Bridgizz

Born in Casablanca on April 19, 1971, Gad Elmaleh is an actor and comedian of French-Moroccan descent who has had roles in a number of films as well as enjoying success as a stand-up comedian. His talents also include singing and voice-overs for animated films. Reportedly based on his own life, Elmaleh's first one-man show, titled Décalages, was performed at the Palais des Glaces 1997. His first cinema role was in 1996 in the full-length feature Salut Cousin!, by Algerian screenwriter and film director Merzak Allouache.

Located near the cities of Rabat and Casablanca, the spectacular Zaër Forest offers some of Morocco's finest scenery and birdlife which can be enjoyed as a day trip from either of these charming Moroccan cities. Birding enthusiasts will especially appreciate Zaër Forest as it has a variety of species in number large enough to guarantee some productive bird watching. The varied terrain includes lush green valleys, cork oak forests and gorges with plentiful water to keep the vegetation producing food for local feathered inhabitants.

Promoted as the biggest shopping mall in Africa, the Morocco Mall on the outskirts of Casablanca was recently inaugurated by international pop star Jennifer Lopez amidst great excitement. Thousands of visitors flocked to the mall in the weeks following the opening, with live performers providing entertainment at different locations throughout the mall.

The Moroccan town of Akka is located near the Algerian border in the Tata Province of the Guelmim-Es Semara region. With its red clay houses and wide open streets, Akka serves as the administrative and trading center of the oasis villages lying to the north. Attractions in Akka include the ancient Kasbah and Agadir Azro, a huge fortress which served as a food storage facility in a region where food scarcity has historically led to conflict. There is also a spring and pools that bring life-giving water to this oasis settlement which is surrounded by miles of barren desert.

Moroccan football fans are no doubt delighted that their national U-23 team has qualified to compete in the Olympic Games taking place in London in 2012. In an exciting game played in Marrakech earlier this week, Morocco beat Egypt 3-2 in what proved to be an all-out battle between two well matched world-class teams. This leaves Egypt and Senegal to face one another on Saturday 10 December in order to claim the honor of competing at the Olympics.

Morocco has a well-earned reputation as a top tourist destination offering a rich cultural and historic heritage, diversity in nature, a range of adventure travel options and warm hospitality. Recognizing the potential to develop tourism opportunities in Morocco, a host of major international hotel chains have plans to expand their operations in this exotic North African country. The fact that the tourism industry has government backing makes Morocco an even more attractive investment choice for hotel groups.

Referring to poetry as "the ultimate threshold of words", Moroccan playwright and poet Abdallah Zrika is renowned in literary circles for the spontaneity in his work which is seen as unparalleled in contemporary Arabic literature. He is popular among the Moroccan youth as they relate to his ideals of freedom of expression through words. Certainly, his words have had an impact, with six of his poems being judged by authorities as morally dangerous, resulting in him spending two years in jail due to censorship issues.

You don't have to be a lepidopterist to appreciate the intricate beauty of butterflies. While images of these delicate creatures adorn the bedrooms of little girls, it is only when you see them in their natural surroundings that you come to realize just how amazing these flying works of art are. Morocco is home to a number of unique butterfly species, many of which can be seen when exploring the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains.

Born in the city of Casablanca on October 15, 1982, Sofia Marikh revealed at a young age that she was a natural in front of the camera when she appeared in an advertisement for diapers at the age of four. She went on to appear in a number of commercials both in Morocco and France, and appeared in two films - Soleil and Wa Baad - during her teenage years. She has since added musician and entertainer to her list of achievements and has been a contestant on the television talent show Star Academy Arab World.

Appearing as a slight bulge on the coastline in modern maps, Cape Bojador in Western Sahara does not appear to be much of an obstacle to overcome, and yet for ancient mariners it was. Many failed attempts resulted in loss of lives as intrepid explorers attempted to find a passable route along the north and western coastline of Africa. This was until in 1434, when Portuguese mariner Gill Eanes discovered a relatively safe route around Cape Bojador, an achievement which opened up the route to Africa, and later India, for European traders and explorers.