The vastness and immense landscapes of bare rock in The Sahara are spellbinding. One of the greatest rivers that flow from deep within the High Atlas is the Oued Draa, this river’s flood plain stretches wide across the landscape, travelling south until it meets the immense wall of the Jebel Ouarkziz where the river is forced west to eventually flow into The Atlantic.

The Jebel Ouarkziz are rich in those enthralling remnants of our species past-Rock Carvings. Most are inaccessible as they lie on the south side of the mountain, on the Military side where Morocco and Algeria still bare their teeth at each other, but one of these treasures was very conveniently carved deep within a blind valley some miles north of the Jebel Ouarkziz.

We at Impala always look for tracks that require a four wheel drive car to get down, ones where the challenge adds to the awe and wildness of the landscape that we cross and that is exactly what is presented to us deep into the valley where the rock carvings of Azrou Klane lie.

The carvings themselves tell of a time when the rivers flowed all year and the desert was full of life. This picture shows a small part of the rock carvings with ostriches carved into the rocks surface. Elsewhere there are carvings showing lions, antelope and camels, as well as figures on camels with some that appear to be half human half animal.

As we arrive at the carvings and begin to walk amongst them, there is a sense of ancientness and spirituality in the mountain around the rocks that is enhanced because of our challenging journey to get into the valley of Azrou Klane.