Western Sahara Quick Guide

If you are planning a trip to Morocco, or Western Sahara, then you will most likely need a Western Sahara Travel Guide. All you need to do is choose the kind of places you want to include (restaurant, museums, et cetera). After you are finished, you can either download your own Western Sahara travel guide for your phone or ipad or just print it out as a PDF. Now here comes the important part! What do you write in your own guide?

First, what country should you include in your Western Sahara travel guide? It would be best to stick with pictures, because most people's senses will be more enhanced this way. If there is a town, it's good to put that in. You can also put information about hotels, resorts and things to do. There are many sources on the internet for these, but I'd recommend choosing those with photos because even the most visited tourist destinations in the world can look dull and boring when shown in black and white.

For Western Sahara, I would recommend the Tifaytoun and Tarife provinces. These two provinces are quite popular because of their interesting volcanic areas and their wildlife. Most likely, you'll also see a few pygmy hippos and white-tipped monkeys in these areas. These creatures are native to Western Sahara and are very friendly to humans, unlike some animals that live in the other regions of Western Sahara.

Speaking of national symbols, there are hundreds of them in the Western Sahara. Of course, most of them are used to identify the different tribes and different groups in the area, but there are a few national symbols that are unique to the Western Sahara. For example, the Taboulek is a five pointed star that represents the four main tribes in the Western Sahara Muslims, Berbers, Toubaklbi, Ismailis and Arabs. It is also used as an administrative insignia to identify government buildings and settlements.

Another unique national symbol is the "Sanur" this is a standing stone used to mark the border between Moroccan territory and the Western Sahara. This is a symbol of peace between the two countries. Another interesting type of marking used in Western Sahara is the "Tribal council" or "tribal law". This is a body that coordinates and makes decisions for the different groups within the territory and they consist mainly of men.

Interestingly enough, the Western Sahara does not have any type of constitution allowing for freedom of religion, press, education or political rights. This is why many people do not hesitate to call the western Sahara territory belonging to Morocco. However, some areas do have local customs and cultures, which have been adapted from Moroccan culture. It is these cultural values that have been preserved and are still being practiced today by the people of Western Sahara.

If you wish to travel to Western Sahara, it is best to travel by air. The main airports in Albufeira and Marrakech are located in Salifli, while Casablanca and Niamey are closer to Tangier. There are also small airports in Algiers, Ouarzazate and Sidi Bettache. The best time to visit these cities will be during the months of January and February when temperatures are moderate at these cities. However, the summer is a good time to visit Western Sahara, especially if you like warm weather.

There are many Western Sahara Travel Guide resources available online, which provide detailed information on all aspects of this area. The Guidebooks give an overall view of the various aspects of Western Sahara including sightseeing, accommodation, travel and transport and more. Some of the popular tourist destinations include Ait Benhaddou, Guellala, M'Hamid, Sahara Desert, Taurendal and Timbuktu. These cities are popular for their attractions such as the Sahara Desert, natural vegetation, desert landscapes, sand dunes and the tiniest settlements. The Western Sahara Travel Guide gives information about the different places that can be visited during this region of Morocco. It also explains about the history and the culture of Western Sahara, the reasons for travel to this part of Morocco and the various tourist sites that you can visit and see.

What vaccinations do I need?

Up to date information for vaccinations before you travel to Western Sahara are available from the NHS Fit for Travel website.

Is it safe to travel?

Best time to visit?

The middle-year months have very comfortable weather with high temperatures that are comfortable. These months see the least precipitation with about 0 days of precipitation per month. June – August is the second busiest season for tourism in Western Sahara, so lodging and other accommodations may cost slightly more.

Do I need a Visa?

British nationals visiting as tourists for up to three months do not need a visa. Make sure your passport is stamped when you enter the territory. Some tourists have experienced difficulties leaving the country because their passports had no entry stamp.

See which forms you may need for entry into Western Sahara.

What currency do i need?

The official currency of Western Sahara is the Moroccan Dirham (MAD). If you're looking to transfer or spend money in Western Sahara you can grab amazing Moroccan Dirham deals via Wise.com (GBP to MAD).

What about the wildlife?

Among the mammal species still found in the Sahara are the gerbil, jerboa, Cape hare, and desert hedgehog; Barbary sheep and scimitar-horned oryx; dorcas gazelle, dama deer, and Nubian wild ass; anubis baboon; spotted hyena, common jackal, and sand fox; and Libyan striped weasel and slender mongoose.

What is the traditional food?

Arabic food? Meifrisa is a traditional dish of the region. It's a stew prepared with rabbit, lamb or camel meat, onion, and garlic, served atop unleavened bread cooked in the sand. Ezzmit, cereals.

What Languages are spoken?

Modern Standard Arabic and Spanish, the former colonial language, are the official languages of the Polisario Front, based in Tindouf, Algeria. Hassaniya, an Arabic dialect, is the native language spoken in Western Sahara and in the refugee camps in Tindouf in Algeria. You can learn some basic Arabic before you travel to Western Sahara and really impress the locals!

How much do you tip?

The currency in Western Sahara is the Moroccan Dirham (97% of the people in the Western Sahara average tipping percentage in restaurants is between 10% to 15%. The actual tipping percentage is determind according to the level of service given in the restaurant and the tipping percentage can go above 10% if service was suberb or go under 15% if the service was bad).).

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Useful Numbers

  • Police: 150
  • Ambulance: 150
  • Fire: 150
  • UK Embassy: +212 (0) 537 633 333

Time Difference

The GMT time difference is 0 hours

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Learn Arabic

Learn some Arabic before your trip to Western Sahara


Western Sahara Guidebook

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