Es Smara province is located in the heart of Saharan provinces, which gives it a strategic part which hasn’t stop growing during the recent past. It has constituted a important step on the caravaneer commercial life which was blooming  between the north of the kingdom and the south-west of Africa and whom the influence reached Timbuktu. The Rguibats tribe would have  descended from the Marabout named Sidi Ahmed Reguibi (15th  century). He was living on the foot of the wadi Noun. The Rguibats are dromedaries ans sheeps farmers. They read the Koran, studied sciences and lived from different trade amassing goods. Only the Ma-el-Aïnine  confraternity founded by the cheikh Ma-elAïnine during the reign of the sultan Hassan the 1st  will manage to set up in the heart of the Rguibats territory, at Es Smara The works began in 1884  and concerned the mosque, a zouia, theology class, a library, rooms for students and residence for the cheikh’s four wifes. He selected a water point surrounded by rushes, called in Arabic “smar”, in the Seguiet el hamra valley, near to a small tributary of the wadi. The future fortress will be called Smara. Another account tells that the name of the town is derivated from smar, name of Graminaceae  which grows in abundance on the selouane wadi, the stem of this plant is used to make very appreciated mats. Smara is a saint city because it gathers, within a range of 100 kms, three importantzaouïas : Sidi Ahmed-Rguibi, Cheikh Ma-el Aïnine and Sidi Ahmed-Laaroussi

Traditional morocco-leather tanning, within the province, allows the making and the decoration of articles made from goats hide and appreciated and used for its suppleness : simple or embroidered cushions (assermi), travel bags (tassoufra), snuffboxes, key holders… Wood work : craftmen working and decorating wood produce mainly hollow dishes. Jewellery : precious metal craft is the fruit of the inhabitants and very old technics having given birth to a jewellery which gives evidence of the richness, the variety and the refinement of a set of jewels : rings, bracelets, ankle rings, necklaces…

Numerous cooperatives have been created and gather number of craftmen. A 280m² surface craft unity has been created. It is made up of 13 craft workshop, 2 rooms for embroidery, sewing and wood work vocational training, tapestry room, exposition room and a warehouse : must be visited.

G24 At 20 km, southward of Es-Smara, cave engravings site, you will follow a track along the wadi Selouan

G25 At 23 km, cave engravings of the wadi Selouan.

G26 At 30 km, cave engravings of the wadi El Aasli Boukerch, at the edge of the wadi, drive till the rocky crest where you will find plentyful of engravings.

G27 At 80 km, cave engravings of Amgala, head for due South, pre-islamic Tombs, rendez-vous for various and numerous graffiti.

G28 At 135 km, cave engravings of the wadi Tazouwa, due North, 2 magnificent pre-islamic Tombs and cave engravings.

G29  At 145 km, cave engravings of the wadi Mirane exceptional preislamic tombs and uncommonly rich cave engravings on several thousands of meters.

To visit the cave engravings sites in the wadi Aasli valley, westward of Es- Smara, it is recommended to follow the route done by Michel Vieuchange. Born in Nevers in 1904, he left at 25 years old to cover a 1 374 km trip through the “white stain” on the desert map and will make of him one of the most beautiful figure of Saharan exploration. One month and a hald of self-sacrifice leaded him to death and made of him an hero. For this trip you need a four-wheel-drive (filled up with fuel and water).