Walking with Nomads

by Alice Morrison

Adventurer and TV presenter Alice Morrison takes the reader on three remarkable and inspirational journeys across Morocco, from the Sahara to the Atlas mountains, to reveal the growing challenges faced by our planet.

Accompanied only by three Amazigh Muslim men and their camels, Scottish explorer Alice Morrison set off to find a hidden world. During her journey along the Draa river, she encountered dinosaur footprints and discovered a lost city, as well as what looked like a map of an ancient spaceship, all the while trying to avoid landmines, quicksand and the deadly horned viper.

Few places better illustrate the reality of climate change and the encroachment of the desert than a dried-out riverbed, but this also means a constant search for the next source of water. Meeting other nomads as they travel, Alice also gets to hear a side of their lives few ever access, as the women would never be allowed to speak to men from outside their community. They explain the challenges of giving birth and raising children in the wilderness. As the journey continues, Alice learns to enjoy goat's trachea sausages, gets a saliva shower from Hamish the camel as he blows out his sex bubble, and shares riddles round the camp fire with her fellow travellers.

Walking with Nomads reveals the transformative richness of the desert and the mountains, providing a total escape from everyday concerns, but it also shows how the ancient world of the nomad is under threat as never before.

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel, Book Club, Morocco, Adventure, Africa

336 pages, Hardcover

Published March 17, 2022

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven’t been, but when I think of Morocco, I think of the bustling souks and the colourful architecture. But this country has another side away from the main tourist attractions. The book is over three stages she walks along the Draa river, then across the Sahara and finally through the Atlas mountains. Two of these journeys happen in what we would consider normal times. Then the final walk just about manages to take place after the pandemic. But it nearly didn’t happen.

She is joined on her walk by the men who know these landscapes intimately. They know where the best places to stop are and most importantly, where the oasis and where the rare and precious resources of water can be found. Three camels carry their burden; Morrison isn’t sure about the camels at the beginning, but she grows to admire their resilience in these harsh landscapes.

I really liked this travel book. Morrison is a genuinely enthusiastic person and that comes through on every page as she walks across Morocco. She is sensitive to those that she meets and gets on really well with her companions. It never feels that she is imposing her view or perspective on what happens on the walk.

Being a female explorer she gets to see the mostly hidden life of the women who live in these places they pass through. This is something that no male travel writer ever would get to see. She has the ability to form strong bonds with the women that she meets. Their delight in meeting her is apparent too. If you want a travel book that will help you see under the skin of a country at a gentle walking pace, then I can strongly recommend this.

[Anne Macnamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to be at the launch of this book and enjoy hearing Alice recount the expedition in person. Walking with Nomads is a joy and reads as Alice speaks - full of adventure, enthusiasm and a passion for life.
I love the camaraderie of the expedition team as they travel the length of Morocco’s varied landscapes - Brahim’s wise counsel and prayers and Addi’s sense of fun, together with the strong characters of the camels.
Alice’s love of travel and meeting people shines through as in her other books (which I heartily recommend) and I must make a trip to Morocco.

[Jon Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

A disappointing DNF.
I tried. I really tried. But I just couldn’t engage with the people she was writing about.
I managed to almost get half way through and then skimmed the rest, stumbling upon a quote where the author refers to ‘the fading life of the nomads’. And I think that just sums up why I couldn’t get into this travelogue. She wasn’t actually walking with nomads after all!
This was read as research for the forthcoming Lazarus 3/Florakis novel.

[Philip Baumbach · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this as part of a book club read. The other members of the book club were not enthusiastic. I found the book ok but a bit dull. I learnt a quite a lot about camels and hospitality in Morocco. I read about the first two journeys but gave up after that. I had had enough.

[Lynn Sikora]

I can’t give a rating here but you’ll enjoy this book if you love camels and/or Morocco.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dnf p 76

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Walking with Nomads Alice Morrison
I've dwelt in this book over several months, after visiting the High Atlas, climbing Mt Toubkal & then exploring the south - including the Sahara - in early June on a first visit. I hope there will be more..I loved it! But my brief trip is as nothing compared to my ex-colleague Alice's immersion in the life of the locals and the land. As others have said, she writes as she speaks, and that makes her account highly accessible, fascinating and - above all - exudes her delight at the people and the places. I admire her pluck and her adventurous spirit, but most of all the way she connects with 'strangers' so that they become friends. She exemplifies how the human spirit beats with one heart, whether in London, Imlil or the far reaches of the desert. Thoroughly recommended - I wish I could write like her!

[Anthony Frobisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intrepid, insightful and illuminating

Alice Morrisson is a perfect companion, guiding you across the landscapes, people, cultures and environments of the fascinating country of Morocco.
With tenacity, determination, an endless curiosity, humility and respect as well as good humour and enviable linguistic skills, her 3 treks across Morocco are wonderfully captured in her narrative. You can feel the heat, smell the camels, see the smiles and heartfelt welcomes and hospitality. You can sense the overwhelming changes, political, environmental, climactic and social impacting this vast desert nation.
A beautifully written book by one of the best travel writers there is. Alice Morrison is intrepid in her ambition and adventures, insightful and observant of interactions, exchanges, customs and cultures, as well as illuminating in her description of Morocco. Always engaging, always informative and always entertaining. What more could you ask for in a travelogue? A wonderful book. Shukran ja'azellan Alice.

[Janelle Whyte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Walking with Nomads is a story of a modern day adventure across an ancient landscape. In a series of three expeditions, Alice Morrison, her accompanying guides and camels, crisscrossed Morocco, from the Sahara desert to the Atlas mountains.

This is a travel book about a fascinating country and how the inhabitants live, in some extremely harsh landscapes and conditions and the impact that climate change is having on the countryside.

The author's interactions with other nomads, as they travelled, and her unique insight on the lives of the women is fascinating. Also fascinating was the finding of stone age relics and finding dinosaur footprints.

No decent adventure is ever easy and the adventurers faced many challenges along the way.

Alice's writing style was easy to read and kept the reader enthralled until the end.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

So enjoyed reading about Alice's adventures on her 3 expeditions walking through Morocco. Alice takes us right off the beaten track in the hidden world of nomads, and the undiscovered Morocco of dinosaur prints and strange rock statue formations.She shares the highs and the lows of her treks and the wonderful companions that she meets along the way. Being a woman means she also gets invited in to the hidden world of nomadic women in a way that no male explorer could. Her love for her adopted country shines through. She made me laugh out loud and I now know more about camels than I ever thought possible! Bravo Alice and can't wait for the next adventure.

[Julian Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Supremely well written and instantly engaging, Ms. Morrison's three trips chronicled here are so well described and brought to life, I could almost feel the sand between my toes.

I will be reading more of her work - this is a tour de force of travel writing, so filled with unusual and extraordinary experiences, it felt good t be reminded that the world is still waiting out there to be explored and enjoyed.

Fabulous read.

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was interesting, but it had the potential to be much better. It's written as random recollections of certain moments of the trip. I wish there was more context given to the bits of Moroccan history and culture that are occasionally mentioned. This book desperately needed a glossary of terms and better maps. It also would have been helpful to have a better sense of the passage of time during each journey.

[Erin Grigson Baylis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book about her travels through the desert. I especially found it interesting that it seemed to be an asset to be a woman as she was able to enter homes and speak with the women living there when the men could not.
My favorite parts of this were the riddles and the folk tales from the land that she sprinkles throughout.
7/10 While I enjoyed the stories and reminiscing, I did want more. But I'm open to reading more by Morrison.

[Stuart Stearn · Rating 4 out of 5]

a very different sort of book

A disarmingly unsophisticated account of a challenging set of journeys across what would seem like empty and boring places. But the journey reveals a great deal of interest. I liked the dinosaurs best. It also painted a well observed picture of the Moroccans working to make the trek work.
Well worth the time to read the story

[Beverley Prentice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

This book is definitely up there as one of my favourite travel books.
It's honest, charming, funny, educational, and the descriptions are brilliant.
Resilience, ambition, humour, kindness, drama, anxiety, hope.... it's all tbere.

I loved all the people we met - and found myself needing a camel.
Loved every page!
I need to read more books by Alice Morrison now.

[hika86 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I generally like a lot memoirs of women travelling, because there aren’t enough in this world.
I was ok at the end of the first expedition. Honestly, nothing to note. But when I discovered there was a second entire expedition to read about I relly suffered. Idk if it wasn’t the memoir for me, or if it should have been condensed.

[Bryony · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like Justin Marozzi, Alice Albinia and Rebecca Lowe then you will like this. I am not sure I found any of it profound like the previous author’s works but I did enjoy the adventure, the camaraderie and the sheer comedy value of camels.

[Jonathan Freeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author is definitely improving her writing style book on book. This is an interesting and heart warming account of her three treks across Morocco with six camels and three Moroccan camel drivers.
Her writing style is becoming lighter and more informative about the country she loves.

[Mike Barton · Rating 1 out of 5]

Some parts of the book , particularly those in Western Sahara, could well be filed under fiction.
That bit about mines is best avoided.
What she glosses over is that Western Sahara is under an illegal and repressive occupation by Morocco. Western Sahara is simply NOT Morocco.
🙄

[Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the book. Very evocative and an insight into a very different life to the one I live in the West. It has certainly made me want to visit the country.

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gets better towards the end

[Victoria Welsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read in Morocco

Absolutely fascinating.So well written. I enjoy every moment of being transported into the desert and being taken on a journey

[Ann Worthington · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating adventure to a country I look forward to visiting. I loved the gritty detail and frank exposure to a different culture. Brava Alice, you kept your sense of humor and zest for life.