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Best Tourist Places to Visit in Dakhla, Narrow Peninsula, West Africa, Africa

Dakhla is a Western Saharan city situated on a narrow peninsula of the Atlantic Coast. Administratively, Dakhla is a part of Oued Ed-Dahab-Lagouira region under Moroccan control. Located at 23°43′ N 15°57′ W, Dakhla is situated around 550 km south of El Aaiún (Laayoune), the capital and largest city of Western Sahara. Due to its position on the coastline, Dakhla is thriving as a prominent water-sport destination, especially popular for kitesurfing, windsurfing and surf casting.

Dakhla experiences a mild arid climate with an average annual rainfall of 40 millimeters. September is the warmest month, 23°C, while January is the coldest month in Dakhla.

 

History of Dakhla:

Berbers were the original settlers of Dakhla who inhabited the area since the prehistoric times. The real history of Berbers begin with it was founded by the Spanish settlers in the 19^th century as a fishing and trading point. After decades of Spanish rule, Dakhla fell under the control of Mauritania, becoming the capital of Tiris al-Gharbiyya province in 1975 and remained until 1979 when it became a part of Morocco.

 

How to reach Dakhla?

Dakhla Airport is situated within the city premise and receives flights from Gran Canaria (served by CanaryFly) and Agadir and Casablanca (served by Royal Air Maroc).

Dakhla is also well connected by bus to many Moroccan cities like Casablanca, Agadir and Marrakech, served by CTM, Supratours and Satas.

There may be no regular buses serving Dakhla city, so visitors are advised to hire a car to get around the city, airport travel and sightseeing purposes.

 

Food and Shopping in Dakhla:

Dakhla offers both upgraded traditional and modernized shops for visitors that are spread up all around the city. Some nice tourist favor restaurants in Dakhla are listed below:

• Cafe Restaurant Samarkand
• Villa Dakhla
• Chez N’TIFI
• La Maison Du The Dakhla

 

Things to do in Dakhla:

• Kite surfing
• Windsurfing
• Surf casting

 

Places to see in Dakhla:

 

Beach of Dakhla:

Beaches are the first preference of tourists visiting the city Dakhla. Dakhla’s beaches are the perfect place for water sport enthusiasts who are keen to enjoy kite-surfing, windsurfing and surf casting activities. It is also a great place to see migratory birds on the beach line.

 

Catholic Church in Dakhla:

Catholic Church in Dakhla dates from the Spanish colonial period, is still good in condition, receives both tourists and devotees for its magnificent construction and holiness. It is one of the best places to visit in Dakhla.

 

Dakhla Waterfront:

Dakhla Waterfront is a nice relaxation as well as sightseeing points to have an eye-catching beauty of Atlantic Ocean Coast. The area is well maintained and concrete benches are set up from starting to end point. Generally evening is the ideal time to visit typical seaside point.

 

Mosques in Dakhla:

Apart from its water sport destinations, Dakhla has also become popular among visitors for its mosques with historical importance. Generally mosques are not allowed for no-Muslims but there is no restriction to have the exterior beauty of the mosques.

 

List of other places of interest near Dakhla include:

• Windfish Pro-Center
• Massage du Monde
• Moroccan Berm
• Tarfaya
• Guelta Zemmour
• El Aaiún (Laayoune)
• Centre Artisanal
• Laayoune-Plage
• Laayoune Off Road
• Dchira

 

Best time to visit Dakhla:

Being a famous aquatic sport destination, Dakhla draws a substantial number of water sport lovers during the months of July and August, which is also the best time to visit Dakhla.

 

Hotels in Dakhla:

Being the capital of Western Sahara’s tourism, Dakhla offers all sorts of modernized hotels for visitors to provide utmost comfort to make their tour memorable. Some major facilities available in Dakhla’s hotels include free airport transfer, sea view dining, arrangement of outdoor sports and vehicles for local travel. Here is the list of the popular hotels in Dakhla:

• Hotel Oued Eddahab
• Hotel al Wahda
• Hotel Sahara Regency
• Hotel Calipau Sahara
• Hotel Erraha
• Hotel Buenavista
• Hotel Doumes
• Rio Aguila Aventure
• Ocean Vagabond
• Dakhla Evasion
• Bab al Bahar Hotel et Spa
• Auberge des Nomades du Sahara
• Palais Touareg
• Dakhla Spirit Lagoon Camp
• Lagon Bleu Dakhla

Cape Bojador Tourist Places to Visit in Cape Bojador, West Africa, Africa

Cape Bojador is a headland on the coastline of Atlantic Ocean in the northwestern part of Western Sahara. Cape Bojador is also the name of the nearby town. Cape Bojador is located around 180 km southwest of El-Aaiun, the capital and largest city of Western Sahara. Cape Bojador is also spelled as Cabo Bojador and Bulging Cape. In Arabic, Cape Bojador is known as Abu Khata. Cape Bojador geographically coordinates with 26°08′ N latitude and 14°30′ W longitude.

 

History of Cape Bojador:

Before it was claimed by Morocco, Cape Bojador was a disputed region between France and Spain for several years. Morocco occupied Cape Bojador along with other Western Saharan regions in 1975. Though Cape Bojador is currently under the control of Morocco, relatively Cape Bojador is now also a controversial region between Morocco and the Polisario Front.

 

How to reach Cape Bojador?

Cape Bojador is served by Hassan I Airport with scheduled flights from Agadir, Casablanca and Las Palmas, catered by Royal Air Maroc, CanaryFly and Binter Canarias. The airport is situated around 180 km from the midpoint of Cape Bojador.

There is a direct road connecting Cape Bojador to El-Aaiun, making easier for visitors to drive rental vehicle between these two destinations. Buses also run between this route.

Food and shopping in Cape Bojador:

There are many modernized shops can be found in Cape Bojador with latest branded clothes, shoes, bags and gadgets.  Cape Bojador also houses many nice restaurants.

 

What to do in Cape Bojador?

• Walking
• Visiting port
• Shopping

 

What to see in Cape Bojador?

 

Cape Bojador Lighthouse:

Cape Bojador Lighthouse is one of the landmarks as well as tourist attractions of Cape Bojador. The light house belongs to Morocco and there is also a Moroccan military base in Cape Bojador.

 

Mosques in Cape Bojador:

Being a Muslim dominated town, Cape Bojador houses many magnificent mosques all around the town. All mosques are well maintained and features eye-catching exterior that would be a great treat for visitors’ eyes.

 

 

Port de Boujdour:

Port de Boujdour is the port of Cape Bojador and also one of the important landmarks of the area. It is a place where visitors can have a striking view of the ocean.

 

El-Aaiun:

El-Aaiun is the capital city of Western Sahara, situated around 180 km northeast of Cape Bojador. The city features an upgraded road infrastructure that has made the city colorful and easier for visitors to explore the city. The major attractions of El-Aaiun are excellent desert beaches, a multi-use stadium, Stade Sheikh Mohamed Laghdaf and a cathedral Cathedral of Saint Francis of Assisi. There are also many typical art and craft shops in the city.

 

List of other places of interest in and around Cape Bojador includes:

• Dchira
• Smara
• Laayoune-Plage
• Dakhla
• Bir Lehlou
• Centre Artisanal
• Laayoune Off Road
• Guelta Zemmour
• Tarfaya
• Windfish Pro-Center
• Massage du Monde
• Moroccan Berm

 

Best time to visit Cape Bojador:

The most preferred time to visit Cape Bojador in Western Sahara is from June to August when the weather remains dry and pleasant.

 

Where to stay in Cape Bojador?

Cape Bojador houses few tourist favor hotels, so it would be better if visitors head towards the capital El-Aaiun to have memorable hospitality services at top class hotel. In below list, the first 7 hotels are in El-Aaiun (around 180 km from Cape Bojador) and the rest of the hotels are located in Dakhla (around 350 km from Cape Bojador):

• Hotel Josefina
• Hotel Residence Lajwad
• Hotel Nagjir Ville
• Hotel Salwan
• Camping Sabor del Sahara
• Hotel Parador
• Le Camp Bedouin
• Hotel Sahara Regency
• Hotel Doumes
• Dakhla Spirit Lagoon Camp
• Lagon Bleu Dakhla
• Hotel Oued Eddahab
• Hotel al Wahda
• Bab al Bahar Hotel et Spa
• Auberge des Nomades du Sahara

Bou Craa Tourist Places to Visit in Bou Craa, Saguia el-Hamra, West Africa, Africa

Bou Craa is a Western Saharan town located in the region of Saguia el-Hamra between 26°19′22″ N latitude and 12°50′59″ W longitude, around 110 km southeast of the Western Sahara’s capital, El-Aaiún. Bou Craa is noted as a phosphate mining town, with Bou Craa phosphate industry, which is controlled by Morocco. The town is also largely inhabited by mining employees. Bou Craa is home to the world’s longest conveyor belt that is used to transport phosphates from the town to the coast of the territory. Bou Craa is also spelled Bo Craa, Bu Craa and Boukra.

 

History of Bou Craa:

Bou Craa was one of the sites to witness the clash happened between the Polisario Front and the Moroccan Royal Army in 1976 and after the construction of Moroccan Wall in the early 1980s, Bou Craa thoroughly came under the control of Morocco.

 

How to reach Bou Craa?

As Bou Craa is located not too far from the capital, El-Aaiún, so reaching Bou Craa would not be a difficult task for visitors. Hassan I Airport in El-Aaiun is situated around 110 km from the centre of Bou Craa and operates flights from Agadir, Casablanca and Las Palmas, served by Agadir, Casablanca, and Las Palmas.

Bou Craa can be reached by bus from El-Aaiún but it is not recommended since buses are not regular. Alternatively, visitors can use rental car for comfort and convenient travel.

 

Food and Shopping in Bou Craa:

Being a commercial town, Bou Craa houses many modernized shops as well as restaurants with both local specialties and branded items. Visitors should be known, most shops in Bou Craa don’t accept credit or debit cards, so advised to keep some local currency. For more upgraded shopping and restaurant options, the capital city El-Aaiun, is a right choice.

 

Things to do in Bou Craa:

• Driving
• Walking
• Traditional shopping

 

Places to see in Bou Craa:

 

Phosphate mines:

Phosphate mines are the focal point of both of Bou Craa’s economy and tourism. The tour of phosphate mines can be arranged at tour operators in the city of El-Aaiún. It would be a special experience for visitors knowing Western Saharan geographical features ad mineral resources.

 

El-Aaiun:

Located around 110 km from Bou Craa, El-Aaiun is the capital city of Western Sahara, home to a many renowned tourist attractions such as an old Spanish Cathedral of Saint Francis of Assisi, Stade Sheikh Mohamed Laghdaf (stadium) and desert beaches. El-Aaiun is also a perfect place to purchase genuine Western Saharan art and craft works.

 

Smara:

Smara is a historical town, located around 170 km northeast of Bou Craa. The town is highlighted by a large ruined historic fort, Zawiy Maalainin and a magnificent mosque. There is also an airport in the town. It can be reached by rental car from Bou Craa.

 

List of other places of interest near Bou Craa include:

• Bir Lehlou
• Centre Artisanal
• Laayoune Off Road
• Dchira
• Laayoune-Plage
• Windfish Pro-Center
• Massage du Monde
• Moroccan Berm
• Dakhla
• Guelta Zemmour
• Tarfaya

 

Best time to visit Bou Craa:

Throughout the year is best, especially the months between June and September are ideal to visit Bou Craa.

 

Hotels in Bou Craa:

There are few tourist favor hotels in Bou Craa, so tourists can drive towards the city of El-Aaiun to find hotels as per their requirement and budget. Buses generally ply between Bou Craa and El-Aaiun but not frequent. The below list includes hotels in El-Aaiun (around 110 km from Bou Craa):

• Hotel Josefina
• Hotel Residence Lajwad
• Hotel Nagjir Ville
• Hotel Salwan
• Camping Sabor del Sahara
• Hotel Parador
• Le Camp Bedouin