La Maison Saharaouie

A step that will forever be etched in your memory. In this house, everything is authentic, simple, and beautiful, but if the comfort of grand hotels and/or palaces is essential for you, then look elsewhere.

We only spent one night at the Saharan house and yet we wanted to flee as quickly as possible! The welcome upon our arrival was terrible, and we had a dreadful meal during which Saliha constantly hit the animals (dogs and cats) with a stick and pulled their ears while laughing. We told her we were uncomfortable, but that didn't stop her from continuing throughout the meal (and even then, she claimed she was "holding back"). She chatted with her friend the entire time without ever saying a word to us. She didn't take care of welcoming us or serving us, leaving the work to her adopted daughter (Zineb) and the young people who work for her, complaining about their slowness in front of us. In the morning, we were surprised to hear Saliha and Zineb arguing about breakfast, and to find it infested with flies, several of which were drowned in the orange juice (she was removing them as she went along, as if it were nothing). Needless to say, we didn't eat a thing. That night alone was hell, and we strongly advise against anyone staying at this establishment, which shocked and disgusted us (and whose prices are much higher than the local average).

Reply to Ms. Deborah Boyaval, Madam, I have been traveling to Morocco for almost 20 years (every year), and the Maison Saharaouie is a must-visit on each of my trips. Authenticity, eco-friendly accommodation, a magnificent house, and an incredible welcome, confirmed by numerous testimonials and by many people I've met there, in addition to all those to whom I've had the pleasure of introducing this place. And what's more, these same people keep going back! For my part, I've been lucky enough to stay there for 8, 10, and 15 days each time, which gives you plenty of time to form an opinion, I assure you! The owner, Saliha, whom you criticize so harshly after your barely 24-hour stay, takes the utmost care of all her animals. She is a staunch advocate for animal welfare, and rightly so. Each of her dogs, cats, birds… has found refuge with her, often brought to her by local residents or found abandoned. These are injured, suffering, sick animals, sometimes in desperate situations after mistreatment on the street… When it's not too late to save them, they recover at the Sahrawi House. Saliha also doesn't hesitate to intervene when she sees someone mistreating any animal (snake, camel, dog, donkey) in the street or at the markets; I've often seen her in action. I can also tell you about the time I was with her in Guelmim. A street dog had both hind legs broken and was dragging itself along in the middle of the road. She stopped, petted it, and then, without hesitation, put the poor creature, in its pitiful state, in her car and saved it by taking care of it. He spent his final years peacefully at the Saharan house. I could tell you many more stories about him... not to mention the numerous times Saliha dipped into her modest savings to ensure these animals received the best possible care from the veterinarian in Guelmim. Do you know many people who would do the same? I don't. This isn't Saliha's only cause; she's deeply committed to the preservation and protection of the oasis and to community life. She created a school there for the youngest children of Tighmert, who otherwise wouldn't have an education. She has dedicated herself to this every day for several years. Saliha works seven days a week; retirement isn't in her plans. She also helps the children of the oasis put on a play each year, and to their great joy, she works tirelessly to raise money to take them on vacation to the seaside during the summer. All of this was made possible with the help of the young people from the oasis, whom she has carefully guided for years so they can obtain their summer camp leader certification. I also had the opportunity, professionally (as an educator), to work with Saliha on organizing seven intercultural exchanges for teenagers in Brittany with teenagers from the oasis youth center. The young people were hosted at the middle school and also free of charge at Saliha's home. The young people from the oasis were also hosted by our youth in France, thanks in part to all the energy Saliha dedicated voluntarily and the trust placed in her by the young people, their families, and Moroccan institutions. I could give you many other examples. Some wonderful videos attest to this! My two teenagers at home read your comment, and beyond being shocked by what you said, they saw an excellent example of the toxic ways some people use the internet, because it's so easy these days to give "your opinion" online, often with a great deal of contempt. (See the rest of this message in the following notice)

Owner keeps the shower occupied every evening for hours. No towels. Young people smoke weed and make music until late. Breakfast much later than agreed to. The cat eats your breakfast. The bill was higher than the agreement, this was adjusted later.

Further to the response to Ms. Boyaval: You have the right not to like La Maison Saharaouie, to be dissatisfied, of course, one cannot please everyone. You may not realize it, but your precious freedom of expression behind your screen has crossed the line in your post with false, slanderous, and defamatory statements publicly posted online. You are therefore deliberately damaging, Madam, the honor and reputation of a guesthouse, its owner, and all the people who work there and who have the right to respect for their integrity. So please, Madam, do not judge the people you only encounter for a few moments in your life during a tourist package that may not be right for you—surely a missed opportunity! The "all-powerful" dissatisfied customer that you once were must find its limits and take a step back, even behind a screen! Sincerely,