Nkhila Lodge

The drive was worth it for the sunset and sunrise, especially as we were celebrating my friend’s birthday. The accommodation is beautiful and the food was delicious. Ahmed and the rest of the team were so kind and welcoming, and went out of their way to make the visit special. I’d recommend arranging transport to and from Marrakesh directly with the staff.

The water tank ran low after we’d used the bathroom and toilet several times, but staff sorted it out as soon as we told them. For a hot winter shower, it’s better to go in the afternoon since the heater runs on solar power. We spent the afternoon relaxing on the camp’s huge terrace with the complimentary tea, coffee, and snacks. Before sunset we went for a camel ride, then had delicious Berber tangines for dinner and watched the stars by the campfire the staff had prepared. Our stargazing tent was clean and looked just like the website pictures. The camp sits on a hill with a lovely 360-degree view of the surrounding desert. We stayed one night at Nkhila Lodge on 21 Dec. Our pickup in Marrakesh was on time, and we reached camp about an hour later. The journey itself was an adventure, in a good way, and check-in went smoothly. We really enjoyed the stay. Badr, the staff member who accompanied us, always made sure we had what we needed. The hospitality was top-notch.

We couldn’t reach the property. The route was extremely difficult and dangerous, and nobody had warned us beforehand that a Jeep or 4x4 was essential. We spent over an hour trying to get there in the dark through the desert, but it felt impossible without risking serious damage to our car. We explained what happened and asked for a refund, but they refused. Getting there was a nightmare and not worth the stress or risk. I absolutely wouldn’t recommend this place.

The accommodation itself was awesome, with gorgeous views, and easy to reach from Marrakesh. The place has a lot of potential, but the service had major shortcomings. I couldn’t get more details from the manager about the food or road conditions, and he didn’t answer my messages. Dinner was scheduled for 20:30, but the main course arrived at 21:30. The food was very expensive and didn’t feel worth what we paid. The staff were nice and tried their best, though their English wasn’t very good. Given the price, I expected much better service. I’m afraid it wasn’t worth the money we spent. 😊