IN SEARCH OF BUTTERFLIES…
HIGH ATLAS MOUNTAINS, MOROCCO
Spring in Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains means snow on the high peaks, clear blue skies and lush green pastures abounding with flowers and butterflies. Naturetrek’s 8-day tour focuses on the butterflies, including the endemic Moroccan Meadow Brown, Scarce Swallowtail and African Babel Blue, birds, plants and other natural history of the region. Tour departs London 2nd June 2007.
10% of the proceeds from each tour is donated to Butterfly Conservation.
The holiday is based in the heart of the High Atlas foothills at the comfortable La Bergerie hotel in the village of Ouirgane. Daily walks of up to 10 kilometres (at a gentle pace and with frequent stops!) are made to nearby valleys and mountain passes to check out suitable butterfly and moth locations - during the 2006 trip a total of 45 butterfly species were recorded, many of them endemic and speciality types. The hotel grounds are home to a variety of butterfly, the commonest types including Bath White, Small White and Painted Lady. A walk to the nearby village of Merigha and on towards Oued Nfis, should yield sightings of Atlas Blue, Cleopatra and the impressive Scarce Swallowtail butterflies. During explorations in the nearby Azzaden Valley, a visit is made to a reserve established to protect the endangered Barbary sheep. Domestic sheep and goats are not permitted to graze here so plant life flourishes, providing a perfect breeding ground for butterflies. A trip to Oukaimeden, one of the higher regions of the High Atlas and most productive for butterflies, provides a change of habitat. The area is composed of granite and sandstone and at this time of year, carpeted with Southern Marsh Orchids and Star of Bethlehem. Vaucher’s Heath, Dark Giant Grayling and Marazine Blue butterflies can all be found here. A day spent exploring the Tizi n’Tamatert pass with its spectacular views, should provide sightings of Moroccan Copper, swallowtails and Moroccan Orange tip amongst the lush vegetation and conifer and walnut plantations. The area is also good for birds with Barbary Partridge, Moussier’s Redstart and Tristram’s Warbler amongst the specialities. The week concludes with a spot of retail therapy in the Berber market at Asni before heading back to Marrakech for the flight home.
The tour costs £985 p/p including scheduled flights, accommodation, all meals and expert naturalist guiding.
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