Near Sale: the Exotic Gardens of Bouknadel

Near Sale lie the Exotic Gardens of Bouknadel. Established in 1952 by horticultural engineer Marcel François, the site covers 11 acres and offers a specific point of interest for travelers looking to add a garden visit to their stay. Check the current access conditions before visiting.

Five themed areas feature Japan, China, Brazil, the Congo, and Polynesia. Bridges, ponds, and huts are among the features visitors can explore. The range of themes offers different cultural references within the same site. There is also a vivarium with snakes, lizards, and turtles. Visitors can therefore explore the themed garden areas and the vivarium as distinct highlights.

For choosing a place to visit near Sale, the gardens offer two specific points of interest: the country-themed areas and the animals in the vivarium. Those who would rather focus on historic buildings, crafts, or landscapes will find further examples elsewhere in Morocco.

Cultural destinations across Morocco

If you include other places in Morocco in your plans, their cultural highlights differ considerably. Rabat lies on the country’s northwestern Atlantic coast; the Chellah Necropolis was built on the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Sala-Colonia. Fès has retained its status as Morocco’s cultural and spiritual center. The medina is home to tanners, weavers, coppersmiths, and potters. These examples offer different points of interest: a historic site in Rabat and traditional crafts in Fès.

Marrakesh and Essaouira also represent distinct cultural and historical themes in Morocco. The Jamaâ El Fna square in Marrakesh is an open-air theater and is inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Traditional Amazigh and Arab crafts are showcased in the Semmarine Souk. The medina of Essaouira, formerly Mogador, is a fortified city dating from the mid-18th century, surrounded by a wall inspired by the Vauban model. For centuries, it was an international trading port connecting Morocco and sub-Saharan Africa with Europe and the rest of the world.

Landscapes and activities in Morocco

For nature lovers and active travelers, Morocco offers further, very different examples. The route to Mount Toubkal starts in the village of Imlil; hikers stay overnight in mountain refuges before reaching the summit. In Talassemtane National Park, walks and excursions combine hiking, trekking, and adventure. Dakhla lies in southern Morocco between the waters of the Atlantic and the sands of the Sahara. Kitesurfing takes place at PK25 beach on the lagoon side, while Foum El Bouir is a surf spot on the sea side. The bay and lagoon of Dakhla at the entrance to Rio de Oro are home to migratory birds, pink flamingos, turtles, monk seals, rays, and humpback dolphins. These examples show Morocco’s diversity without presenting the different places as a single excursion area.

Discover more destinations: Salé, Khemisset Province, Skhirat-Temara.

For the broader travel overview: Rabat-Sale-Zemmour-Zaer.