Tan-Tan Moussem

The moussem at Tan-Tan began in 1963 as the annual gathering point for nomadic groups of the Sahara and the south - tents pitched together for several days of trading livestock and goods, camel racing, poetry contests, singing, tbourida, dispute settlement and marriages between families who are dispersed the rest of the year. It stopped in 1979 and was not held for about twenty-five years; it was revived in 2004 and was inscribed on the UNESCO intangible heritage list the same year, one of the earliest such inscriptions. That timing means it is a deliberately reconstructed event as much as a continuous one, which is worth knowing. What happens is a large tented camp with several dozen groups represented, competitions, crafts and performance, over several days. Dates move, the site is remote, and information reaches the outside world late.

What you actually see

• A tented gathering - dozens of Saharan groups camped together for several days.
• Camel racing and poetry - competitions alongside trading and craft.
• A revived tradition - stopped in 1979 and restarted in 2004 after a long gap.
• A UNESCO inscription - listed as intangible heritage in the same year it was revived.

When to go

Usually spring or early summer; dates are set locally and announced late. Two to three days.

Honest expectations

Dates move every year and are published late. Tan-Tan is remote and accommodation is minimal - many visitors camp. The event is partly reconstructed rather than continuous. Summer heat in the region is severe.

Nearby

The Naila lagoon and Khnifiss park are south along the coast.