Hidden Morocco rafting

I have recently returned from an incredible school trip with Water by Nature. We had booked a week of rafting down the Ahansal River in the lower Atlas mountains, as well as a little hiking and a cookery class in Marrakech. Seven curious adventurers signed up to come and do something completely different during their Easter break.

Within minutes of setting off with Hamish we were all assigned chores and tasks which engaged and entertained us for the entire week. Each one, however small or challenging, was essential to our adventure unfolding. There was little time to debate or argue and Hamish dusted all his directives with much humour, great stories and loads of positive affirmation. ‘Help me carry the raft frame from the trailer to the river’s edge please and then together we can attach it to the raft you have inflated so brilliantly. I shall show you how to use these tie-downs properly. Can you please make us all sandwiches for our journey today – everything you need is in the cooler box. If you can, please collect firewood for our fire tonight, go and look downstream and see what you can find. Can you chop us three onions and peel all the potatoes in that bag for dinner. Tents need to go up, could you both crack on with that – doing it pairs always makes the job go quicker and is more fun. I need you to fetch water, filter it through that muslin bag and then put it through the purifier to fill that container – everyone will need fresh water for tonight, so your job is really important’.

There was always a hive of activity. Throughout our adventure, everyone had a chore to do and it was varied, valued and important. In our ‘efficiency’ we left behind the whole box of cutlery at our base way below our start point on the river. Hours later, preparing dinner, we realised what had happened. After a pause, a raised eyebrow and a foot shuffle, one of our pupils broke the silence and said ‘I am off to make myself a fork to eat my dinner’. We had a great time re-creating a finger menu from the food we had packed. Great hilarity washed over dinner as we ate our food with our home-made misshapen wooden forks, served dinner using small bowls and used our one and only chopping knife to dish up hot chocolate into our mugs. Twenty four hours later, while passing through a very remote village, we bought some cheap knives and spoons that only bent and broke throughout the rest of our trip – proving to be superfluous anyway. We had the joy of having a ‘forkless’ trip and can proudly say that they are actually an over-rated utensil! We had downtime too – chats around the fire, over the kettle boiling, in between rapids on the river, under the stars as we brushed our teeth. The best downtime was with Mostafa and his family in the remote village of Tilougguite, who invited us all into his home for mint tea and toasted almonds.

I observed our young adventurers busy and active for that entire week. Each person was important and an integral part of the team. It provided space to have good chats while doing chores, as well as being able to thank and give gratitude to one another for contributing to our trip unfolding. Even when mistakes were made, everyone quickly became problem solvers. Hamish, and his terrific sense of humour, meant our adventure was not only great fun but also a direct outcome of fantastic, active, continuous participation, cooperation and collaboration. All essential skill to any group activity getting done. It was amazing.

Thank you Hamish and Ermin.

March 2023

After delaying my trip for a couple of years due to the pandemic, I finally joined the WbN’s “Hidden Morocco” rafting experience. I LOVED it – WHAT an adventure & “high” this was! Moreover, it was my “first time” rafting AND camping. The rafting was great fun, not a penny in the pocket, remote & intoxicating locations, going back to basics on the camp sites, learning new skills and pushing my own limits. In the end, camping went very well. After 2 days, I was able to build & dismantle my tent all by myself …! Met some lovely and fun fellow travellers and we were safely guided down the river by Lupe & Shaun. What a team these two were: great chefs, professional, helpful & always positive, communicative between themselves and towards us, they looked after us very well – they were great & fun to be around.

At the end of the trip, they asked for our feedback: we just could NOT come up with anything negative about this experience. I personally wished I had joined WbN a decade or so ago; their destinations are so interesting and just all over this planet.

A BIG “thank you” to Lupe & Shaun and the excellent support from the office staff, making this trip to be a forever lasting memory.

I cannot speak highly enough of Water By Nature. The perfect mix of epic adventure with home-comfort style camping (think home-made lasagne on the camp-fire, G&T and comfy sleep kits).

The laid back approach belies a five star attitude to safety. I’ve enjoyed trips through Africa, Turkey, Nepal and most recenlty Morocco with Hamish and his team.

WBN have also successfully introduced my 2 teenage daughters to the adventure holiday concept. That alone is worth the gushing review.

Already planning our next river trip with this awesome crew.