Why
Morocco?
Morocco; the gateway to
Africa, is a melting pot of languages, cultures with ancient
traditions, as well as classic and modern architecture of French,
Spanish, Arab and Berber influence which represents the country's
rich and varied history.
This is a diverse
country, from the Mediterranean influenced north, the coastal
plains along the Atlantic coast to the west, the mighty snow-capped
Atlas Mountains to the east and the sand & scrub of the Sahara
Desert to the south. Here you will meet the exotic and the
familiar, take in the contrast between ancient Medina and Ville
Nouvelle, feel the hospitality and warmth of your hosts; all adding
up to make Morocco an intense, enthralling and rewarding
experience. This is a country people return to again and
again.
Moroccan Climate
Morocco is a large
country with a varied climate and landscape. The attraction of both
the interior cities and villages in addition to the resorts along
the coast means that Morocco is a year-round tourist
destination. There really isn't an "off" season as such,
just different tourists coming at different times with different
interests. The only time that you are going to really
find things closed in Morocco, aside from the public holidays, are
during Ramadan or other religious festivals such as Eid-Fitr (just
after Ramadan) and Eid Kbir.
Morocco's climate is
very diverse, varying with the season and region. In general the
country has a tropical climate, with temperatures reaching as high
as 35°C (95°F) and as low as 5°C (41°F) in the Sahara. The coast
has a warm, Mediterranean climate tempered on the eastern coast by
southwest trade winds whilst inland areas have a hotter, drier,
continental climate. In the south of the country, the weather is
very hot and dry throughout most of the year, though temperatures
can drop dramatically at night; especially in the months of
December and January.
Morocco's History
The Kingdom of Morocco
is the most westerly of the North African countries known as the
Maghreb - "the West". It has Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines,
a rugged mountain interior and a history of independence not shared
by its neighbours. The culture is a blend of Arab, Berber, European
and African influences.
Morocco was a French
protectorate between 1912 and 1956. Since independence, Morocco has
remained relatively stable and wields significant influence in both
Africa and the Arab world. In 1975, Morocco annexed the former
Spanish colony of Western Sahara. Since then it has been the
subject of a long-running territorial dispute between Morocco and
its indigenous Sahrawi people, led by the Polisario Front.
