Tazekka National Park

Tazekka was created in 1950 around the summit of Jebel Tazekka at 1,980 metres and extended in 1989 to nearly 12,000 hectares, protecting cork oak on the lower slopes, holm oak above it, and a relict stand of Atlas cedar near the top - the north-easternmost cedar in Morocco. The circuit road from Taza runs through all of it and is the way to see the park in a day. The set piece is Friouato: a limestone shaft opening in the plateau, around thirty metres across and dropping about 180 metres, with a concrete stairway of some five hundred steps built down the side to a chamber at the bottom from which passages lead further into a system that continues well beyond the tourist section. It is cold, wet and slippery, and the climb back up is the hard part. The Ras el-Ma spring and the Zerarda gorge are on the same circuit.

History

The park was created in 1950 with just 6.8 square kilometres around Jbel Tazekka, at 1,980 metres, to protect its isolated grove of Atlas cedars, and in 1989 it was extended to nearly 120 square kilometres to take in cork and holm oak forest, canyons, caves and waterfalls (Wikipedia, Tazekka National Park).

What's there

• The Friouato shaft - a 180-metre limestone pot with about five hundred steps down it.
• Relict cedar - the north-easternmost Atlas cedar stand in Morocco, near the summit.
• A cork oak circuit - a road from Taza through all the park's forest belts.
• Gorges and springs - the Zerarda gorge and Ras el-Ma on the same route.

When to go

Spring and autumn. A day. Bring a torch and grip for the cave.

What to expect

The cave descent is five hundred wet slippery steps and the return climb is hard - it defeats people. Guides at the entrance are compulsory in practice and prices should be agreed. There is no lighting beyond the entrance chamber. Park signage is limited.

Nearby

Taza is north; the Rif runs west from the park.

Key facts