Destinations in Mauritania

By plane Mauritanian Airlines, travels to Bamako, Dakar, Abidjan, and Nouadhibou from Nouakchott International Airport (IATA: NKC). It also gets Air Algérie and Air France flights from Algiers and Paris, respectively. Tunisair, Senegul Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, and CanaryFly all have flights to Tunis, Senegal Airlines to Dakar, Turkish...

By train In Mauritania, there is just one railway line that connects Nouadhibou, Choum, and Zouerat, yet it is a tourist destination in and of itself. Although many claim it to be the world's longest train, with over 150 carriages and a length of over 2 kilometers, it is most...

To enter, citizens of all Western countries need a visa. West African passport holders do not need a visa. Mauritania visas for 0-30 days are available on arrival for 120 Euros as of August 2015. Overland travelers may get them in Rabat, for example, where a single entrance visa costs...

Accommodation is accessible in all price levels, with the highest-end hotels available exclusively in Nouakchott and Atar. In the Adrar and Nouadhibou, "Auberges" and Campsites rent beds/mattresses for as low as 1500 ouguiya. In the remainder of the nation, there is typically at least one hotel in the provincial capitals,...

The Adrar massif in the north has some of the most beautiful desert landscapes in the world. Explore the beautiful, secret oasis that have given water and shelter to merchants traversing the Sahara for ages by driving off-piste over rugged terrain and into tight valleys. Two of the country's...

In Nouakchott, there is a good selection of restaurants with meals ranging from 1,000 to 2,500 ouguiya. The menus at most restaurants in the capital are similar: basic pizzas, hamburgers, sandwiches, and salads. The route leading from the Stade Olympique to the French Embassy is lined with eateries. Pizza...

Souvenirs may be purchased at Nouakchott's Marche Capital and Marche Sixieme, as well as tourist stores in the Adrar. Although the fabric will be sold in shops throughout the nation, Kaedi is known for its tie-dying. In general, the quality of most Mauritanian souvenirs falls short of expectations. Leather goods,...

Mattel (great English website), Mauritel Mobiles, and Chinguitel are the three GSM network providers. For three of them, prepaid plans are available. GSM-World can provide further information about coverage and roaming. Satellite phones are an excellent option for excursions into the desert where there is no GSM network. Thuraya, Iridium,...

The official language is Arabic. The majority of Moors speak Hassaniya Arabic, while black Africans in the south speak Pulaar, Wolof, and Soninke, among other languages (especially in the Guidimakha region around Selibaby). Many people still speak French. This is particularly true in the vicinity of towns. Individuals in...

Learn how to say Salaam alaykum and use it to welcome others. If you're a man, don't attempt to shake hands with a woman, and if you're a woman, don't try to shake hands with a guy (note that some African women may shake a man's hand, but it's...

Ancient history The Bafours were mainly agriculturalists, and they were among the first Saharan peoples to forsake their nomadic past. They moved south as the Sahara became more desiccated. Many Berber tribes claimed Yemeni (and sometimes other Arab) ancestors. Although there is no evidence to back such such assertions, a...

Stay Safe in Mauritania The region surrounding the Western Sahara is severely mined, and it is not recommended to go across it. Banditry is well-known along Algeria's and Mali's border regions. The only paved road leading from Morocco is particularly hazardous, since it has recently been the location of Al...