Souss-Massa National Park (Parc National de Souss-Massa) is about 60 km south of Agadir in Morocco. It is most famous for its variety of birds.

Understand

The park is 33,800 hectares on the Atlantic coast of Morocco between Agadir to the north and Sidi Ifni to the south. The estuary of the Oued Souss is the northern limit of the park, and that of the Oued Massa is near the southern end. 30,000 ha of land near Aglou, south of the park, is included in the site because it is sometimes used as a feeding area by the northern bald ibis. The habitat is grazed steppe with dunes, beaches and wetlands.

Fauna

The park has three of the four Moroccan colonies of the endangered northern bald ibis (Geronticus eremita). Between this park and a fourth site at nearby Tamri, Morocco has 95% of the world's wild breeding birds of this species. The ibis colonies and roost-sites are located on coastal cliffs in the National Park, and the coastal steppes and fields are used as feeding areas.

The Oued Massa holds water throughout the year and has breeding marbled ducks, a threatened species. It is the only known Moroccan breeding site for the glossy ibis. The two estuaries are important for migrants, especially waders and gulls. European spoonbill and Audouin's gull spend the winter in the park. Other notable breeding bird species are red-necked nightjar, thick-billed lark, Tristram's warbler and Moussier's redstart.

Souss-Massa has captive-breeding programmes for four threatened North African animals: scimitar oryx, addax, dama gazelle and dorcas gazelle. These are kept in separate enclosures within the park. The park is also reintroducing the ostrich, which is extinct north of the Sahara.

Get in

It is not convinient to get to Souss-Massa by public transport. The most accessible entrance is from Massa. Take bus 60 from Innezgane (see Agadir, 20 dirham) until the end, which is just a little further than the grand taxi station (25 dirham to Agadir). The entry is about 5 km from the bus stop, just continue the road until a sign leads you to a non-sealed road close by the river.

There is very little traffic, don’t rely on getting a lift there.

From the entry it is about 3 km to the river mouth and the dunes.

Fees and permits

Arriving on foot, entry is free of charge.

Guides are available at the entrance.

See

Sandwich terns - locals in the park - in flight

The park has a nature trail at Oued Souss and a visitor centre at Oued Massa.

Sleep

• La Maison Blù. Our village is Sidi Benzarne, 3 km to Massa. (updated Mar 2017)
• La Dune (Sidi R’bat is 50 km south of Agadir in the direction of Tiznit.; After around 40 km, you leave the road to Tiznit a few km past the village of Belfaa and head towards Massa. From there Sidi R’bat is signposted. The road (completely tarmacked) leads out of Massa as far as a sign pointing to "Ksar Massa“. Follow the signs to "Ksar Massa“ and once you have passed through the village of Sidi R’bat and can see the sea, on the left you will see La Dune.), ☏ +212 666807824 (Brahim), +212 667016092 (Peter), LaDune@gmx.de. Guesthouse, restaurant, camping. English, French, German and Moroccan spoken. LaDune is located right above the 5-km long sandy beach at Sidi R’bat at the Souss-Massa National Park. 7 guest rooms, each with its own bathroom and a balcony with sea view. There are also 7 original Berber tents available. In the restaurant or the café, you can sample a variety of native dishes and snacks. Guesthouse 390-650 dirham including breakfast. The berber tents cost 250 dirham per night for one or two persons - breakfast is not included; the use of the showers is free of charge.. (updated Mar 2017)