Ouzoud Falls Day Trip: Stunning Waterfalls and Wild Monkeys

During our six-day adventure in Marrakech, we discovered a perfect getaway at the serene Ouzoud Falls, a haven not just for its spectacular cascades but also for the charming Ouzoud monkeys.

As we left the lively streets of Marrakech behind, we were welcomed by the natural beauty and the playful Barbary macaques that live in the area around the Ouzoud Waterfalls.

This Ouzoud Waterfalls day trip, which took us from the hustle and bustle of the Medina out into the country, was a highlight of our trip. If you’re intrigued by what else we did in Marrakech, check out our 6-day Marrakech Itinerary.

Join us as we explore the Moroccan landscapes and meet the Ouzoud Waterfalls monkeys.

Discovering Ouzoud Falls

Nestled in the Grand Atlas village of Tanaghmeilt, the Ouzoud Waterfalls plunge over 110 meters into the rugged canyon depths below, making them one of the tallest and most breathtaking waterfalls in North Africa.

Surrounded by lush vegetation and inhabited by troops of wild Barbary macaques, the falls offer more than just stunning scenery—they provide a vibrant ecosystem to explore.

Paths wind around the top and bottom of the falls, offering various viewpoints, each presenting a new perspective of this natural wonder.

Whether you’re looking to capture the perfect photo, enjoy a leisurely day exploring, or want to experience more than Marrakech, Ouzoud Falls makes for an unforgettable day trip.

Choosing a Marrakech to Ouzoud Falls Tour

There are many online tour agencies offering day trips to Ouzoud Falls. We were slightly wary because we had heard of many scam sites where you pay, and no one turns up to collect you for your tour. Therefore, check reviews and book through a reputable company.

These tours on Get Your Guide are highly rated:

• Ouzoud Waterfalls Day Trip and Boat Ride | ⭐️ 4.9/5 star reviews (2,200) | Check availability and read reviews
• Ouzoud Waterfalls Guided Hike and Boat Trip| ⭐️ 4.7/5 star reviews (11,500) | Check availability and read reviews

Most of the tours arrange to pick up at around 8 am.

Ouzoud Falls Day Trip Video

Join us for a quick, one-minute journey to the stunning Ouzoud Falls. This video captures the essence of our day trip, from the scenic drive from Marrakech to the mesmerizing sights and sounds of the falls.

You’ll also glimpse the charming Barbary macaques that call this place home. Whether planning your own visit or just wanting to enjoy a moment of beauty, our Ouzoud Falls day trip video offers a snapshot of what to expect in this enchanting locale.

Ouzoud Falls Map

Marrakech to Ouzoud Falls

As we left the madness of Marrakech and headed northeast towards Ouzoud Waterfalls, we began passing the rolling hills of the countryside with the sensational snow-covered Atlas Mountains in the distance.

The drive to Ouzoud Falls, in the Azilal province, took about three hours, passing through traditional old villages, olive groves and orchards.

As we neared the village of Tanaghmeilt, where the Falls are situated, the landscape colours changed, with red soil dominating.

👉 READ MORE: A Day Trip to Ait Ben Haddou in the Sahara Desert

Market Day Near Ouzoud  

Getting closer to Ouzoud Falls, we could see a market in a field in the distance. This explains the many locals along the side of the road. Some rode bicycles, others had a horse and cart, and many rode donkeys.

We learnt that the market happens only once a week. Therefore, the villagers from around the area must buy or trade all their needs for the upcoming week.

Many people live in villages inaccessible by vehicles, so they travel to and from by donkey. When we arrived at the village, some donkeys were tied up, waiting for their owners to load them up and head back to the mountains.

Ouzoud Falls Guide

Our local guide, Ali, met our tour bus at Ouzoud.

Ali was an exceptional guide. Although he had never been to school, his local knowledge of the area and his English were outstanding. In fact, he could not only speak English; he also spoke Arabic, Berber, French, German, and Spanish.

His youth was spent watching his older brothers take tours, and he learned to speak other languages by listening to tourists. Not bad for no schooling.

Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to write but he didn’t seem too perturbed about that — he was happy, cheerful and loved his job.

Chocolate River at Ouzoud Cascades

As we headed towards the Cascades d’Ouzoud, Ali provided extensive information about the area and was happy to answer any questions.

The first thing we noticed as we passed the river was its brown colour. The rainfall in the last few days had washed the red soil into the river, which had not rained for the previous six months, so the villagers were extremely happy.

Troglodyte Caves at Ouzoud Falls

We came to a clearing as we walked along a shaded path of olive trees. Across the valley were ancient troglodyte caves on the side of a hill.

The word ‘troglodyte’ comes from Greek and means ‘cave dweller’. Troglodyte caves were dug vertically into the ground to protect the occupiers from the heat in summer and the intense cold of winter. These underground dwellings would have been created around 800 years ago. 

Olive Tree Ownership at Ouzoud Falls

The short trail to the Falls took us past orchards of fruit and olive trees.

Interestingly, many trees had various colours and numbers painted on them, symbolising the owners.

If a tree had two colours, one family owned the land, and another owned the tree. The tree’s fruit is shared between the two families in this situation.

Olive trees have been in this area for millions of years, and interestingly, some of the petrified roots can be seen on the path down to the Ouzoud Falls.

Ouzoud Falls

It would be fair to say that we had never seen anything like the sight that greeted us as we reached the top of the falls.

We have seen a few waterfalls on our travels, but never like this. Thanks to the recent rains, we were greeted with what seemed like a giant chocolate waterfall.

It certainly didn’t look like the advertised Ouzoud Falls day trip photos, which show azure blue waters, but this made for an even more fascinating spectacle.

Moving down to the bottom of the Falls is a little steep but entirely manageable. The abundance of red soil in the area explains why they had turned a rusty-brown colour.

Ouzoud Falls: Crossing the River

At the bottom of the Ouzoud Falls, you’ll find pools, mini waterfalls and stepping-stones to get you the short distance to the other side.

However, the stepping stones were partially submerged due to the recent rains. This wasn’t a problem as there were plenty of colourful rafts to ferry you across.

Some tourists rode on the rafts to the waterfall base, but we chose to take photos of them from the other side instead.

You will need a waterproof jacket if you decide to take a raft to the base.

I couldn’t help but feel I was in a scene from the movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The chocolate-coloured water and the bright-coloured rafts created a wonderfully whimsical scene.

Traditional Lunch at Ouzoud

A few restaurants were on the other side of the river, overlooking the Ouzoud Falls. We enjoyed a three-course meal consisting of salad, beef and vegetable tagine, fruit and mint tea, all at a reasonable price.

The meal was delicious, and the fairytale view set the scene for savouring this traditional Moroccan dish.

Ouzoud Falls Monkeys

After lunch, we continued up the steep hillside. Almost immediately, we were greeted by the Ouzoud Falls monkeys, cheeky monkeys with hands out asking for nuts.

Here, you’ll likely find locals selling you nuts to feed the monkeys.

However, it is not recommended to feed the monkeys as they are wild animals, and feeding them encourages changing behaviours.

It was a surprise that these indigenous Barbary apes were so interactive because we thought we would be watching them from afar. 

I have to admit that we weren’t particularly aware of the detrimental effects of feeding these animals at the time. Still, we have since gained increasing awareness of the problems involved with this kind of tourism.

At the time, this kind of tourism seemed more ethical than the many traders in the centre of Marrakech who had pet monkeys with chains around their necks and where tourists were paying money to take their photos with the monkeys. This seemed awful to us.

But in hindsight, by feeding the barbary apes at Ouzoud Falls, we ourselves were reinforcing their changed habituation.

Our later visit to the Monkey Forest in France, a rehabilitation and breeding protection program for Barbary Apes, played a large part in educating us and changing our views.

Why We Shouldn’t Feed The Ouzoud Falls Monkeys

• If wild animals become accustomed to food handouts, they lose their natural fear of humans and may become aggressive and bite.
• A plentiful food supply can sometimes cause overpopulation and can cause territorial aggression.
• As animals become accustomed to humans, they are more easily captured and illegally traded or kept as pets.

However, watching the antics and movements of these gorgeous animals was captivating.

They have obviously grown used to being fed and surrounded by tourists. It’s undeniably not the best situation, but at least these Ouzoud Falls monkeys are not in captivity and are free to roam.

If you love monkeys, you will also enjoy reading about and watching the videos we taken in these articles:

•  Monkeyland Plettenberg Bay, South Africa — an award-winning free-roaming sanctuary for rescued monkeys. 
• Volunteering with Monkeys in South Africa – we volunteered for 10 days at a vervet monkey sanctuary and had lots of hands on with the baby monkeys.

There is something so intriguing about watching these little creatures because they have so many human-like mannerisms.

The highlight of the day was seeing the tiny, five-day-old barbary ape. Watching the mum with her little one was just awesome. She was protective and calm, ensuring the baby didn’t move further than her arm’s reach.

The video shows the dad coming over to lend a helping hand.

One of the smaller monkeys jumped onto Lars to escape, being chased by one of the larger ones. He settled down on Lars’ shoulder for quite some time, obviously feeling much safer up there.

He may have thought Lars was an alpha monkey because he started picking through his hair for mites. Luckily, it didn’t look as though he found any.

The Ouzoud Falls were spectacular. However, spending time with the monkeys absolutely made our day. Reluctantly, we had to leave these cuties and the amazing Ouzoud Waterfalls behind us and head back to Marrakech.

The drive back was captivating as we glimpsed odd snippets of insight into life in the Moroccan desert. This was the perfect escape from the hectic life of the Marrakech Medina.

Marrakech Accommodation

We stayed in the Medina in Marrakech at a riad called Dar Touyir.

We would highly recommend it. The service was excellent, and the staff could not have done more for us.

Other Day Trips From Marrakech

There are several Tours to other places in Morocco from Marrakech.

Ouzoud Falls, Morocco … That’s a Wrap

Our adventure to Ouzoud Falls might have started with a long drive from Marrakech, but every minute spent on the road was worth it.

The stunning views of the waterfalls and the playful antics of the Ouzoud monkeys were the perfect escape from the city’s constant buzz.

We hope this guide helps you plan your trip to Ouzoud Falls, whether after some adventure or just a peaceful day out in nature.

A guided tour can make a difference by giving you insider knowledge and fun facts. If you visit, please remember to respect our furry friends and their natural habitat.

Don’t forget to check out our 6 days in for Marrakech article for other great things to do.

Are you planning a trip to Ouzoud Falls, or have you already been? Drop a comment below—we’d love to hear your stories or answer any questions you might have!

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