Where can you see the Barbary macaques (monkeys) in Morocco?

The Barbary macaque is one of Morocco's real natural treasures — the only wild monkey in North Africa and the only macaque species anywhere outside Asia. Seeing them in their natural forest, not a cage, is a genuine thrill, and it's one of the easiest wildlife encounters to arrange because they live in accessible, beautiful country. There are two places I send guests, and the first is far and away the best.

The prime spot is the Middle Atlas cedar forest around Azrou and the cool, almost Alpine town of Ifrane. The forest here is magnificent — ancient Atlas cedars, some hundreds of years old — and it's home to several wild macaque troops. The classic, easy point is the famous cedar grove sometimes called the Cèdre Gouraud forest just outside Azrou, where the monkeys are habituated to people and you can often watch them up close as they forage, groom and play among the trees. It's a magical, atmospheric place: dappled green light, the scent of cedar, and these clever, expressive animals going about their day.

The second place is the Ouzoud Waterfalls, between Marrakech and Beni Mellal, where a separate troop of macaques lives in the gorge around the falls and frequently comes near the paths and viewpoints. So if your route includes Ouzoud as a day trip from Marrakech, you can combine Morocco's most beautiful waterfall with a monkey sighting in one go — a wonderful two-for-one, especially with children.

Now the honest, important part: please treat them as the wild animals they are. The biggest issue at both sites is well-meaning visitors feeding them — bread, peanuts, crisps, sweets. It harms their health, makes them aggressive and dependent, and isn't doing them any kindness. I ask all my guests not to feed them, to keep a respectful distance, not to touch them (they can bite and scratch, and there's a small disease risk), and to secure bags and snacks because a bold macaque will help itself. Photograph them, admire them, but let them stay wild.

Logistically, the cedar forest pairs naturally with the route between Fes and the desert or Marrakech, as Azrou and Ifrane sit on that corridor — so we often weave a forest stop into a longer itinerary rather than making a special trip. The Ifrane–Azrou area is also lovely and cool in summer, a refreshing contrast to the heat below. Tell me you'd love to see the macaques and I'll make sure the cedar forest lands naturally in your plan.