In this guide 6
The Merzouga lake, called Dayet Srji, is one of the surprises of the Moroccan Sahara. In a wet year, a real lake appears at the foot of the Erg Chebbi dunes, and pink flamingos come to feed in it. In a dry year there is only a flat, cracked basin. This guide explains when the lake has water, which birds you can see, how to get there from Merzouga and how to fit it into a desert trip.
What is the Merzouga lake?
Dayet Srji, also written Dayet Srij and also known as Lac de Merzouga or Tamezguidat, is a seasonal lake near Merzouga. It lies at 699 m in the Tafilalet, in the same Key Biodiversity Area as the Erg Chebbi dunes (Key Biodiversity Areas).
The lake has no river. It is fed only by rain and floods, and the area gets about 200 mm of rain in an average year (Key Biodiversity Areas). So the Merzouga lake is different every year. After a good winter it can be wide and blue, and after a dry year it can disappear completely.
When does the Merzouga lake have water?
The lake usually holds water from November to May. In very wet years it can last until August (Key Biodiversity Areas). Flamingos are most often seen in early spring (Fodors).
Heavy rain fell on the Draa Tafilalet region from September 2024, and the lakes around Merzouga filled again. In March 2025, local guides reported thousands of flamingos at Dayet Srji for the first time in years (Hespress). The region also has two other lakes that fill after rain, Erg Znigui and Yasmina.
Flamingos and birds at Dayet Srji
About 130 bird species have been recorded in the Merzouga area (Key Biodiversity Areas). The best known are:
- Greater flamingos: they come regularly when the lake is full. In 1996, 400 were counted, and in 2025 thousands returned after the rain.
- Marbled ducks: a rare duck. Up to 3,500 were recorded in 1973, and recent counts are about 300 to 400.
- Ruddy shelducks: orange ducks that gather here in good years.
- Desert birds: the area is also home to the houbara bustard, which is now declining.
The dunes around the lake also shelter about 20 kinds of mammals, including the sand cat and the dorcas gazelle (Key Biodiversity Areas). They are shy, so you are more likely to see their tracks in the sand.
How to visit the Merzouga lake
Dayet Srji is a few kilometres from Merzouga (Hespress). The tracks around it are sandy, so the best way to go is by 4×4 with a local driver. On a 4×4 desert day trip from Merzouga, ask your driver to stop at the lake when it has water. If you drive yourself, read our guide to renting a 4×4 in Morocco first.
- Go early or late: birds are most active in the morning and before sunset, and the light is softer for photos.
- Keep your distance: flamingos fly away if people walk too close. Bring binoculars or a zoom lens.
- Stay on the tracks: the edge of the lake can be soft mud after rain, and cars can get stuck.
- Take it all home: the area has no official protection, so leave nothing behind (Key Biodiversity Areas).
Combine the Merzouga lake with the dunes
The lake is a perfect add on to a stay at Erg Chebbi. Ride a camel at sunset (see our camel ride in Merzouga guide), spend a night in a Sahara desert camp, then visit the lake the next morning. Try quad biking in Merzouga or drive on to Erfoud for fossils and dates. For more ideas, see our full list of things to do in Merzouga.
Our 4 day Marrakech Sahara desert tour gives you a full day in the desert, so there is time for the lake. Visiting in winter? Read Merzouga in December, and see the best time to visit Morocco.
FAQ: Merzouga lake
Is there a lake in Merzouga?
Yes. Dayet Srji is a seasonal lake a few kilometres from Merzouga. It fills after rain and usually holds water from November to May.
Can you see flamingos in Merzouga?
Yes, when the lake is full. Flamingos are most often seen in early spring, and thousands came back in 2025 after heavy rain.
Is the Merzouga lake always full?
No. It is fed only by rain, so in dry years it can be completely empty.
How do I get to Dayet Srji?
The easiest way is by 4×4 with a local driver from Merzouga, because the tracks are sandy.
What is the best time to visit the Merzouga lake?
Late winter and spring after a rainy season give you the best chance of water and birds.
Want to see the Merzouga lake on your desert trip? Tell us your dates and we will check the lake for you.
Message us on WhatsApp