During the summer of 1986, we wrote the first-ever Naturetrek brochure from a flat-roofed mud and stone Berber house beneath Mount Toubkal in Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains, where Maryanne and I had been based for four years whilst leading Exodus’s High Atlas treks. There we worked with a special people – the resourceful and fun-loving Berbers on whose friendship and hospitality we relied entirely for the mules, meals and rooftop bed-space needed by our trekking groups. Inevitably, a High Atlas wildlife trek was one of the first Naturetrek holidays we offered in 1987, and many more followed. Unsurprisingly therefore, since Friday night's devastating earthquake in the region, we have been receiving telephone calls and emails from Naturetrek customers concerned about our friends and partners in the High Atlas, with whom many of our clients have travelled over the years.

If you, like us, would like to do something to help those who have suffered the tragic loss of their homes and relatives, then please consider donating to the British Red Cross's Morocco Earthquake Appeal. We have set up a Just Giving page and pledge to match all donations made to the "Naturetrek Morocco Earthquake Appeal" up to a total of £10,000, hoping that we can jointly raise £20,000 or more together. If you have been enchanted by Morocco and its people as we have, please help us to help the communities of the region destroyed by this earthquake.

David Mills

Naturetrek Chairman & Co-founder

Please note:

The Morocco Earthquake appeal will cover areas affected by the earthquake and those potentially affected in the future. In the unlikely event that we raise more money than can be reasonably and efficiently spent, any surplus funds will be used to help us prepare for and respond to other humanitarian disasters anywhere in the world. For more information visit https://donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/disaster-fund