Merzouga, Morocco

Merzouga, Morocco

Desert Foxes Under a Full Sky

5 min read · Africa

All field notes

Fennec tracks across the dunes at dusk, a camp under a sky with no light pollution, and the desert's hidden, nocturnal life.

Nothing prepares you for how much lives in the Sahara once the sun drops. After a day of dunes shifting from gold to deep rust, the desert cools and its nocturnal residents come out.

We followed fennec tracks into the low light, watched a jerboa freeze in the last glow, and then let the stars take over — no light pollution for hundreds of kilometers. Before dawn we climbed the highest dune to wait for the larks and the long shadows.

Replace with your own logistics — guides, timing, and what to pack for photographing cold desert nights.

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