Four visitors to Merzouga in southern Morocco are having an experience they’ll never forget: echoing the ancient tradition of camel caravans in the Saharan desert. Known as ‘ships of the desert,’ the humble but noble camel has served humanity well in this part of the world for centuries, carrying spices, salt, gold, and other precious commodities.  Some of the ancient trade routes criss-crossed the desert lengthwise, traversing the African continent from Arabia to Morocco, and, just beyond, Europe.  The region was — and is — also the crossroads of Europe and sub-Saharan Africa.  No matter what the route, camels were the vehicles that transported the elements of culture and humanity from one land to another.

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