Goats in Trees: Morocco’s Wonder or Tourist Trap?

Yes, you read that right—goats do climb trees, and witnessing it with your own eyes can be quite the spectacle. But why do these goats climb trees in the first place? The answer is simple: survival. Goats possess a unique ability to scale mountains and cliffs, making climbing trees, particularly Argan trees, an easy feat for them.

Argan trees, with their thick branches, are often the only source of greenery during Morocco’s arid seasons. Unlike other livestock such as sheep, cows, and camels, goats are attracted to anything green and fresh. So, when the landscape turns dry, the goats take to the trees in search of food.

However, this phenomenon has attracted attention not just from nature lovers but also from the tourism industry. In some regions, locals have exploited the goats, placing them in trees to attract tourists (not travelers) who stop to take pictures and offer tips. But is this a responsible form of tourism? Absolutely not.

These poor goats are sometimes forced to stay in the trees all day, without access to food, water, or rest. Most tourists—and even some tour operators—are unaware of the exploitation happening before their eyes. Unfortunately, this practice is anything but ethical.

As a proud advocate for responsible tourism, I, Ilyas Baayay, Secretary General of the National Union of Tourist Guides in Morocco, have addressed this issue with the Ministry of Tourism and associations dedicated to protecting our natural heritage and animal welfare. After several appeals, authorities have taken decisive action to stop the roadside staged scenes of goats perched in trees, which were previously orchestrated at frequent tourist bus stops solely for tourist profit.

In our tours, we emphasize the importance of respecting animals and never exploiting them for financial gain. We often trek miles off the beaten path into the depths of the forest to see goats naturally climbing from one tree to another—a rare but rewarding sight. On one our tours, I had the pleasure of guiding a writer who was inspired by the spectacle and wrote a beautiful poem entitled “What You Have Heard Is True.” It perfectly captured the magic of seeing these incredible animals in their natural environment.