Moulay Bousselham
Merja Zerga · Blue Lagoon · Moulay Bou Selham
34°52.2'N 06°17.8'W
Depth
1.5–3m
Bottom
mud
Alarm Radius
70m
Holding
Excellent
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
70m
70m inside lagoon on thick mud — excellent holding. Inside is calm. The challenge is entirely at the bar entry. Once inside, relax — you are in one of the most sheltered and remarkable anchorages on the Moroccan coast.
About This Anchorage
Moulay Bousselham's Merja Zerga lagoon ('Blue Lagoon') is the most rewarding and most challenging stop on Morocco's northern Atlantic coast. The lagoon is a 7,000-hectare Ramsar Wetland and National Park — home to 30,000+ wintering birds including Europe's largest gathering of flamingos, marsh harriers, herons, spoonbills, and rare migrants. The village of Moulay Bousselham sits on a dune spit at the lagoon mouth, dominated by the white marabout (shrine) of the saint Sidi Yahia ibn Younès, and has one of the authentic, un-touristified Atlantic villages left on this coast. Inside the bar, the anchorage is completely sheltered — as still as a lake — surrounded by reed beds and mud flats alive with birds. The bar is the key challenge: 0.5–1.5m at low water with breaking swell if any Atlantic swell is running. This anchorage is for adventurous sailors who do their research; the reward is extraordinary.
Protected From
N · NW · W · SW · S · E
Exposed To
None (fully sheltered)
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free; possible small fee from local lagoon fishermen who pilot you in
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: Merja Zerga National Park — no disturbance to birds; no anchoring in designated bird rest areas (flamingo flats); bar entry requires high water and calm swell; local pilot strongly recommended.
Hazards
- !Bar entry EXTREMELY DANGEROUS in any swell or at low water — minimum 1.5m depth at high water, 0.5m at low; breaking seas on bar in any swell
- !Approach only at high water slack in flat calm conditions (swell < 0.5m) — this is non-negotiable
- !Local pilot from lagoon fishing boat is strongly recommended — wave at approaching fishing boat
- !Shoaling bar changes position — do not rely on outdated charts; ask local fishermen for current passage
- !No facilities — must be self-sufficient for water, food, and fuel
Skipper's Tips
- →Wait for the right conditions: approach on a high-tide afternoon when swell is minimal (< 0.5m) after several settled days
- →Wave at a local fishing boat as you approach — they will pilot you in for a small fee; worth every dirham
- →The flamingo gathering (winter/spring) is one of the great wildlife spectacles of the Atlantic coast — anchor here Oct–April for maximum numbers
- →Birdwatching by dinghy through the reed beds at dawn — extraordinary variety; bring binoculars
- →The marabout of Moulay Bousselham is a pilgrimage site — respectful visitors are welcome; remove shoes at entry
Facilities
Small village restaurant serving tagines — simple and excellent. No water or fuel at anchorage. Nearest supplies by road.
Nearest provisions: Kénitra or Larache (by road) (20nm)
Best Months & Season
Apr, May, Sep, Oct
April–May and September–October. Birdwatching best October–April (wintering flamingos). Bar crossing requires calm summer or autumn weather windows — not feasible in winter (2–4m Atlantic swell). Plan several days at anchor waiting for perfect bar conditions.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 70m
On Morocco's Atlantic coast, tidal range and Atlantic swell can change anchorage conditions significantly overnight. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously.
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