River
summary:
Logistics:
Flew to Casablanca from Heathrow with Royal Air Maroc,
no problems with boats either direction, booked a
landrover with driver;
Company: Rediscover (www.rediscover.co.uk) Booked
with: Andy Scase, Tel: 08707 406 306 Fax: 08707 406
316 andy@rediscover.co.uk Local contact: Susan Haddouche.
Tel: 04 882 1015. They were professional and
excellent. Cost around 100UKP/day including fuel.
Long wheelbase landy could take 7(plus driver) at
a push, ideal for 6 with space for kit.
Good map: Hildebrandt's Roadmap of Morocco ISBN 3-88989-283-3
http://www.hildebrandts.de (has several minor roads
you need marked)
Guide: Marokko, Franz und Marlen Riegel, Pollner Verlag
1990, ISBN 3-925660-11-9 (kayak guide in german but
quite comprehensive).
Maroc: Oueds du moyen atlas, Canoe & Kayak Magazie,
1978 onwards (7 parts in french)
Additional river notes:
As always river information
is buyer beware. Grades are ours, real and on the
day.
Oum al Rbia
Flow: 20m²/s
Grade: II/III
Distance: 7km
Date: 21st March 2004
Paddlers: Frazer, Adrian, Helen, Tamsin, Fi, Stevie
Time: Start 16:00 Finish 18:00
Duration: 2hrs
Geology/Features: Arable land interspersed with cuttings
through old lava flows.
Put in: Cafe on river left (road right) just before
you get to El Borj
Take out: Obvious lay-by river left, just after big
red/white transmitter
Oum al Rbia
Flow: 10m²/s
Grade: III/IV(V+)
Distance: 15km
Date: 22nd March 2004
Paddlers: Frazer, Adrian, Helen, Tamsin, Fi, Stevie
Time: Start 11:30 Finish 17:00
Duration: 5hrs
Geology/Features: Lots of III drops packed together
with a couple at IV-. One portage (river left), bit
of a slog up the bank. Few km of gorge at the end.
Put in: Sources Oum al Rbia
Take out: Tanefnit (second bridge from top)
Oum al Rbia
Flow: 15m²/s
Grade: II/III(III+)
Distance: 25km
Date: 22nd March 2004 + 23rd March 2004
Paddlers: Frazer, Adrian, Helen, Tamsin, Fi, Stevie
Time: Start 17:00 Finish 19:20, plus 13:00 to 15:00
Duration: 4hrs
Geology/Features: Bimble through Arable land with
one narrow constriction through a lava flow close
to the end.
Put in: Tanefnit (see above)
Take out: Cafe on river left (road right) just before
you get to El Borj
Ahensal
Flow: 25m²/s
Grade: III/IV
Distance: 30km
Date: 24th-25th March 2004
Paddlers: Frazer, Adrian, Helen, Tamsin, Fi, Stevie
Time: Start 13:00 24th, finish 17:00 25th
Duration: 2 days (7hrs on river/lake)
Geology/Features: Awesome scenary / canyons. III/IV
for first 12km, then easing though narrow canyons.
Last 6km flat across lake (2.5 hours)
Put in: Tilougitte
Take out: Near to barrage (right as facing it from
lake) up landy track.
Ouzoud
Flow: 5m²/s
Grade: Yes(no)
Distance: 3km
Date: 26th March 2004
Paddlers: Frazer, Tamsin, Fi, Stevie
Time: Start 11:30, finish 15:00
Duration: 3hrs
Geology/Features: 3km packed with yes/no pooldrop.
Most 15ft-ish, one at 30ft, lovely piecemeal or seallaunch.
Most scenic put-on in the world ?
Put in: Cascade d'Ouzoud
Take out: see El Abid below
El Abid
Flow: 5m²/s
Grade: II/III
Distance: 8km
Date: 26th March 2004
Paddlers: Frazer, Tamsin, Fi, Stevie
Time: Start 15:30, finish 17:30
Duration: 2hrs
Geology/Features: 8km easing from pretty gorge to
agricultrural meanders.
Put in: see Ouzoud above
Take out: Tabia - village with communication mast,
river left
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