Can you see camels in the wild, and how do camels live in Morocco?

First, a friendly correction that surprises people: the animals you'll ride and photograph in Morocco are dromedaries — single-humped camels — not the two-humped Bactrian camels of Central Asia. And there are essentially no truly wild camels here. Every camel you meet belongs to someone; they're domesticated working animals, deeply woven into desert and rural life. So while you absolutely will see plenty of camels, "wild" isn't quite the right word — "free-ranging and domesticated" is more accurate.

What you do see, often, is camels grazing semi-freely across the plains, scrublands and desert margins, sometimes seemingly alone or in loose groups far from any obvious owner. They're typically hobbled or left to forage and rounded up later — a centuries-old herding rhythm. Around the desert hubs like Merzouga and M'hamid, and along the roads of the south and the Atlantic plains, you'll spot them frequently. They feed on thorny scrub and tough desert plants that almost nothing else can digest.

How they live is genuinely fascinating, and a good desert guide will tell you more around the campfire. Camels are astonishingly adapted to the Sahara: that hump stores fat (not water, as the myth goes) for energy when food is scarce; they can go many days without drinking and then rehydrate enormous amounts at once; their bodies tolerate big swings in temperature; and they have a double row of long lashes, sealable nostrils and broad padded feet for the sand and wind. For desert peoples they've historically been everything — transport across the dunes, milk, wool, leather, and a measure of wealth.

For travellers, the main camel experience is of course the dune trek — riding out across the sand at sunset to a desert camp, or out again at dawn. It's iconic and, done well, magical. I'll always be honest about welfare: choose operators who treat their animals properly, keep treks to sensible lengths and conditions, and don't overload tired camels in extreme heat. The camels at reputable camps are generally well cared for, as they're valuable working animals, and a short, well-managed ride is a lovely, gentle experience. If anyone in your group would rather not ride, a 4x4 to camp is always an option.

So: you'll see camels constantly, you can ride them across the dunes, and you can learn how remarkably they survive one of the harshest environments on earth — but think of them as the desert's great domesticated partner rather than wild game. Tell me if a camel trek matters to you and I'll make sure it's with people who do it kindly and well.