABITAT, AND INTERESTING TO DRIVE, PARTICULARLY ON GPS ROAD BOOK – WATCH OUT FOR “WASHOUTS”

3. OPEN MOUNTAINS, WHERE YOU CHOSE YOUR OWN ROUTE, WITHIN REASON!

4. DESERTED SANDY BEACHES ON THE ATLANTIC COAST

5. SAND DUNES – DESPITE ALL THE HYPE, MOROCCO ONLY HAS A FEW SAND DUNES. THEY ARE NOT LIKE THE “SAND OCEANS” OF MAURITANIA, ALGERIA or LIBYA AND, IN THE WORDS OF TOM SHEPPARD “SMALL SAND DUNES ARE A PIG TO DRIVE IN” – MORE AWKWARD TO DRIVE IN THAN THE VAST SAND OCEANS THEY ARE A BIT OF A CHALLENGE AND OFFER A NICE DIVERSION FOR A LAUGH OR TWO!

6. FECHFECH – IS THE FINE TALCUM POWDER TYPE DUST FOUND IN VARIOUS PLACES BUT IN ABUNDANCE AT OUED (RIVER) CROSSINGS, WHERE THE CONSTANT EROSION BY WIND AND WATER HAS ERODED THE DESERT DOWN TO MEGA FINE PARTICLES. WALKING (LET ALONE DRIVING) IN FOOT DEEP FECHFECH EITHER SIDE OF A OUED IS A BIZARRE EXPERIENCE.

FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH, MY TOP TEN DRIVING DAYS HAVE TO BE IN OUTBACK AUSTRALIA – HOWEVER, OF MY TOP TEN DRIVING DAYS OUTSIDE OZ, A COUPLE OF THEM HAVE TO BE ON THIS RAID, EASILY EQUALLING DRIVING THE VAST SAND SEAS OF MAURITANIA or MOUNTAINS OF THE HIGH HIMALAYAS.

Based on one vehicle & two occupants;

Outward Ferry c/w Cabin

Road Books & Assistance

Camp Sites / Auberge

Two Nights Hotel/Auberge c/w Meals (around night 13/14)

Last Night; "Finale" Meals

Sightseeing (markets, museums)

ADVICE AND/OR ASSISTANCE on

"Getting There & Back" - Flights / Ferries / Accommodation / Routes

Visa requirements & applications if required

Vehicle Carnet applications

Vehicle Insurance – requirements and policy selection

Diet & Medical Requirements

Expedition Planning including; fuel, fresh food and water along the way.

Vehicle Preparation

SOUND OK TO YOU?

THEN PICK UP THE ‘PHONE AND BOOK - WE’LL NEED 6 or 7 VEHICLES TO RUN “RAID MAROC” – EDITION REVILLON

Telephone;       01684 591 154

E-Mail;             raidmaroc@boab.biz