Africa

Here’s looking at you, Morocco!

“Don’t bother visiting Casablanca,” said the travel bloggers, “It’s just a political hub and not worth seeing other than perhaps the Mosque.” “You can give Tangier a skip – it’s run-down and there’s little to see”. “Rabat is easily missable, it’s just another capital city.” “Marrakesh. Meh…overrun by tourists and tauts.” I’m grateful for this mis-guidance because it

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The colour of grief: Burying the dead in Morocco

Morocco is synonymous with colour. Cities glow with burnt yellows and rich rusts; deep majorelle blue; verdant roof tiles. The towering spice displays in the souqs are a kaleidoscope of ochre, burgundy, mustard, cherry and khaki. However, this abundance of colour is completely removed when it comes to the colours of death and mourning. Traditionally,

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Fès, Morocco – “Athens of Africa”🇲🇦

“Many destinations are interesting, but few are truly intriguing—for intrigue requires mystery; something fascinating, yet not immediately obvious. Fez, the oldest of Morocco’s imperial cities, very much fits that description: It’s hypnotic, idiosyncratic, and often confounding.”  Conde Nast Traveller, Lindsay Cohn; April 11, 2022 Fès is the second largest city in Morocco after Casablanca, with

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A road trip through Morocco: Part 1 – Southbound

Mountains, big mountains, even bigger mountains; sparse open plains extending to the horizon; lush green palmerai;  ochre desert sands; crashing waves. We had spent so much time investigating the glorious cities of Morocco, we had given little thought to what we we would experience on the road. Tangier to Chefchaouen After the 3rd stall exhibiting 100’s of tagines and

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Chefchaouen – the “Blue Pearl” of Morocco 🇲🇦 

Chefchaouen, is one of the most mesmerising cities we’ve ever visited. A quaint and picturesque, ancient city tucked high into the north-eastern Rif mountains, perhaps it’s the relative inaccessibility that has the “Blue City” as one of Morocco’s better-kept secrets. It’s somewhat out of the way (the trip takes about four hours from Fez and

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Rabat

Stepping through the arched exit of Rabat Ville Station, we are immediately struck by the spaciousness. Bright green lawns surround a cascading fountain with a wide, palm lined avenue leading away between the art deco buildings on either side. It is pristine, calm and inviting, and we immediately feel a connection. We don’t have our bearings

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Sailing from Madagascar to Richards Bay, South Africa

I glimpse the moonlit road through gaping holes in the floorboard as we career through villages nestled in the tropical vegetation, dark shadows clustered around cooking fires, thumping music temporarily drowning the clatter. There is a bone jarring crash as the taxi hits yet another pothole. Conversation is impossible, so I am still in the

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