To Morocco with a Dog? Our Family Vanlife Experience with Flēra
Many people ask me: “How is it even possible to drag a dog with you to Africa? Isn’t it too hard? What about the paperwork?” The short answer is: if you want to see your dog truly happy, just take them with you.
Our 7-year-old Hungarian Vizsla, Flēra (pronounced Fleur-ah) is no stranger to travel. In fact, we started our vanlife journey primarily so she could always be with us. She’s a full member of our “pack” (me, my husband, and our six-year-old son), and for her, Morocco was just one big, sunny adventure.
The Route: From the Baltics to the Gates of Africa
Our trip from Latvia was a long one, but honestly, it was part of the fun. We headed to Klaipėda, took the ferry to Kiel, and then drove down through Europe to the French port of Sète. There, we boarded a massive ferry to Nador.
Two nights on a ship might sound like a lot, but Flēra took it like a pro. Since you can’t stay in the van during the crossing, we booked a pet-friendly cabin so she could stay right there with us. She handled the ferry life perfectly – between naps in the cabin and walks on the pet deck, she was the most relaxed traveler on board.
After landing in Nador, we started our massive loop. We didn’t just stick to the main roads; we drove through the breathtaking Atlas Mountains, spent days living in the deserts, and then slowly made our way to the Atlantic coast, following the ocean all the way up to Tangier Med for the short hop back to Spain.
The Paperwork Maze: Expect the Best, Prepare for the Worst
If you read about pet travel requirements for Morocco online, you might start losing your hair. Rabies shots, titer tests, health certificates… it sounds like a lot.
We had everything ready, including the titer test (which you need to get back into the EU!). Since her scheduled rabies revaccination fell right in the middle of our trip, we just did it a bit earlier back home to keep everything “chiki.” We also got a government-approved vet certificate stating she was fit for the Moroccan journey.
And now for the best part: in reality, nobody actually cared about our papers. When we rolled off the ferry in Nador, the customs officer glanced at Flēra. I proudly pulled out my thick folder of documents. The Moroccan officer took the papers, put on a very serious face, and pretended to study every word. He clearly had no idea what he was looking at, but after a minute of “focused” reading, he just nodded and waved us through.
A word of warning: Don’t take this as a sign to skip the paperwork! You never know when you’ll run into a “by-the-book” official. It’s better to have it and not need it than to be stuck at the border.
Vanlife with a Vizsla: Rice and Tuna to the Rescue
Flēra is used to this lifestyle. For her, the “where” doesn’t matter as long as she’s with her people. We always pack a large supply of her regular dry food, but when you’re exploring remote areas or desert camps, supplies eventually run low.
Whenever we ran out of food or just wanted to give her a treat, we made her favorite: Rice with Tuna. You can find canned tuna in every tiny village shop (hanout) in Morocco. Flēra would probably sell her soul for a bit of Moroccan tuna!
Since we live in the van, finding accommodation wasn’t an issue. But on the few occasions we booked an Airbnb, it was totally fine – almost everywhere was pet-friendly. As for parking spots, Morocco is a vanlifer’s paradise. You’ll see plenty of other travelers with dogs, and everyone gets along just fine.
Local Reactions: Between Fear and Curiosity
Here’s a weird one: Morocco is crawling with thousands of stray dogs. They are on every corner! But when locals see a well-groomed Vizsla on a leash, they often get scared.
It was pretty funny to see grown men jump back or cross the street to avoid her. I think they just aren’t used to “pet culture.” However, once they realize she’s friendly, the curiosity kicks in – especially with kids. They’ll come over, wanting to pet her and ask questions. Just be prepared for the fact that many people there have an instinctive fear of dogs.
My Final Advice? Just Go!
If you’re still hesitating about taking your dog to Morocco – stop. Just do it. A dog is happy anywhere as long as they are with their “pack.” Flēra didn’t care if we were in a Latvian forest, high up in the Atlas Mountains, or surrounded by desert dunes; she was just happy to be part of the adventure. It’s a level of freedom that’s hard to describe, but absolutely worth experiencing.
