Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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Don't hitchhike.
Safety Precautions
Crimes against women remain extremely rare. More common is verbal abuse from both men and women. In
places that have seen a large influx of tourists in recent years, problems can occur. For example, we've re-
ceived reports of physical harassment at music festivals in Essaouira.
Women travellers should take a few sensible precautions:
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Never compromise your safety for the sake of economy.
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Don't wander about alone at night, as there's an attitude that all 'good women' should be at home after
dark; take a taxi.
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Don't walk alone in remote areas like isolated beaches, forests and sand dunes.
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Wearing dark glasses is good for avoiding eye contact, but don't spend your entire Moroccan journey hid-
ing behind them.
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Don't react with aggression - it could be returned in kind. A good-humoured
non merci
or
la shukran
('no
thank you') is much more effective than abuse.
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The key word to use is 'respect', a concept that most Moroccans hold dear.
Hashouma!
('shame!') can
also be used to embarass would-be harassers.
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A wedding ring may help you avoid unwanted attention - along with a photo of your 'husband' and
'child'. The fact that you're travelling without them will arouse suspicion, but you could counter this by
saying you'll be meeting them at your next destination.
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Many Moroccan men aren't too concerned whether you're married or not. They may insist they're just be-
ing friendly, and might even invite you home to meet their mother.
Work
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With huge unemployment and a largely out-of-work youthful population, Morocco isn't fertile ground for
job opportunities.
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A good command of French is a prerequisite and some Arabic would help.
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If you secure a position, your employer will have to help you get a work permit and arrange residency,
which can be a long process.
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There are more volunteering opportunities.
