From Scorpions to the Frog Chorus


So I have finally left the deeper desert and moved 20km from the official ‘edge’ of the Sahara back into the High Atlas Mountains up the Todra George at an altitude of 1900m.  The river which flows through this impressive gorge feeds the underground aquifers and rivers under the Sahara and despite it being narrow, it is host to some great local farms; waking up to the noise of frogs and the almost overpowering smell of orange blossom is fantastic after the last week 😜

The photos of the local fauna also tell a story of the past few days from this critter I found down in a dried river bed 20m from where I camped yesterday to this frog (it was big, body around 10cm), which was in the palmerie just behind where I have stopped today….. apologies for the quality of the scorpion photo……it goes without saying I used the zoom to its max🫣 .  These things scare me! 



I also was lucky enough to see 2 North African Ostrich at a distance which was a real treat as I didn’t know their range extended this far north.  I later found out (how did we survive without Wikipedia), that there is a programme of reintroduction in Morocco as well as Algeria, Mauritania and Mali which has been going for the last 10+ years….i tried to take a photo but they were too far away☹️

I have gone for a walk up the gorge this afternoon, it is some sight which during summer is a mecca for climbers on the 300m plus sheer walls.   Truly beautiful.





I have also found another Landrover buddy from Poland so looking forward to talking defenders and all things bollox with him tonight over a plate of merguez😍






Location: Todra River, Morocco

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