Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
GOUFFRE DU FRIOUATO
Further along, 25km from Taza, the
Gouffre du Friouato
( 0668 57 61 94, 0666 01 47 90; ad-
mission Dh5, guide Dh200, protective clothing & headlamp Dh50; 8am-6pm)
is well signposted
and up a very steep road. The cavern is the main attraction of this circuit. At over 20m
wide and 230m deep, it is said to be the deepest cavern in North Africa, and the cave sys-
tem is possibly the most extensive. It was first investigated in 1935 and access is via 520
precipitous steps (with handrails) that lead you to the floor of the cavern. It's a strenuous
climb back up, but there's talk of installing a lift. At the bottom, you can squeeze through
a hole to start exploring the fascinating chambers that are found 200 more steps below. It's
dark and dirty and eerily beautiful. The most spectacular chambers, full of extraordinary
formations, are the
Salle de Lixus
and the
Salle de Draperies
. They do indeed resemble thin
sheets of curtains, frozen and calcified. Allow at least three hours there and back. Spele-
ologists have explored to a depth of 300m, but they believe there are more caves another
500m below.
The admission fee allows you to enter the cavern mouth at a depth of 160m. Beyond
that, a guide is needed to go further under-ground to the grandest chambers. Bank on the
occasional scramble, and squeezes through narrow sections; not recommended for claus-
trophobes. Overalls, nonslip overshoes and a helmet with lamp must be rented.
BACK TO TAZA
Beyond the Gouffre du Friouato, the road climbs into coniferous forests past . Abandoned
for much of the year, in summer holidaymakers fill its campsite and tiled alpine-style
houses. This is a good base for day hikes in the area. There's a new national park informa-
tion office, and several marked trails from an easy 1.4km to a more strenuous 17.3km.
The forests contain wild boar and deer, and Barbary sheep are being reintroduced.
About 8km past Bab Bou-Idir, a rough track branches off to the right 9km up to
Jebel
Tazzeka
(1980m). A
piste
goes to the summit, and it's a tough climb. At the top is a TV re-
lay station, and great panoramic views out to the Rif and the Middle Atlas.
After 38km, the main road joins the main Fez-Taza road at Sidi Abdallah de Rhiata. On
the way you will wind around hairpin bends through some dense woodland and then down
through the pretty gorges of the
Oued Zireg
. From the intersection at Sidi Abdallah de Rhi-
ata, take the main highway back east to Taza, pausing at
Tizi n'Touahar
on the way for
more views.
TOP OF CHAPTER
