Morocco Nomad Project - Volunteering in the Sahara Desert

Morocco Nomad Project – Volunteering in the Sahara Desert

Nomadic family Volunteer on the Nomad Project in Morocco and live with a family whose way of life has barely changed in thousands of years! Whether you are an adventurous student volunteer or a career breaker wanting to get away from it all and experience a very different culture, the nomadic families of the Moroccan Sahara will be ready to welcome you.

Five hours by road from Ouarzazate, the small town of M’Hamid edges onto the largest desert in the world. The Sahara’s nearly ten million square kilometres of sand is home to Moroccan nomads. After a night’s rest in M’Hamid under the stars, you will travel for about another five hours to meet your desert host family.Collecting water These travelling tribes herd camels and goats across the dunes in search of the most plentiful sources of water.

Many tourists travel to southern towns like Merzouga and spend a day or two driving around in air-conditioned vehicles. They may have a meal and spend the night in a bivouac tent. As a volunteer, living and working with the local people you can truly experience the lifestyle of this ancient civilization.

Volunteering on the Nomad Project in Morocco

As a volunteer you will be involved in a wide range of work and activities during your stay. These may include:

Meeting the goats

  • Caring for and milking the livestock
  • Helping to locate underground water sources and oases
  • Building the nomadic homes
  • Cooking bread and traditional meals in ovens under the sand
  • Mastering local Saharan handicrafts
  • Learning the local language and the songs of nomadic folklore

In sharing your life with a nomadic Moroccan family you may also wish to teach them the language, games, music, sport and arts of your homeland.

Some volunteers opt for do a Tamazight Language Project in the capital of Rabat for two or four weeks before embarking on their desert adventure.