Discover Africa's Largest Cactus Farm

Located 20 minutes from the hectic souks of Jemaa el-Fna in Marrakech, a handwritten sign that reads ‘Cacti’ welcomes you to the largest cactus farm in Africa. Let’s take a look.

This 17-acre (6.8-hectare) cactus nursery was founded in the mid-1960s by Hans Thiemann, an agriculture engineer from Germany, whose family has had a passion for succulents for years. After getting tired of growing them in greenhouse conditions, Thiemann visited Morocco in the 1950s to get plants from Jardin Majorelle, and, in the 1960s, decided to open his own cacti farm in the perfect weather of the Moroccan desert.

Cactus Thiemann is the largest of its kind in the whole continent of Africa, with more than 150 different kinds of succulents, all displayed in the most tidy manner, against the empty landscape of the desert. Among the plants he brought with him was a tiny elephant cactus, that is now 26-feet (eight-metres) tall.

Since Thiemann’s death in 2001, the farm has been run by his widow, Fatima, who lives in the property with her two daughters, Magida and Roselinde, to take care of the nursery and honour Thiemann.

The farm is located on KM10 Road to Casablanca from Marrakech, and the only way to get there is by taking a Grand Taxi that will cost around 200 MAD ($21).

Each year, more and more people visit Cactus Thiemann, either because of their love for plants, or to snap some amazing Instagram shots. Guided tours of the farm can be arranged by appointment, but Magida and Roselinde also plan to open a small café, with just a few seats and some shade, to sip on a glass of fresh mint tea and admire the beauty ahead.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.