مغارة الجمل

Grotte de Chameau

Useful Information

Location:	(34.8382768, -2.3560162)
Open:	after appointment. [2026]
Fee:
Classification:	Karst Cave
Light:	LED
Dimension:	L=1,600 m, VR=57 m, Pmax=1 m³/s.
Guided tours:
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:	Philippe Audra, Vasile Heresanu, Lionel Barriquand, Mohamed Boutchich, Stéphane Jaillet, Edwige Pons-Branchu, Pavel Bosák, Hai Cheng, R. Edwards, Michel Renda (2021): Bat guano minerals and mineralization processes in Chameau Cave, Eastern Morocco International Journal of Speleology. 50. 91-109. researchgate DOI International Journal of Speleology Dr. Mohamed El Kadiri, Mohamed El Ahamadi, Andrés Ros, José L. Llamusí, José Amoros, Manuel Tremiño (2022): The Grotte du Chameau and the Grotte des Pigeons, Morocco. A project of nature turism 18th International Congress of Speleology - Savoie Mont Blanc 2022, Vol. VI - Karstologia Mémoires n°26 - SYMPOSIUM 18 - Socio-economic aspects. pdf
Address:	Grotte de Chameau, Zegzel, Berkane, Tel: +212-. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1948	the first show cave of Morocco opened to the public.
1951 or 1953	Classified as a national heritage site for its geological and archaeological value and closed for the public.
1971	explored and surveyed by J.‐P. Cantet.
1982	explored by the Groupe Speleo de l’Aragnado.
2008	part of the cultural and integrated development project for the Eastern Region, Project DéLIO II.
2015	development completed without being opened to the public.
2016	a public‐private initiative under the direction of Dr. Mohamed El Kadiri continues the development.
2017	new LED light system installed by cavelighting.
2020	cave development suspended due to Corona.

Description

مغارة الجمل (Grotte de Chameau, Grotte Du Chameau, Chameau Cave, Camel Cave) is located in the semi-arid Bni Snassen Mountains in Eastern Morocco. It has river passages which fall dry regularly and also fossil levels higher up. As has several entrances there is a strong convective airflow, which causes condensation-corrosion on the walls and makes the cave generally very dry. A special thing with this cave are speleothems, minerals which are based on the decay of bat guano. Another important aspect are numerous archaeological remains inside the cave. It is a site of the homme préhistorique de Zegzel (Zegzel Man), beneath the remains inscriptions on the wall were found. The age of the remains is between 11,000 and 12,00 years. It was declared a Cultural Heritage more than 50 years ago.

The resurgence, a perennial spring, is located at the foot of a cliff, and is also the entrance to the show cave, called entrée inférieure (lower entrance). On the right side there is a ledge with paved floor and railing leading into the cave portal. The second entrance is higher up, obviously named entrée supérieure (upper entrance). The tour through the cave is a through tour, which shows the upper level with its stalactites and stalagmites, an intermediate level and finally descends to the lower level with its river sediments and erosional form. The upper level has a really strange stalagmite which has a weird form, resembling a camel, hence the name of the cave.

This cave has a very long history of being developed as a show cave and nevertheless not being open to the public. The first attempt was in 1948 which makes it the first show cave of the country. It was then declared a national heritage site, depending on the source either 1951 or 1953, and it was closed again. Another attempt to a show cave was 2008, but after it was completed in 2015 it was not opened to the public. A year later a public‐private initiative under the direction of Dr. Mohamed El Kadiri continued the development again without opening it to the public. They even installed a professional LED light system. The site around the cave entrance was already accessible and was popular with the locals, but it was closed again after some time, for no obvious reason. Development was finally stopped during the Corona pandemic, but it seems the problems were difficulties with the development companies. Other say it was a lack in funding. In other words, the works are not completed but the cave is well developed, with trails, staircases and electric light. It seems only some security details had to be completed, but the official opening was delayed from 2024 to 2025. As far as we know they still have no regular open hours, although they have a website, which is nevertheless not informative and contains weird errors. They seem to open the cave after appointment, under the nonsensical term ecotourism.