Campsites morocco

He!
End of august im going to Morocco for about 3 weeks. I (we) have already booked the flight and a rental car. I want to drive from Marrakesh through the Atlas. Is it a good idea to go camping and does anyone know where to find a list with campsites in Morocco? The lonely planet of Morocco doesn't pay much attention to camping and camp sites.
Thanks!
Willem

Hello Willem,
not so much on the net, but I publish a camping guidebook with more than 230 campsites in Morocco, included are free locations, where people just stay overnight. But in German.

And yes, it is a good idea. 10 years ago campings were very basic, but there is a big improvement now, beautiful places, good sanitary. Many of them also offer little bungalows or rooms, so it would be a good idea for the LP to pay attention.

Hello Edith,
thanks for your reply! That camping guidebook you will be publishing sounds very interesting! In fact, im Dutch and I'll be going with a German friend at the end of august, so the fact that the guidebook is in German is not a problem. When will it be published?
Regards,
Willem

You can buy them from her website, must go to the German version.

#1 Dear Edith, I am very pleased that someone has put this together. The majority of my trips (see Profile) have been with overland camping/truck companies and I often ask why none of them (actually read: very, very few!) appear to have camping trips in their brochures. I was told by one driver that there were not enough suitable places. I asked what about the similar programs in India where bush camps were used with the supplies sourced from the last village or major town stop and then restocked at the next one. Not all my overnight stops in India were in bush camps – the plan was a bush camp and then either a location in a regular camping ground with facilities OR a hotel with large enough grounds for the truck AND tents with easy access to the Driver’s hotel room for use of the shower and toilet. Another driver on the North Africa/West Africa route explained that there were very few hotels with secure grounds in Morocco which would replicate my India experience. I will recommend your book to my Overland company contacts and hope that something (ie. their camping!) itineraries can be expanded. I have also asked the same companies WHY so few of them don’t do Morocco trips in the northern winter but that is another query!.

Have just returned from spending 2 months travelling around Morocco in a small van. We used campsites all along the way and although the quality varies greatly it is a very cheap and comfortable way to visit the country. I would say that a guidebook is not indispensable. We bought the Moroccan campsite bible (in French only) called the Guide Gandini (http://www.lemarocencampingcar.com/accueil_achat.htm) but left it on the kitchen table when we left... However we managed without it and it was never a problem. We always met people along the way who recommended good addresses. Also, you can be fairly certain that if you are planning to head for the main tourist centres you will be spoilt for the choice of campsites.
The only thing I would really recommend is a good mattress if you are intending to sleep in a tent. The campsites are mainly designed for the hordes of camping cars which spend the winter months down that way, therefore the surfaces tend to be hard and stony.
Good luck with the trip