Ouzoud Falls is a group of lovely waterfalls that empty into the El-Abid River’s gorge, known as one of the major attractions of Morocco. At first, you may have thought that it was almost impossible to find lush forests and waterfalls because of the completely dry southern part of the country.  But contrary to popular belief, the northern part of the country is very lively, and the areas near Chefchaouen, which are home to the lush green forests and lovely Akchour waterfalls, confirm this.

What to Do

Camping

The difference between Akchour waterfalls and Ouzoud waterfalls is that Ouzoud should not be expected to be very calm, and you will face the crowd. But there are good tricks to stay away from the populace, have a good tent with you. Camping in campsites near Ouzoud allows you to be alone with the area and waterfalls in the morning. In general, the closer we get to noon, the more crowded it becomes.

Swimming

A gift for those who travel in the summer is swimming in the pools at the bottom of the Ouzoud waterfalls. Again, those who are more secluded can take a short distance from the waterfalls and enjoy the calmer part of the river. Do not be afraid to get wet and receptively take the small boats that have been prepared to bring you closer to the waterfalls. Boating here is a cheap but very enjoyable pastime.

Observing WildLife

One of the most important things that make Ouzoud Falls attractive to its visitors is the Barbary wild monkeys. This is a good opportunity to see monkeys hanging and playing in the trees. Be smart and have some nuts or fruit with you so that they become friends with you. It becomes an unforgettable memory.

Photography

Being the second highest waterfall in Africa ( about 110-meter) has made Ouzoud waterfalls a considerable touristic destination. If you are a fan of photography, Ouzoud, which is a photographed natural area, is a good place to visit.

How to Get There

If you are not a member of a tour, there is good news for you: there are many options to get Ouzoud independently. Including; shared taxi, bus, rent a car or by your own car.

 Shared Taxi

First, you need to get to Azila (a small town not a long way away from the falls.) from Marrakesh by a shared taxi and from there take another shared taxi to Ouzoud.

Bus

There is a suggestion that you can use the bus. With this option, you can visit Bani Melal and turn your trip into a two-day trip. For this purpose, you should take a bus to Bani Melal and then take a shared taxi from there to the waterfalls.

Car

Driving towards Ouzoud waterfalls is very enjoyable. The farther you get from Morocco, and the closer you get to the Ouzoud region, the stunning scenery will amaze you.

Ouzoud Falls has located 157 km from Morocco, and you have to drive about two and a half hours. Mountainous terrain, pleasantly cool air, hills covered with many trees near the waterfall are waiting for you.

Roads in villages near the waterfall require caution. Children play on the roads, or those who sell fruits and nuts on the highways may make trouble for you by jumping out into your car.

When driving from Morocco to Ouzoud, continue driving on the N8 highway to the northeast, reaching the R208 highway. Follow the path to Tenant village; you will reach Ouzoud by following the way. It doesn’t matter if you rent a car or drive your own car; this is the way to go.

Renting a Car

There are two ways to rent a car. Local or international. There is a point that although some local car rental companies set considerable rates, they do not necessarily offer adequate quality.

International car rental companies are very available, and you will find many branches of all of them in big cities and airports, although this does not mean that they are your definite choice.

The best suggestion for you is to spend some time browsing the online reviews of company users to find the best company for you.

How to Visit

The guide doesn’t do for you what you can’t do yourself; there is only one way back and forth to the waterfalls that are very easy to follow. Also, independent visitation frees you from following the group.

As you reach the waterfalls, you will cross a small concrete road and discover tiny shops and restaurants. There are also several cafes at the end of the trail.

Almost all shopkeepers and guides speak Arabic and Barber and may only speak a small amount of English. So don’t be surprised if you couldn’t communicate much, but learning a few words and phrases in Arabic or Barber isn’t without benefit.