Tourist Scams in Africa — Safety Guide 2026

The fish grill stalls on the Essaouira port and along the ramparts near Skala du Port display fresh catch prominently and invite tourists to choose fish by weight. Prices quoted per kilo are sometimes applied incorrectly, fish is weighed inaccurately, or extra dishes (bread, salads, mint tea) are added to the bill as mandatory sides.

How to avoid: Agree on the price per kilo and confirm the weight on the scale before cooking. Clarify whether bread, salad, and tea are included or charged separately. The port fish grill area has consistently better value than the tourist-facing grills near Place Moulay Hassan.

Essaouira is surrounded by argan trees and is a primary production area for genuine argan oil, but many tourist-facing shops in the medina sell diluted or entirely substitute oils labeled as pure argan. Genuine cold-pressed culinary argan oil has a strong nutty smell; cosmetic argan oil has a lighter scent. Many tourist shops sell blended products at pure prices.

How to avoid: Purchase argan oil from women's cooperatives (Amal, Marjana, Ti'Ziri) that have UCFA (Union of Argan Oil Cooperatives) certification displayed. Watch the press demonstration if available. Pure culinary argan oil should smell distinctly of roasted nuts.

Carpet and craft shops in the Essaouira medina use the same approach as in Marrakech: an invitation for tea that leads to a presentation of merchandise with prices inflated 400-800% above what the shopkeeper will accept. Refusing to buy after tea is treated as a social violation requiring persuasion.

How to avoid: You are never obligated to purchase after accepting tea. You are free to leave any shop at any time. If you intend to buy, make an opening offer at 20-25% of the first stated price and negotiate from there.

The CTM and Supratours bus stations are located outside the medina walls, and petit taxi drivers at the station quote tourist rates of 50-80 MAD for the 10-minute ride to the medina center, where the legitimate fare should be 10-15 MAD on the meter.

How to avoid: The walk from the bus station to Bab Doukkala takes 10-15 minutes and is manageable with moderate luggage. If taking a taxi, insist on the meter (compteur) or agree on the legitimate fare in MAD before entering. Locals pay metered rates.

Men near the Bab Doukkala and Bab Sbaa medina gates offer to show tourists the "real Essaouira" for a small fee that escalates once inside the medina, with the tour inevitably ending at a relative's carpet or craft shop. Essaouira's medina is small and easily navigable independently.

How to avoid: The Essaouira medina is compact and well-signposted. Decline guide offers at the gates. If you want a guide, hire through the official Délégation du Tourisme office on Avenue du Caire. Licensed guides wear official armbands.

Horseback riding on the Essaouira beach is popular and operators near the southern beach approach quote tourist prices of 200-400 MAD per hour for rides that locals arrange for 80-120 MAD. Riders are also sometimes charged for additional distance covered without prior agreement.

How to avoid: Agree on the total price for a fixed duration and distance before mounting. Ask for the price per hour and confirm the total time. Avoid operators who approach you on the beach — operators at the established southern beach horseback riding area have better accountability.

Several riads and guesthouses in the Essaouira medina show photos of premium rooms and rooftop terraces on booking platforms while standard rooms are significantly smaller or lack the amenities shown. Some properties describe themselves as "ocean view" when only one or two rooms (not the one booked) have a view.

How to avoid: Book ocean-view rooms only with properties that explicitly confirm in writing which room has the view. Contact the riad directly before booking to confirm current room condition. Reviews from the last six months are the most reliable indicator.

Gnawa musicians perform in Place Moulay Hassan and on medina streets, which is part of Essaouira's legitimate cultural life and the city hosts the famous Gnaoua World Music Festival. However, some individuals use Gnawa instruments and dress as a prop to approach tourists and demand payment for an "impromptu performance" the tourist did not request.

How to avoid: Genuine Gnawa street performances are typically group performances you may choose to watch from a distance. Any individual who approaches you specifically while playing and demands payment for an unrequested performance is operating as a solicitation rather than a cultural event.