Despite all the major changes that have occurred in North Africa over the last year or so, one place remains accessible for the enthusiastic off-roader. But is Morocco the place that you should consider for your next overland trip? Here we offer some first hand experience.
Words and photography: Robert Pepper
Recreational off-roading covers a wide range of activity, from short-range hardcore trips to round-the-world epics. Most people fall somewhere in between, but constraints of time and budget mean that options can be limited. That’s why Morocco is a popular destination, offering a taste of Africa yet being near enough to Europe to fit within an annual holiday. But what can you expect from such a trip? To find out, I joined Trailmasters on their Draa Valley Expedition, a two-week trek designed for the more experienced off-roader.
A good overland trip is hard to define, but one is factor is the environment, and Morocco does not disappoint with stunning scenery varying from harshly black mountains to ancient, wide dry rivers, salt lakes, forests and narrow, rocky gorges and the Sahara desert with its dunes. Then there’s the driving, consisting primarily of dirt roads in various stages of repair, some rocky sections and small sand dunes, all in general needing high clearance rather than low range. That was enough for interest but not difficult, just the way it should be on a long trek. We had the option to drive Saharan dunes at a campsite, and that provided more of a challenge for those who wanted it.
Louise Limb – contributor
Sometimes, even for a creative type, I can be really dopey. A few months back I finally joined the 21st century and got myself a Blackberry – an Apple iPhone on an 18 month contract seemed a little too expensive for my pocket! Of course, unlike the old Nokia, the battery life between charges is minimal and I found myself buying an in car charger – yes, I know you’ve all had these since dinosaurs walked the earth… and proceeded to try to plug the offending object into both of the 12 volt sockets on my console. The one next to the main gearstick decided to break its plastic housing, detach itself from the console and come out with the charger. Mmm, perhaps not a good idea to use that one.
Hils Everitt – Editor at Large
Nigel Fryatt – editor
Buying yourself a 4×4 is a great experience – if not without some concerns. If it’s a ‘previously owned’ model, it all depends on the owner; is he really being honest when he talks about “only done a bit of off-roading”. Or when he explains all the details about the servicing, can he look you in the eye and say, “oh, yes, it’s never let me down. Very reliable.” You have to make sure you don’t have your beer goggles on when making that decision. Mind you, that’s even more difficult if you have already decided that you ‘need a new 4×4’. What a great excuse that is, to actually ‘need’ one! Is it a bloke thing, to ‘need’ a 4×4? Or maybe it’s an enthusiast’s need, not just restricted to blokes.
Writing this issue’s group test of soft-roaders/crossovers/SUVs – whatever you want to call them – was quite an enlightening experience.
‘Crossover’, ‘soft-roader’, ‘SUV’ call them what you will, but this is the fastest growing sector of the 4×4 world and with extreme weather conditions becoming the norm, more and more drivers are joining the ranks of 4×4 ownership at this lower capability level. If you’re looking to buy one there is a wide choice. To help with that decision we rate the BMW X3, Ford Kuga, Kia Sportage, Nissan Juke, Toyota’s RAV4 & Urban Cruiser and the VW Tiguan
Turn the clock back nearly 30 years and you’ll find David Bowyer putting together what was the UK’s first general magazine dedicated to all things four-wheel drive. Overlander 4×4 was a good idea then, and today that heritage is in the magazine you have in your hands. David’s publication was bought by specialist publisher Link House magazines, and re-named Off Road and 4 Wheel Driver, and David handed over the reins to a young, fresh-faced and even hirsute editor called Nigel Fryatt. Fast forward those thirty years, and the publication is now named 4×4 magazine, it once again has the same editor, and David Bowyer remains in the 4×4 business, proving that he has staying power to add to what is now an enviable and serious level of experience. However, that experience is not in the writing about 4x4s, because David is a ‘doer’, running both off-road driver training courses at his base at Crediton, in Devon, and offering the wide range of off-road equipment now available through his company, Goodwinch. Top of that range are the winches that David has been supplying to the 4×4 scene, which has cemented his reputation. If you want to talk winches, a long conversation with David Bowyer is a must.
Worried about the rotting hinges holding your the festive season by replacing them with anodised replacements from Croytec. They cost £96 a pair, and are suitable for all models of Solihull’s most iconic vehicle. 
Keep your off-road loving kids happy, with a child-size replica of their favourite 4×4. Toylander supplies all the materials, and plans, needed to make an eye-catching model of a Series One Land Rover or a Willy’s Jeep. The overall cost of a kit is in the region of £900, depending on specification. But it’s worth it, just to secure the next generation of muddy adventurers.
Ideal for viewing hard-to-reach areas on your truck, this pocket-sized inspection light from Philips features six LEDs to give extra brightness. About the same size as a pen, the light can be easily stored in the pocket of your overalls. It has a single lamp at the top end so that it can function as a torch, and has been drop tested from 1.5 metres without damage. It’s also waterproof, and will last for up to 11 hours of continuous use. Available at most car accessories suppliers, the Philips penlight retails for £21.99. 
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