Photo
Taourirt Kasbah, Ouarzazate, Morocco by Reino Baptista/Wikimedia
Morocco,
located in North Africa, is a fascinating place. Its cities, like Casablanca,
Fez and Marrakech, are well-known for their touristic interest. However,
Morocco has some slightly less-known attractions, some of which feature
in Hollywood films.
Take
a brief tour of three of these attractions below, including the tree goats
of Morocco, "The Hills Have Eyes" gas station and the Merenid Tombs of
Fez.
1. The
Tree Goats of Morocco
The Argania
tree in itself is nothing much to look at, but is a protected species these
days due to clear-cutting and over-farming. The reason for its being is
the annual fruit crop and it’s not only humans that enjoy the fruit.
Photo:
Dubai Miracle Garden by Tim
Adams CC BY 2.0
Each
year in the Sous Valley of southwestern Morocco, there is an amazing sight.
Goats are seen standing in the trees making a strange rural scene. This
happens during June, as the fruit ripens. Farmers don’t prevent the goats
from jumping up into the trees, but they do keep them away until the fruit
fully ripens. One benefit of the tree goat practice is all that lovely
mature the goats leave at the foot of the tree. In their leavings, farmers
collect the clumps of seeds left behind, which they press to create Argan
oil. The rest of the manure feeds the roots of the trees.
Atlas
Obscura does warn visitors that sometimes farmers tie the goats to
the trees, leaving them out in the hot sun all day. They recommend that
should you spot this happening, you should immediately leave to let the
farmers know that animal cruelty is not on.
2.
'The Hills Have Eyes' Gas Station
There’s
a little bit of Hollywood in the deserts of Morocco. In 2006 a horror film
was released called “The Hills Have Eyes.” Part of the film set was an
American gas station, still sitting there to this day on the highway outside
Ouarzazate. In the film, people arriving at the gas station were encouraged
to take a horrific “shortcut.”
Photo:
Photo STORYTRENDER/YouTube
The
gas station looks really eerie, but it also looks like the real thing at
first sight. Besides the weather worn sign, there are abandoned, rusting
cars on the site. Creepy puppets have been placed in unexpected spots to
give visitors a fright. There’s even a diner, but don’t expect to buy a
snack. However, a visit inside will reveal a whole load of discarded film
props. Have a virtual look at the gas station in the YouTube video below.
3.
The Merenid Tombs of Fez
When visiting
Fez, the Merenid Tombs are a must-see sight. The tombs are set above the
northern walls of the Medina and date back to the 14th century. The skeletal
remains of the tombs mark the final resting places of the Merenids, however
much of the decorative features are gone. Despite this, the view from up
there is amazing, with a vista showing the Fez Medina and the city itself.
Bear
in mind that the hillsides also contain many man-made caves, which serve
as homes for the poorer people of the city. Visiting late at night is dangerous,
as the tombs are well-known for muggings of tourists.
The
best and safest way to see this and other unusual sights is to join a tour
group. Zayan Travel
can create the perfect private tour for you, based on your particular interests.
