Morocco · North Africa
Ouzoud Falls
Cascades d'Ouzoud
The El-Abid River tumbles over red ochre cliffs in a series of steps into the Atlas foothills, framed by hundreds of resident Barbary macaques and small mills still grinding olives. Rowboats ferry visitors across the base pool to a cave behind the lower curtain.
The El-Abid River tumbles over red ochre cliffs in a series of steps into the Atlas foothills, framed by hundreds of resident Barbary macaques and small mills still grinding olives. Rowboats ferry visitors across the base pool to a cave behind the lower curtain.
Ouzoud Falls drops 110 metres (361 ft) on the El-Abid. It is a tiered-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Tanaghmeilt, with RAK the closest airport. Access to the main viewpoint is rated easy.
Spring snowmelt and autumn rains give the strongest flow over the red-ochre cliffs.
What you can do here
Swimming
Plunge pools, natural infinity pools and the occasional lip pool you can legally sit in.
Boat cruises
The classic approach: come at the falls from the water, usually at sunset, usually with a drink.
Hiking
From ten-minute boardwalks to multi-day approaches through cloud forest.
Photography
Light angles, moonbows, spray management and the hours that actually work.
Wildlife & safari
Falls that sit inside serious wildlife country, where the water is only half the reason to come.
When to go
Spring snowmelt and autumn rains give the strongest flow over the red-ochre cliffs.
Entry: Free to view; small boat rides available
Getting there
- Base townTanaghmeilt
- AirportRAK
- CountryMorocco
- RegionNorth Africa, Africa
- AccessEasy — a short walk or roadside viewpoint
On the map
32.0075, -6.7192
Quick answers
How tall is Ouzoud Falls?
Ouzoud Falls drops 110 metres (361 feet). It is a tiered-type waterfall on the El-Abid.
When is the best time to visit Ouzoud Falls?
Peak flow is March to May and October. Spring snowmelt and autumn rains give the strongest flow over the red-ochre cliffs.
What can you do at Ouzoud Falls?
Beyond the viewpoints: swimming, boat cruises, hiking, photography and wildlife & safari. Access to the main viewpoint is rated easy — a short walk or roadside viewpoint.
How do you get to Ouzoud Falls?
The usual base is Tanaghmeilt, and the closest airport is RAK. A short walk or roadside viewpoint from there. Free to view; small boat rides available.
Nearby & similar
More in Africa
Wli Falls
West Africa's tallest waterfall drops into a natural amphitheatre shared with thousands of straw-coloured fruit bats roosting on th…
Boti Falls
Two separate streams, said locally to represent a male and female spirit, fall side by side into one pool near the town of Boti in …
Ekom-Nkam Falls
A wall of water falls through dense rainforest into a horseshoe amphitheatre, made internationally recognizable as a filming locati…
Kalandula Falls
One of Africa's widest waterfalls, the Lucala River spreads across a broad rock face in a near-continuous curtain nearly as wide as…