Camping practicalites

[barneydinosaur]

A mate and I are off to Morocco in September and we’re slowly starting to think about the kit we’re going to take. We’ll be flying ( to Marrakech) and renting XR250s and so a bare minimum of kit is the order of the day. There’s a possibility that we might (kit) budget for a bit of wild camping in the more remote corners for the flexibility that it potentially gives (rather than any cost saving..).

The trouble is that I’ve no experience of desert camping and I’d like to take a tarp/bivi bag rather than a tent for weight/volume reasons.

Does anyone know of any issues with doing this? I’m especially thinking of the local venomous wild life. i.e. is a tent with sewn-in ground sheet a good idea, essential or not really needed?

 

[Tim Cullis]

I've used just a tent footprint and sleeping mat.

 

[barneydinosaur]

I've used just a tent footprint and sleeping mat.

That's worth knowing. Thanks

 

[Steptoe]

I’m especially thinking of the local venomous wild life.

You must be thinking of the locals . And believe me they'll find you no matter how secluded you think you are.

 

[Stewart H]

You must be thinking of the locals . And believe me they'll find you no matter how secluded you think you are.

I suppose a tent provides better protection against being stabbed in the kidneys too

Stewart

 

[Robin B'stard]

You must be thinking of the locals . And believe me they'll find you no matter how secluded you think you are.

I know exactly what you mean. I doesn't matter where you stop whithin minutes someone turn up. Where the hell they come from I don't know. In some places you can see no one for miles. You stop for two minutes and there's someone in your face. Gets to you after a while.

The only place we didn't get bothered was an old goat shed at the top of Tizi Ouano where we spent a cold uncomfortable night cos it got dark on us.

 

[de crowe]

if you don't mind me asking, who are you renting the bikes from?

 

[Tim Cullis]

Wild camping last April. However as it was at 7000ft and there was no cloud cover at night it was freezing.

Here I'm using an Exped down sleeping mat which helps prevent the cold from the ground. My purple sleeping bag is inside the black breathable waterproof bivi.

The tent footprint creates a 'clean' area--take your boots off once you are on it--and once you're settled in the bag at night you can wrap the other half of the footprint over you. Whilst this sounds quite workable the reality is that there's considerable heat loss by not having the still air environment of a tent.

If I was planning on camping at that time of year I'd take a tent next time. At just £30 the Gelert Mongoose is a two-person lightweight (2.9kg) small packsize (50x17) tent that can be used inner-only on hot nights.

 

[Timolgra]

Using a tent in many parts of Morocco without a footprint will wreck the floor, if you don't have or can't get one use a piece of heavy duty plastic sheet from a builders yard and cut it to shape with a knife

Dry river beds can offer a less lumpy surface...but be aware of flash floods or somewhere sandy

 

[barneydinosaur]

if you don't mind me asking, who are you renting the bikes from?

Loc 2 Roues.

I can't say yet whether they're any good as yet...we'll see.

 

[barneydinosaur]

Thanks, Tims

 

[sopwith camel]

We had a nightmare with the locals hassling us for the first couple of days everywhere we tried to camp in the rural lowlands north of Fez. Total nightmare. Then we decided to go for altitude... hardly saw a soul all day and total peace and quiet at night. We camped in the Ifrane National Park - bliss. My tip... aim high, quite literally, if you want hassle free camping. Just make sure you have a decent sleeping bag Tent over bivi everytime. A decent sized 2 man between two of you will be a doddle... Shopping at local stores allowed 3 of us to live comfortably for less that £5 a day!!

 

[Marzz]

A mate and I are off to Morocco in September and we’re slowly starting to think about the kit we’re going to take...

When in September are you guys going to be there if you don't mind me asking? I booked a last minute trip a week before I have to go to France and I am planning on renting from the same place. It'd be nice if there was a possibility to tag along depending on your route.

 

[barneydinosaur]

When in September are you guys going to be there if you don't mind me asking? I booked a last minute trip a week before I have to go to France and I am planning on renting from the same place. It'd be nice if there was a possibility to tag along depending on your route.

Flying out on 7th to pick up the bikes on 8th. We intend being back in Marrakech on the 17th.

We haven't planned a route as yet but will probably start by heading south and then in a roughly anti-clockwise circle past the ergs cigagga and chebbi to arrive back in Marrakech probably via the Todra and Dades gorges. We'll adjust daily milages based on newly aquired experience and what we find to see en route. This is very much a first taster trip.

You're wecome to tag along if that's your fancy. We will have sleeping bags and a 2 man tent but otherwise a bare minimum of kit - not bothering with cooking gear. Chances are we'll use accommodation most of the time tho.

 

[sopwith camel]

not bothering with cooking gear

?? A small stove - something like a micro Trangia or a petrol burner - is a god send. Pack some 'boil in the bag' pro-hiking meals, and perfect for roadside lunch / evening meal / if required with minimum of space. Also handy for knocking up a roadside brew...

 

[barneydinosaur]

not bothering with cooking gear

?? A small stove - something like a micro Trangia or a petrol burner - is a god send. Pack some 'boil in the bag' pro-hiking meals, and perfect for roadside lunch / evening meal / if required with minimum of space. Also handy for knocking up a roadside brew...

The bag I'm putting in the hold of the plane is big enough already (helmet, boots and jacket plus knee armour are hugely bulky) and that's without any cooking gear. I'm not keen to add to it with exra kit that will only be used once or twice and is, frankly, optional.

In the UK and Europe I use a supercat meths burner but the fuel for these is not air-portable and I don't fancy my chances of finding some on the other side.

I don't have a petrol burner and it's not woth buying one for this trip.

 

[STUBBS]

tarp and a sleeping mat