While traveling from Fez to Erfoud by bus, my tour group encountered a troop of Barbary Apes. Also known as Macaques, or magots, the primates are unique in Africa. These apes reside in the Atlas mountains located in Morocco and Algeria, the only place they are known to exist outside of Asia. This was an unscheduled stop on our tour, but our bus driver pulled to the side of the road at the urgent pleading of our fellow passengers. We all wanted to get out and see the apes.
The apes did not seem to mind our stopping, although they kept a fair distance from us. Not far, but out of arms reach. There were a couple of mama apes, with their black babies tightly wrapped to their chest who were also curious at our arrival. I was surprised at how close the nursing mothers got to us. We were able to get some awesome photos and great video. Although my video was out of focus a couple of times and my wife's video was shot upside down. Any recommendations for turning an ipad video 180 degrees?
A few facts. Macaques rear children in alloparental care, meaning that the males help rear the children. While they are called Barbary Apes, they are actually monkeys. Which is why I referred to them as a troop rather than a shrewdness. (Also, I didn't know that a group of apes were called a shrewdness until I looked it up)! The Barbary Ape lives to be between twenty-five and thirty years old, with the females generally outliving the males by several years.
Traveling can be rewarding in the most unexpected ways. With a full itinerary, you have a pretty good idea of what you are going to see when you travel. Even if it is different than what you anticipate. But the joy of unexpected experiences like this one make travel all the more exciting. Having the opportunity to interact with monkeys in the wild, when you didn't even know there were monkeys in Africa, was special! I will leave you with a few more photos of the monkeys. If anyone has suggestions for flipping a video 90 and/or 180 degrees, let me know and I will add some video!
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If you find yourself traversing the Mid-Atlas Mountains in Morocco, watch for the Barbary Apes! You are in for a rare treat.
All photos are my own. They may be reproduced with prior permission.
Travel Resources for your trip to Morocco
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Flights: We recommend checking Kiwi.com to find the best and cheapest flights to Morocco.
Accomodation: Explore the best places to stay in Morocco on Booking.com, Agoda and Hostelworld.
Travel Insurance: Medical emergencies abroad can be pricey, but travel health insurance is not. We always use SafetyWing for affordable and reliable coverage.
Car Rental: For hassle-free car hiring, DiscoverCars is our trusted choice with a wide selection of vehicles.
Internet: Got an eSIM compatible phone? Airalo is perfect for reliable internet access during your trip. Just install it before you go, and you're set!
Day Trips & Tours: We recommend GetYourGuide for a variety of well-organized and enjoyable activities.
Travel Planner: Need a hand planning? Our free travel planner chatbot is your personal guide to Morocco. Chat now.
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