Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sleeping & Eating
Kasbah Timidarte
( 0668 68 00 47;
www.kasbahtimidarte.com
; d incl half board without/with bathroom Dh200/300)
For a
night, you can live much as kasbah inhabitants have for centuries: in seven mudbrick
rooms arranged around a central light well, with palm-frond mats and mattresses on floors.
Instead of TV, there's socialising under the stars on the roof terrace, next to a Berber bread
oven. Some improvements have been made since the 17th century - there's electric light
for reading and a couple of rooms have en-suite bathrooms.
Association members have taken to the task of cooking for guests with gusto, and home-
style Berber meals are a point of pride. It's 1km east of Rte de Zagora, 15km south of Ag-
dz.
KASBAH
€
TOP OF CHAPTER
Zagora
POP 35,100
The original, iconic 'Tombouctou, 52 jours' (Timbuktu, 52 days) sign featuring a nomad
with a smirking camel may have been swept away in an inexplicable government beautific-
ation scheme, but Zagora's fame as a desert outpost remains indelible. The Saadians
launched their expedition to conquer Timbuktu here in 1591, and desert caravans passing
through Zagora gave this isolated spot cosmopolitan character. These days Zagora remains
a trading post and meeting place, hosting a
regional souq
on Wednesdays and Sundays and
putting on a variety of lively festivals.
