With quiet, unspoilt and enormous beaches stretching as far as the eye can see, Mass is a wonderfully remote location, perfect for complete and utter relaxation. You can take long walks along the sandy beach, visit the fishermen who live in caves along the coastline and enjoy the abundance of birds and wildlife.
Massa lies on the edge of the Souss Massa National Park, about 45 minutes south of Agadir and 7 kms off the main road, at the end of a sandy track near the fishing village of Sidi Rabat. It is a truly stunning location, well away from the main tourist traps, peaceful, beautiful – unforgettable!
The Souss Massa
The Souss Massa National Park opened in 1991 and is probably the most important bird watching site in Morocco. It extends along the banks of the Massa River which spills into the Atlantic just south of the Village of Sidi Rbat. The original purpose of the nature reserve was to preserve the endangered Bald Ibis (Morocco is home to half of the world’s population of this fascinating bird which has a pink bald head). The best time of year for bird enthusiasts is February, March and April, and again from September to November.
A sand-bank blocks the mouth of the River Massa forming a lake which is connected to the Atlantic only during high tides. Huge sand dunes run along the southern edge of the lake while the northern shore is fringed with mud banks and flat areas covered with glassworts.
Excursions
Taroudant
For history, culture and the sights and sounds of Morocco, the pink-walled city of Taroudant with its exciting souks is just 2 hours away.
Anti Atlas Mountains and Tafraoute
A full day trip will take you through the beautiful Anti Atlas mountains to the superbly picturesque Tafraoute dominated by fantastical rock formations.
Goulimine
Two hours from Massa, Goulimine is a desert town where the “blue men” come from the desert to trade their camels. The Annual Camel Festival held in July is an event not to be missed!
Activities
Bird watching
The river holds a large population of ducks and coots, with most of the European species present and there are some of the more unusual ones such as the Marbled Duck, Ruddy Shelduck, Red-crested Pochard and Ferruginous Duck.
Close to the mouth of the river you will find gulls (lesser Black-backed and Yellow-legged Herring Gulls, Audouin’s and Little Gulls) as well as Caspian and Sandwich Terns. The many birds at the site attract several raptors and Marsh Harrier, Tawny, Booted and Bonelli’s Eagles and Barbary and Peregrine Falcons can be seen regularly.
During the Spring months you can see Swallows heading north, and in December you may see Great Spotted Cuckoos, Pallid Swifts, Hoopoes, Red-rumped Swallows, House Martins and Reed Warblers.
In February/March, you are likely to see Little Bittern, Night Squacco and Purple Herons, Glossy Ibis, Spoonbill, Spotted and Baillon’s Crakes, Gull-billed Tern, Bee-eater, Black-eared wheatear and various warblers, including Spectacled, Olivaceous and Sub-Alpine.
Other Wildlife
Among the mammals that are common in the Massa area are Algerian Hedgehog, Brown Hare, Barbary Ground-squirrel, Weasel, Red Fox, Jackal, Egyptian Mongoose and African Wild Cat.
Amphibians and reptiles are plentiful and include Edible Frog, Green Toad, Stripe-necked Terrapin, Helmeted, Moorish and Dwarf Geckos, Bibron’s Agama, Ocellated, Orange-tailed and Senegal Skinks and Leopard and Rough Lizards.
