Best Tips for Khenifra national park, Lake Ouiouane, Aguelmam Azegza..: Your complete tourist guide N ° 1

Khenifra National Park

After Ifrane's National Park, here's its spatial continuation to cover the entire cedar forest: the Khenifra National Park! Created in 2008, it is the most recent national park in Morocco with an area of 200,000 hectares. This park is a spatial continuation of the Ifrane National Park, it is to cover the entire cedar forest, which is certainly the largest cedar forest in the world! Yes, it is not Lebanon but Morocco that has the largest cedar forest distributed between the National Park of Ifrane and the National Park of Khenifra.

📍Location

Khenifra National Park encompasses several provinces: Midelt, Boulemane, Ifrane and Khenifra.

🏞Lakes or Aguelmames

It is renowned for its many beautiful lakes. The Aguelmames (lake in Berber) even have cultural significance for the inhabitants of the region. The locals are inspired by the "beauty of these areas" for their dances, that of Ahidous for example, and have anecdotes and fables inspired by the dayas. Among these Aguelmames: Aguelmame Ouiouane, Aguelmame Sidi Ali, Aguelmame Azegza, Aguelmame Abekhan and Aguelmame Tighelmamine.

💧 Water tower

From an ecological point of view, like its neighbor Parc d'Ifrane, the place constitutes a main water tower for the country. It is crossed by the largest river in the country, Oum Rbii.

🌳 Flora

The Khénifra National Park is home to a very varied vegetation where the most important cedar grove in Morocco is mainly found, known as Ajdir Izayane, which forms with the cedar of Ifrane the largest cedar in the world.

🦁 Fauna

Iconic wildlife has "unfortunately" disappeared from the national park such as the striped hyena, the Atlas lion, or the leopard. The magot monkey is very present in the national park “as in Ifrane”.

💕The mix between the cedar grove, the Aguelmame and the sources of Oum Rbii give an exceptional heritage and natural value.

Ouiouane Lake

Nature lovers, this time I will take you to discover a little paradise: the magnificent Ouiouane lake adorned with a white coat in the snowy season. It is located in the province of Khenifra near Ain Leuh, at an altitude of 1600 m in the Middle Atlas and covers an area of 16 ha.

🚗How to get there

On leaving Azrou, take the road in the direction of Ain Leuh, then in Ain Leuh, take the direction of the Oum Rbii sources. Allow around 1 hour from Azrou to Lac Ouiouane.
After Ain Leuh, drive carefully (small mountain road with bends). And be particularly careful when it is snowing so that the car does not slip!
For our part, the Ain Leuh - Ouiouane section was closed because of the snow. We had to go as far as M’rirt and then go to Ouiouane via the Oum Rbii springs.

📣 -In period of snow, call your hostel before setting off to see which route to take -This region will experience an economic boom due to the road infrastructure due to the construction of the Tanafnit hydroelectric dam- Elbordj.

🏨Accommodation

There are two guesthouses in Ouiouane:
- Auberge Lac Ouiouane where j I stayed (I will talk about it in detail below)
- The family hostel at Hbibi from 250 to 300 dhs the heated double room with breakfast (the rooms do not all have private toilets).
-For camping enthusiasts, you can also set up your tents around the lake. 🏕

🏡Auberge Lac Ouiouane

If you are looking to recharge your batteries in the heart of nature in its raw state, I have found the ideal place for you: The Lac Ouiouane family inn 😍

📍Located just in front of Lac Ouiouane, considered one of the jewels of the Middle Atlas yet not very well known by tourists. At 1600 m altitude, this inn has a breathtaking view of this lake fed by natural springs and a small tributary.

🛏The rooms are very warm, heated, beautiful furniture, clean sheets, clean toilets and a hot shower.
4 types of rooms: single, double, triple and quadruple.
The price of a room double with half board is 500dhs 💰..You can call the owner M.Hammou on 0668 60 32 10 for more information.

🍽A very pretty heated restaurant with all glass windows with a magnificent view of the lake on one side and the valley on the other. It has a huge terrace. The cuisine is local and Moroccan. The meals were delicious.

🤸‍♀️Activities to do in Ouiouane

🔹 Go around the lake in a pedal boat: rental at 30dhs 💰 (cheaper than that you die 😛)
🔹Hiking around the lake and in the cedar forest: The place is perfect for hikers because the forest is side.
🔹Fishing: The lake is rich in fish such as pike, perch, carp, and roach. 🎣
🔹Discover other tourist sites in Khenifra National Park such as the Oum Rbia sources and Zaouite Ifran village.
🔹Discover the daily life of nomads

Sources Oum Rabii

Oum Rabii is the second river in Morocco, its source is located at an altitude of 1240 meters in the heart of the Middle Atlas in the Khenifra region, exactly 40 km from the city.

🔎You will discover the 40 sources of fresh water and 7 of salt water, which feed the Umm Rabii river, the largest of which cascades.

⛺️ Restaurant at Oum Rabii

On the banks of the river, huts have been built to accommodate visitors, you can rent one with a variable price according to your generosity (between 50 and 100 dhs 💰) for the day and savor a tagine (around 50dhs 💰) ), accompanied by mint tea, while watching, these tons of water pouring out powerfully, in a deafening rumble.

🤸‍♀️Activities to do in Oum Rabii

🌟Visit the waterfall next door with the possibility of taking a bath in summer, the passage to the waterfall is accessible, and if you have a little breath and strength, you could discover the sources of the waterfall at the top of the mountain .

🌟Just next to it you will find the cave of Oum Rabii, with a depth of some 15 meters, with pure water at the bottom. A landscape not to be missed for 5 DH.

🌟Magical places to discover on site, such as the river from the top of the mountain, the forest that surrounds it with cedar and oak trees.

Lake Aguelmam Azegza 

Wanna take a breath of clean air away from the hustle and bustle of big cities in a dazzling natural lake surrounded by cedar forest? Aguelmam Azegza is the right place for you. 

📌Located at an altitude of 1470m and spanning an area of 62ha. This picturesque lake is located in the middle of the middle Atlas cedar grove, Ajdir Izayane cedar grove in Khenifra National Park, 30km from the town of Khenifra.

🏞The beauty of the lake lies in its blue green color due to its location. It is landlocked and occupies a depressive area with a depth of 26m and is surrounded by predominantly cedar and oak forest with a background of limestone reliefs. Which gives it its splendid color.

☃️☀️The region experiences precipitation often in the form of snow, which can persist from December to March. The temperature can reach -5 ° C in winter and up to 31 ° C in summer, each season adds a special charm to the lake.

🍴 Makeshift huts along the lake offer tea, coffee and wood-fired tagines to summer visitors. Children on the road sell homemade bread.

🏨A huge lack of accommodation on site unless you decide to camp there or stay in one of the tents of a few Berber families who live there throughout the year.
Here is a contact: Ahizoun 0668341334

📣The lack of restaurants and hotels in the vicinity of the lake, may force you to spend only the day there

This rudimentary charming landscape limits the tourist potential of this site.

📣To remedy this, a reception area and parking for visitors are being opened.
In addition, a tourism project is about to be finalized. He understands :

- Rehabilitation of the road infrastructure (lake entrances / exits, pedestrian areas and hiking trails)
- Reinforcement of public lighting
- Development of parking spaces over an area of 9,500 square meters
- Construction of a multidisciplinary room, a room for primary health care, offices and shops dedicated to commercial activities.
- A vast afforestation operation
- Rest areas

♻️This ecological project was carried out according to modern standards while protecting the biodiversity of the lake. The building materials are inspired by trees that beautify the region and respect the environment such as stones, wood and clay.

🧑‍💼It also contributes to the socio-economic and professional development of the region, and this by creating jobs while enhancing the natural resources of the lake.

Lake Tiguelmamine 

Also in the Ajdir Izayane cedar grove of Khenifra National Park in the heart of the Middle Atlas, Lake Tiguelmamine is at an altitude of 1630m with a depth of 20m.

📍 It is an hour's drive from Aguelmam Azegza.

Nicknamed the glasses of the Atlas, Tiguelmamine is plural of Aguelmam which means lake in Amazigh.

Zaouiat Oued Ifrane

The village of Zaouiat Ifrane is a charming corner in the Middle Atlas at the very beginning of Khenifra National Park, located at an altitude of 1600 meters.

🏞The peculiarity of this green village is that it is dominated by a plateau irrigated by a spring and nestled at the foot of a karst cliff where marvelous waterfalls descend. 

📍Zaouiat Ifrane is located on the road connecting the community of Wadi Ifrane and M’rirt (⚠️ not to be confused with Zaouat Ifrane near Ifrane)

👨‍👩‍👦‍👦 Its inhabitants are Amazighs from the Middle Atlas, welcoming people, simple and generous people.

Hiking circuits to do:

🥾 Zaouiat Ifrane waterfalls: The easiest way is to take a 15-minute walk to the waterfalls through the alleys of the village surrounded by abundant water sources.

🥾 The top of the Cascades: a 1 hour hike to the top of the mountain overlooking the picturesque village of Zaouiat Ifrane. You would be amazed by the breathtaking view of the village, the Middle Atlas mountains and the cedar forest.

🥾Hawaii Waterfall and Natural Pool: This little-known natural spot is located at the end of Zaouiat Ifrane. Best place to swim in summer.
About 2 hours of walking, you have to cross the river so remember to bring adequate shoes… The trip is magnificent in the middle of the valley

Accomodation in Zaouiat Ifrane

📍Gîte Ain Ifrane 

The cottage is located in the heart of the green village of Zaouiat Ifrane dominated by its wonderful waterfalls that tumble down from the top of the cliff.

🏨This is a colorful and well decorated house in the heart of the village. The roof terrace has a panoramic view of the waterfalls and the whole forest around. The lodging is very clean and very well placed for the departures of excursions in a sublime nature.

💰 Amazigh rooms with full board (dinner + lunch + breakfast) at 250dhs per person per night. More than reasonable price / quality ratio !!

🍽Restoration: 

The Zaouiat gîte offers excellent Moroccan gastronomy.
Everything is local and the meals were varied.
Frankly, the food is divine. Everything is tasty ! I think this is the best place to eat in Morocco! 🤤

🤵‍♂️The cottage is managed by Noureddine and the majority of the work is done by beautiful women from the same family (mother sister in law ...).
We are well received by everyone. You quickly feel at home.

📞 Here is his number: 0659378773

Read more about my trip to the High Atlas : Zaouiat Ahansal, Taghia, Ait Bouguemaz…

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