Private Discovery - Animal Park Souss Massa 4x4

The Addax is an antelope who lives in a troop in the sandy desert. It performs long migratory movements with the pastures that are born randomly from the rainfall. The wild numbers are very small and distributed by spots in the southern Sahara. This species disappeared from Morocco in 1956 because of poaching and intensive hunting. It is classified in the category: "in danger of extinction".
Length: 110 - 130 cm / Height: 95 - 115 cm / Weight: 60 - 125 kg

The Dama Gazelle is the largest of the gazelles, the fastest also since it can exceed 100 km / h peak. It is also a very fierce animal that flees over long distances. It is rare and localized south of the Sahara, threatened by poaching, this species is classified in the category: "in danger of extinction".
Length: 140 - 165 cm / Height: 90 - 120 cm / Weight: 40 - 75 kg

The Red Neck Ostrich, the biggest bird on the planet does not fly, but it can run for 50 km at a speed of 30 km / h! The ostrich has the largest eyes of all terrestrial vertebrates (5 cm in diameter). Its food consists mainly of vegetables, and 3 to 4 kg of fresh material are needed for its daily ration. The subspecies "red-necked" is confined south of the Sahara, it is different from that evolving in southern Africa. The Ostrich disappeared from Morocco in 1945, it is considered "endangered" in its range.
Height: 220 - 250 cm / Weight: up to 150 kgOryx is the largest antelope of the semi-desert regions of the Sahara, its horns can exceed 1m in length. It occurs only sporadically throughout its range, and only Chad populations appear to be nearly viable. This species disappeared in Morocco in 1973, it is classified in the category "critically endangered"
Length: 160 - 175 cm / Height: 110 - 125 cm / Weight: 180 - 200 kg

Gazelle Dorcas, this little gazelle is mostly seen in family groups. It is especially active outside the hot hours of the day. It is the most widely distributed species on the Sahara, but always in a localized way because of the poaching of which it is the object. It is classified in the category "threatened"
Length: 90 - 110 cm / Height: 55 - 65 cm / Weight: 15 - 20 kg

We continue to arrive on the road of the fishing village Tifnit .. stop photos and a small hike on the beach to appreciate the nature, small motor boats and fish, then continue to the village of Sidi Rbat .. by a track sand along the wild Atlantic coast .. (20km & 2h of track).

These troglodyte houses, dug in the cliff facing the ocean, is a shelter for fishermen and allows them to stay for a few days at the edge of the ocean and fish and also keep their equipment and belongings by their side, then leave once a week to see their family in the village further. Beautiful natural landscapes. A tea break is nice.

Mouth of Oued Massa & Souss Massa National Park
The Bald Ibis, a species in danger of extinction and one of the most endangered bird species in the world. Formerly, widely distributed around the Mediterranean basin and until Egypt where it symbolized the splendor for the contemporaries of the pharaohs. He was also present in Europe where he was still nesting in the Alps in the 16th century. Over time, numbers of this species have gradually declined due to hunting, agricultural development and widespread use of pesticides. The last colony of the old continent disappeared in Turkey in the 1970s. In Morocco, 40 colonies were known at the beginning of the 20th century, but at present, only 4 breeding colonies are listed in the Kingdom, including 3 in the Souss National Park. Massa with a total population of less than 500 individuals, currently represent the bulk of the wild population of this iconic bird on the planet.

We cross the village Sidi Rbat to go down to the mouth of the wadi massa, to find a beautiful lagoon where meets the wadi massa and the Atlantic Ocean, it is a part of the National Park of Souss Massa. Privileged place of many species of migratory birds and also the last refuge of the ibis bald .. it is the mouth of oued massa which generously offers this greenery in the middle of a desert landscape .. that makes us a beautiful contrast.

Dam Youssef Ben Tachefine
Photo stop at the highest point of the rock to admire the dam and discover this lake with a capacity of 300 million cubic meters in the middle of this desert space.

The city of Tiznit is located 100 km south of Agadir, a small town surrounded by 6 km of ramparts .. It is known throughout the country by its craftsmen who make silver jewelry .. we make a visit of the Silver Jewelry Factory (optional step), to discover the work of craftsmen jewelers .. and a small tour of the walls and the interior of the Medina by car, then we return quietly to Agadir.