Ait ben Haddou, Morocco
Ait ben Haddou (also spelled Ait benhaddou) is the most spectacular fortified village or ksar in southern Morocco. And this frequently filmed location is even more impressive in person that it is on screen. Wander the streets of the mudbrick village. Imagine life as a Berber. Tour the ksar independently or hire a guide and view the village through local eyes. This World Heritage Site is more than a great film set.
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History & Culture
Berbers are an indigenous North African people. And while Berbers are most often associated with Morocco and Algeria, they are also found in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Mauritania and Mali. Berbers make up about 40% of the Moroccan population and most Moroccan Berbers live south and east of Marrakech. The Berbers of Morocco speak three distinct languages: Rif, Beraber and Sluh. They are noted for their carpet making skills, simple but tasty cuisine and austere building style. Berber carpets are a popular souvenir. Ksour, kasbahs and agadirs best represent Berber architecture. Couscous is a Berber dish.
Moroccan Berbers
Al-Bab.com Berber Carpets Berber-Arts What is a Kasbah? Kids Can Travel What is a Ksar? Kids Can Travel Maps
Online maps are a great travel planning resource and a great way to get the kids involved in a family vacation. Use online maps to pinpoint your family travel destination and get a lay of the land. Map imperial cities - Marrakesh, Fez, Meknes and Rabat - as well as Berber villages, mountain ranges, deserts and beach resorts.
Books
Books are a great way to introduce younger children to a new adventure and get teens and tweens ready for a family trip. Get recommended reading lists for adults and kids and learn more about Morocco through guidebooks, novels and historical fiction. Discover age-appropriate books about harems, caravans and souks.
Music & Sound
Moroccan music is a web of rhythm and sound. And it comes in a variety of forms. Arab-Andalusian music, a classical tradition imported from Muslim Spain, combines rhythm, vocals and instrumentals in complicated musical structure called nawbat or harmonic modes. Berber music, played at weddings, festivals and tribal gatherings, are poems and tales told through song. Moroccan popular music is rooted in Arabic style but influenced by African, Western and all forms of Moroccan music.
News
Read Moroccan newspapers online and, in addition to brushing up on Moroccan current events, find out what's happening from Casablanca to Tamegroute and discover what Moroccans are reading about.
Kids' Stuff
Online resources make learning about Morocco lots of fun. Learn about Ibn Battuta, an explorer from Tangier, and take a virtual tour with this 14th century traveler. Map the routes followed by Ibn Battuta and Marco Polo and compare the two. View images of daily life in Morocco and learn about Moroccan culture as well as the people. Get fun facts about Morocco and, in addition to learning name of the capital, discover the number of countries that share a border with Morocco and find out what makes the Moroccan economy tick.
Travels of Ibn Battuta
Horace Mann Academic Middle School Ibn Battuta & Marco Polo Mapped W.W. Norton & Company Moroccan Images The Geo-Images Project Morocco Facts Academic Kids Organizations
Associations and non-profit organizations can be a valuable resource as well as means to get involved. Find out more about a few of the organizations involved in the preservation of this ksar.
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Recommended Reads for Family Travel to Morocco


