PHOTO TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

It is still dark when we climb onto our quad bikes. The mild desert breeze feels pleasant against our faces as we begin crossing the rolling dunes. Slowly, the first light appears and the sand changes colour, shifting from cool blue and violet tones to warmer shades of red and orange.

Later in the day, when the sun stands high overhead, the landscape can appear almost white in backlight, resembling a snow-covered wilderness. But now, in the soft light of dawn, we glide quietly across the desert.

Suddenly our guide raises a hand. We stop immediately and switch off the engines. He points towards a dune ahead and we carefully make our way forward. For the final metres, we crawl across the cool, soft sand in silence.

Then we see it.

A small fox, pale as the sand itself, almost white against the orange-red dunes. Alert and watchful, it moves cautiously across the landscape, its oversized ears upright and listening. It knows we are there. But we remain low and quiet. Gradually the fox relaxes and settles beside its den. A few minutes later, movement appears at the entrance. Two young cubs emerge and begin to play in the pleasant morning temperature before the sun climbs too high on the sky.

THE SAHARA
The Sahara is a place where the landscape feels endless – sweeping sand dunes that change from golden yellow to deep red as the light evolves, dramatic rock formations, and vast open spaces that create a profound sense of silence and scale. Sunrise and sunset cast long shadows and reveal striking patterns in the sand. At night, an immense canopy of stars stretches across the sky, offering excellent opportunities for night photography.

Here, towering dunes, stony deserts and dry riverbeds meet in constantly changing light, creating exceptional conditions for nature photography. Throughout the tour, there are excellent opportunities for both wildlife photography and more graphic, landscape-oriented imagery, where the relationship between animals and their environment becomes a central element of the story.

BARBARY MACAQUES
Our journey towards the Sahara takes us through the Atlas Mountains and their beautiful forests of cedar and oak. Here lives one of North Africa’s most charismatic mammals, the Barbary Macaque.

These social and curious primates are unfortunately threatened, primarily due to habitat loss and illegal wildlife trade. In certain locations they are accustomed to human presence, allowing excellent photographic opportunities within a beautiful mountain forest setting. We will have the chance to photograph social interactions such as play, grooming and conflict, as well as create intimate portraits in the soft forest light.

ENNEC FOXES, REPTILES AND DESERT BIRDS
A major focus of this tour is the wildlife of the Sahara, with particular emphasis on mammals, reptiles and birds.

Our primary target species is the Fennec Fox (Vulpes zerda), one of the Sahara’s most iconic and highly specialised mammals. With its enormous ears, pale sandy coat and nocturnal lifestyle, the fennec is perfectly adapted to life in the desert.

Photography sessions take place mainly during the early morning, dawn, late afternoon and evening when the foxes are most active. We work exclusively with natural light and maintain a strong ethical approach to wildlife photography, focusing on behaviour, movement and close encounters without causing disturbance.

In April, fennec fox cubs begin venturing outside their dens for the first time, creating outstanding photographic opportunities. By September, the young foxes are larger, more independent and often highly active.

The Sahara also supports a surprisingly rich reptile fauna. During the tour, there are excellent opportunities to photograph a variety of desert-adapted species, including Horned Vipers, Sand Vipers, skinks, desert lizards and agamas associated with rocky habitats. Many species leave fascinating tracks in the sand, adding further photographic possibilities.

Despite its harsh conditions, the Sahara hosts a surprisingly diverse birdlife. In areas where vegetation and temporary water sources occur, we may encounter several species of sandgrouse, wheatears and desert-adapted larks. With some luck, we may photograph the elusive Egyptian Nightjar during the April departure. Among the birds of prey, opportunities include Pharaoh Eagle-Owl and possibly Lanner Falcon.

Birds are photographed both as traditional wildlife subjects and as elements within the broader desert landscape, where scale, light and environment become important components of the image.

EXTRAORDINARY DESERT LANDSCAPES
Beyond its wildlife, the Sahara offers outstanding opportunities for landscape photography. Wind-sculpted dunes, intricate sand patterns, animal tracks and long shadows create clean, graphic compositions, particularly during the first and last hours of daylight.

The constantly changing relationship between sand, sky and shadow creates a palette that evolves rapidly throughout the day, rewarding careful observation and thoughtful composition. The desert’s dark nights also provide excellent opportunities for photographing star-filled skies and nocturnal landscapes.

Our journey takes us from Morocco’s Atlantic coast, through the Atlas Mountains and cedar forests, across olive groves and rolling agricultural landscapes, before reaching the dunes of the Sahara and eventually returning westward. Along the way, there will be numerous opportunities to stop and photograph the varied landscapes of Morocco.

PHOTOGRAPHIC LEARNING
This tour is limited to just six participants, combining intensive field photography with continuous photographic guidance.

Throughout the journey, practical photography sessions are complemented by discussions on composition, exposure, working in low light, and building strong visual narratives in the desert’s deceptively minimalist environment. Instruction is tailored to each participant’s experience level, with the goal of developing both technical skills and a deeper photographic vision.