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ne of the coolest experiences of my life was visiting to the Sahara Desert. I had never seen anything like it! In my life, I’ve seen the natural beauty of mountains, plains, beaches, and also deserts; but none of the deserts I’ve seen (I’ve only seen what’s in California) compare to the beauty that is the Sahara.This trip to the Sahara was one stop on a tour that included visiting other cities around Morocco, like Marrakech, Ouarzazate, Fes, Rabat, and Casablanca. While there, I found out that we were roughly 30 miles from the Algerian border. It would’ve been cool to go over to Algeria, but unfortunately, the border between Morocco and Algeria has been closed for quite some time.
The trip out to the Sahara was an experience. From Erfoud, where we stayed, we hopped in 4×4 Jeeps and were driven out to Merzouga. In Merzouga, we got to enjoy mint tea and snacks in a Bedouin tent (which for some reason I took zero pictures of). While walking to the tent, I happened to capture this shot of a man walking alone in the desert.
What really surprised me was just how windy it was out there. Like it was seriously windy. Here are some actual receipts of the wind:
After we had our tea and snacks, we hopped back in our Jeeps. It was really nice to see the way some of the homes and buildings were designed. I loved seeing the architecture, the decor, and the vividness of all the colors.
Next, we headed over to hear a musical performance that showcased the culture of the Gnawa people. This whole trip was a really culturally enriching experience.
The highlight of the trip, without a doubt was riding a camel* in the Sahara! After the Gnawa performance, we drove over to the Erg Chebbi sand dunes to ride on camels. If you are ever blessed with the opportunity to make that trek to the Sahara, please keep these two things in mind:
- Wear something to protect your eyes.
- Keep your mouth closed.
These were two things I learned very quickly. Once again, the WIND. The wind was something serious. The way that the sand was being blown around, I could feel each grain of sand pelting my face. I also got a mouthful of sand, too. I had my bluelight glasses on (because that’s all I had with me) and I was happy I did! What amazed me was even though the wind was blowing the sand all around, the sand dunes looked like not a single grain had ever moved out of place.
I traveled with my dad, who is my favorite traveling buddy. And he had the same feeling getting on and off the camels as I did: sheer terror. Once you get on, they stand up with their front legs first which causes you to be angled backwards and I wasn’t expecting that. Not sure what I was expecting, but it wasn’t exactly that. I also saw the importance of making sure you hold on with both hands throughout the duration of the ride. That’s why I didn’t take any shots with my actual camera while I was riding–just my phone!
This whole experience was a blast. I would love to go back to the Sahara again. This time I would love to do a photoshoot there!
*technically it was a dromedary I rode on. Dromedaries have one hump while camels have two.