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Travelling to Merzouga from South Africa
Travelling from South Africa? Here are the essentials for your trip to Merzouga.
Flights from South Africa
There are currently no direct flights; popular routes from Johannesburg or Cape Town go via Doha, Dubai, Istanbul or Addis Ababa to Casablanca or Marrakech. Allow about 17–23 hours of travel each way.
Entry rules
South African passport holders need a visa for Morocco. Apply at the Moroccan Embassy in Pretoria well ahead; if you hold a valid multiple-entry Schengen, UK or US visa, you may qualify for the 30-day eVisa instead. Your passport needs 6 months’ validity.
Money
Prices in rand are a guide; the 15% deposit is charged in euros by PayPal and the rest is paid in Merzouga. R1 ≈ 0.59 MAD.
Seasons
Seasons are reversed: your autumn (April) and spring (September–October) holidays match the best desert weather.
Good to know
Morocco is 1 hour behind South Africa (2 hours during Ramadan). Bring an adapter for Type M plugs; two-pin Type C plugs fit Moroccan sockets.
Getting the shot
Golden hour in the dunes is spectacular; keep your camera in a zip bag between shots.
