Overview
Prepare your binoculars and your sense of wonder today promises a 15 days Best morocco bird watching tours through some of Morocco’s richest birding landscapes, from the lush banks of the Massa River to the shimmering mudflats of Oued Souss. After spending the morning in Oued Massa, we will return north towards Oued Souss for an afternoon of birding. The Oued Souss estuary, located just outside Agadir, is famous for its incredible bird diversity, especially waders and flamingos.
During low tide, the mudflats become a bustling feeding ground for a range of species like Kentish Plover, Black-winged Stilt, Eurasian Curlew, and Grey Plover. We may also spot Ospreys hovering above the water, and the occasional Eleonora’s Falcon hunting over the area. As the sun sets over the Atlantic, we will conclude our day and return to Agadir for dinner and overnight accommodation.
Highlights
- Explore diverse bird species across Morocco.
- Visit the stunning High Atlas Mountains.
- Spot rare birds like Levaillant’s Green Woodpecker.
- Discover the beautiful Oued Massa and Oued Souss estuaries.
- Birdwatch in the picturesque Merdja Zerga lagoon.
- Spot the majestic Bonelli’s Eagle in Todra Gorge.
- Enjoy birding at the scenic Barrage Mansour Eddahabi.
Itinerary
We will be waiting for you at the airport. Once you arrive, we’ll drive up starting our 15 days Best morocco bird watching tours, into the High Atlas Mountains, renowned for their stunning landscapes and diverse wild life, heading towards Oukaimeden (2600 meters above sea level) a prime birding location, offering opportunities to observe various species including the Southern Grey Shrike, Little Owl, Sardinian Warbler, Spotless Starling, Moroccan Magpie, Moussier’s Redstart, and House Bunting.
As we ascend further into the mountains, the terrain changes to rocky slopes where we will look for the Blue Rock Thrush and the endemic Levaillant’s Green Woodpecker. Once we reach Oukaimeden, a ski resort perched at a high altitude, we will investigate the snowline in pursuit of the vibrant African Crimson-Winged Finch. We might encounter other species here including Rock Sparrow, Black Wheatear, Seebohm’s Wheatear, Alpine Chough, and the Atlas Horned Lark, making it a prime location for birdwatching enthusiasts.
After a rewarding day of birdwatching, we will settle in for dinner and overnight accommodation in the Atlas Mountains and prepare for the adventures that lie ahead.
After an early breakfast, it's time for us to bid farewell to the majestic High Atlas Mountains as we embark on the next leg for our journey, with a possible stop along the way to catch a glimpse of the elusive Levaillant’s Green Woodpecker. Continuing on, the road will take us through the flat plains surrounding Marrakech, offering us a different perspective of Morocco's diverse landscapes. As we travel northwest towards Casablanca, we will make several birding stops, including a search for the Calandra Lark, a bird known for its distinctive song and inticate plumage. Our journey concludes in Rabat, where we will enjoy dinner and settle in for a 3-night stay
After breakfast, we commence our 15 days Best morocco bird watching tours north to Merdja Zerga, known as " The Blue Lagoon." This large coastal lagoon teems with thousands of waders, including godwits, Greenshank, and Redshank, as well as lingering ducks and flamingos. The marshes are one of the few places to observe the African Marsh Owl, a rare and endemic subspecies. We will also turn our intention the the beach and the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean, scanning for terns, gulls, any skuas on passage, and the Balearic Shearwater. In the evening, we make our way back to Rabat for dinner and overnight accommodation.
An early start is essential today as we head southeast of Rabat to explore the King's hunting forest, the Zaers, in pursuit of the elusive Double-Spurred Francolin. This remarkable game bird can be heard calling calls from the tree stumps, offering a truly unique experience. We may also encounter other woodland species along our way such as The Black-Crowned Tchagra, Black-Shouldered Kite, Woodpigeon, Stock Dove, Greenfinch, Serin, Pied Flycatcher, Redstart, and Barbary Partridge.
In the afternoon, our itinerary take us the picturesque Atlantic coast, exploring lagoons and saltpans, including the excellent freshwater lake, Lac de Sidi Bourhaba. Here, we can anticipate spotting a variety of avian species including the Red-Knobbed Coots, as well as Marbled Duck and White-Headed Duck. The majestic Western Marsh Harriers can often be seen gliding over the reed beds gracefully. Our day concludes as we return to Rabat for dinner and overnight accommodation.
We start our day by driving southeast to Zaida, making our first stop in Azrou town to spot the fascinating Lesser Kestrel. Our 15 days Best morocco bird watching tours continues through the sceniv Middle Atlas Mountains, where we will explore key locations in search of the elusive Levaillant’s Woodpecker and Ruddy Shelduck. Among the Cedar Forests, we may also have the opportunity to spot a variety of bird species such as the Wood Lark, Firecrest, as well as local races of the Great Spotted Woodpecker, Coal Tit, and the iconic Barbary Apes.
In the evening, we reach Zaida for dinner and overnight stay.
We depart early starting with a search for the Dupont's Lark on the Zaida Plain, a challenging high-plains species which known to hide well among the tussocks.
In addition, we may catch sight of Thekla and Short-toed Larks . After breakfast, our journey progresses south towards the edge of the Sahara Desert where the possibility of observing Eurasian Crag-Martin, Desert Lark, and Black and White-crowned Wheatears that call this region home. The ZiZ Valley also offers a scenic stop, where we may have the chance to find the Rock Bunting and Blue Rock Thrush.
After an exciting series of stops, finally arriving to the desert hotel in Merzouga for a well deserved break where we will stay for two nights. Dinner and overnight accommodation.
We will spend two full days dedicated to exploring the breathtaking landscapes of the Erg Chebbi dunes, palm groves, wadis, and the nearby stony desert. This area is known for being the largest dune system in the country and home to several key target bird species, and we will have the opportunity to search for them in a relaxed and thorough manner.
One of our primary targets is the striking Desert Sparrow, iconic species in these stark desert surroundings. We will also be on the lookout for other noteworthy species such as Pharaoh Eagle-Owl ("guyuin"), Fulvous Babbler, Greater Hoopoe Lark, African Desert Warbler, and Brown-necked Raven. As we explore the area, we may chance upon seasonal lakes that attract numerous wildfowl and waders, offering a mesmerizing contrast against the backdrop of the desert landscape.
It will also be worthwhile to scan the skies for visible migration of storks and raptors soaring on thermals as they make their way north towards their breeding grounds. Additionally, species like Spotted and Crowned Sandgrouse, Lanner Falcon, Short-toed, Desert, and Bar-tailed Larks, Desert and Spectacled Warblers, Trumpeter Finch, and Southern Grey Shrike can also be found in this area.
Our visit will also present an excellent opportunity to locate the Egyptian Nightjar at its day roost.
Upon conclusion of our two full days of birding, we will return to Merzouga for well-deserved dinner and overnight stay.
After an early birdwatching session around our hotel in Merzouga, we will embark on our 15 days Best morocco bird watching tours westwards. Our first destination will be a site where we can actively search for Scrub Warbler, Spectacled Warbler, and Trumpeter Finch. Then we will make our way to Todra Gorge, a spectacular location known for its diverse bird population. Here, we may have the chance to spot Tristram’s Warbler, Black Wheatear, Blue Rock-Thrush, Rock Dove, Crag Martin, and if ee are fortunate, the rare Bonelli’s Eagle.
Next, we head to the Tagdilt Track, a rocky desert area situated at a relatively high altitude, where we will search for a variety of lark species: Thekla Lark, Desert Lark, Short-toed Lark, Thick-billed Lark, and Temminck’s Lark are all possibilities here, along with Desert and Red-rumped Wheatears.
After a day fulfiling day of birdwatching, we will conclude our journey in Boumalne Dades for dinner and overnight accommodation.
We start the day at Tagdilt Track once again, revisiting the area to search for any avian species we may have overlooked the previous day. Afterward, we head west, scanning the roadside stone deserts for the rare Maghreb Wheatear, a species indigenous for this region.
Before retiring to our hotel in Ouarzazate, we will make a stop to immerse in the beauty of the Barrage at Mansour Eddahabi. This site offers excellent birding opportunities to observe a diverse array of bird species, from Marbled Duck, Ruddy Shelduck, Black-winged Stilts, to Maghreb Lark. Additionally, cormorants, herons, and a variety of waders can be found here.
After a day of birding, we will head to Ouarzazate for dinner and overnight accommodation.
Today, we embark on a long drive westward, crossing the Anti Atlas Mountains and venturing into the Souss Valley on our way to Agadir. Throughout our drive, we will keep an eye out for various larks along the roadside, as well as wheatears.
In the picturesque Souss Valley, we may catch glimpses of Black-Crowned Tchagra, Laughing Dove, Cirl Bunting, and Spanish Sparrow, all adding to the diverse birdlife of the region. As we pass over the town of Taroudant, the sight of Little and Pallid Swifts soaring through the skies. After a day filled with bird-spotting adventures, we will finally arrive at our hotel in Agadir, where we will stay for the next three nights.
Dinner and accommodation will be in Agadir.
Early in the morning, we depart from Agadir and head north. Our itinerary is planned to maximize our chances of encountering sime of the most fascinating bird species in the region.Our first stop will be a beach, where we can observe a variety of Gulls species, including Lesser Black-backed Gulls of two races, Audouin’s Gulls, and a few Yellow-legged Gulls. We then proceed to Cap Ghir for a seawatch. Here, we will scan the vast expanse of the ocean in search of seabirds.
Our final stop for today is Tamri, where we will focus our efforts on searching for the critically endangered Northern Bald Ibis. As the day draws to a close, we will make our way back to Agadir.
Dinner and accommodation will be in Agadir.
Today, we head south of Agadir to explore the renowned Oued Massa along the Atlantic coast. Our main objective in the morning will to target several key bird species, including the secretive Black-Crowned Tchagra, Marbled Duck, Moussier’s Redstart, Sardinian Warbler, Little Owl, Ruddy Shelduck, Laughing Dove, and Brown-throated Martin.
In the afternoon, we make our way to Oued Souss, an exceptional area known for its abundant birdpopulation where we can expect to see Flamingos, Eurasian Curlew, shorebirds, and large numbers of roosting gulls and terns. After a full day of birding, we will return to Agadir for dinner and overnight accommodation.
This 15 days Best morocco bird watching tours transfer day marks the from Agadir to Marrakech, passing through the stunning High Atlas Mountains. Throughout this scenic route, we will make stops at some viewpoints for photos and short breaks to soak in the natural beauty of the landscape. Upon our arrival in Marrakech in the afternoon, you’ll have a free evening to explore the vibrant old quarter of Marrakech and visit the iconic Jemaa el-Fnaa square, where the vibrant atmosphere comes alive with snake charmers, water sellers, spice stalls, and bustling souks filled with unique treasures.
Optional activities are available, and the evening concludes with dinner and accommodation in Marrakech.
If the time permits, we can enjoy some final birding before heading to the airport for your departure.
Thank you for choosing Wild Lens Morocco for your birding adventure. We trust that you had an incredible experience exploring the birdlife and natural beauty that this region has to offer. If you have any specific preferences or would like to customize your itinerary, please do not hesitate to contact us directly. Our team is dedicated to ensuring that your experience is memorable and tailored to your needs.
Includes/Excludes
Includes
- Private A/C 4x4 or safari-ready van
- Expert local guide (English/Spanish)
- Custom stops for wildlife and viewpoints
- Overnight in 3 - 5 Stars hotels and Luxury camps
- Pick-up/drop-off at hotel or airport
- All breakfast available
- Free time for nature walks and exploration
Excludes
- Drinks and lunches not included
- Tips for driver, guide, and staff
- Personal expenses and extra activities not in itinerary