The Beni Snassen mountains
A few kilometres south of the town of Berkane, the Beni Snassen mountains are a favourite destination for mountain tourism enthusiasts. Here you will find a range of landscapes and sites, each as fascinating as the next. The Béni-Snassen SIBE encompasses two zones: the first (6,150 ha) includes magnificent landscapes (caves, cliffs, escarpments) covered mainly by cedar trees, and the second (600 ha) closes in on the beautiful oak forest of the Jbel Foural, the natural habitat of a rich zoological and ornithological fauna (wild boar, hares, rabbits, partridges, pigeons, turtle doves, etc.). In this paradise-like setting, you can go hiking or horse-riding, fall asleep in the shade of an oak tree, lulled to sleep by the murmur of the silvery waters of the lake.
the murmur of the silvery waters of a stream, climb the sides of the Zegzel Gorge, discover the local flora and fauna, enjoy the exhilaration of a successful hunt or relax in the tranquillity of Tafoghalt, a picturesque little village set in the heart of the Mediterranean forest (Thuja, Holm oaks, Juniper, Oxycedra, Aleppo pine, etc.).
Its mild, cool climate in summer relieves visitors from the heat of the lowlands during this season. In winter, the surrounding peaks are often covered in a layer of snow, evoking the fabulous landscapes of the Moroccan High Atlas.
Zegzel Valley
Travelling through the Zegzel valley is like encountering luxuriant vegetation, the generous gift of the Oued Zegzel, which flows from the heart of the Béni-Snassen mountains down the slopes to the bottom of steep gorges. All along its meandering course, orange, lemon, medlar and almond trees, vegetables and cereals, verdant terraced gardens hanging from the slopes and forming a colourful canvas of impressionist tones, seem to cling with all their roots to the earth that gave them life. The more or less steep slopes of these mountains and the harshness of their winters have not deterred their inhabitants, who earn their livelihood from small-scale farming, livestock rearing and forestry, from building villages that are perfectly integrated into the environment.
Ain Almou
At an altitude of 1000 metres, the Beni Snassen resort offers a magnificent panorama of heaven and earth. Some forty kilometres from the town of Berkane, Ain Almou is the perfect spot to admire the Tara plain and a sky lit up with stars. To make matters worse, visitors can enjoy a warm welcome from the local inhabitants.
Archaeological and historical sites
Pigeon cave
The karstic cave, known as the ‘pigeon cave’ because of the many pigeons that live there, is located at the entrance to the Zegzel valley, 2 km east of the rustic village of Tafoghalt. It is a large, wide-open cavity with an arched entrance. Discovered in 1908, the cave is a world-famous prehistoric site due to the importance of the scientific results it has yielded. Excavations begun in 1959 uncovered several archaeological levels containing animal remains and carved stone tools dating from the Palaeolithic period (between 40,000 and 100,000 years ago). The cave was then occupied 23 times during the Epipaleothic period by a population of hunters who lit large fires inside the cave, resulting in the formation of layers of ash up to four metres thick. Radiocarbon measurements have dated these ash layers to between 10,500 and 12,500 years ago. The specialists unearthed more than 100,000 carved stone tools, animal remains and, above all, 180 burials of individuals belonging to an indigenous race known as the ‘Tafoghalt man’, the origin of today's Berber populations. These individuals were buried according to a funerary ritual that suggests that the Epipaleolithic people had religious feelings, making the Tafoghalt cave a unique site in the Maghreb with no equivalent in Egypt or the Near East.
Camel cave
Lost among the foothills of the Oriental mountains, the Camel Cave is a historic and archaeological site that is one of those havens of peace, beauty and tranquillity where you can take refuge from the pollution and stress of the big cities. It's also a hot spot for potholing, where unusual silhouettes of earth rise towards the ceiling to meet other descending figures. The stalagmites and stalactites form a rampart of multiple columns patiently sculpted in the limestone by seeping water over thousands of years. Given its size, its value as a prehistoric settlement, the exceptional beauty Given its size, its value as a prehistoric habitat, the exceptional beauty of its site, its accessibility and its privileged geographical location in the heart of the Béni-Snassen massif, close to the summering centre of Tafoghalt and the Pigeons cave (5km), the Camel cave is a choice destination for those who love wide open spaces. The cave opens into the valley of the oued Farrouj, a tributary of the oued Zegzel, in the heart of the Béni-Snassen massif, on the right bank of which it has two entrances. It is a cave with three levels of galleries, the lower part of which is still active after heavy rainfall. The cave is accessed via an upper entrance, a camel-shaped concretion that gives the cave its name.