Welcome to our Mauritania itinerary! If you are looking for well-prepared tips for an unforgettable trip, you are in the right place. Enjoy and get inspired!
Is it your dream to visit countries that few people travel to? To experience a true adventure? Then check out the article, “Mauritania — Travel Advice, Tips and Itinerary,” and get inspired for a trip to Africa.
Visa
A visa is required to enter Mauritania. However, since 3 March 2016, visas have no longer been issued at the consulate in Berlin; they are available exclusively at Nouakchott International Airport or at border crossings.
A 30-day visa at Nouakchott International Airport costs 60 USD.
At land border crossings, it is possible to obtain a visa for a similar fee. However, if you are travelling to Mauritania overland from Morocco, it is better to obtain your visa in Rabat, Morocco’s capital; if you are coming from Senegal, obtain it in Dakar. The cost is approximately €55, and you will need two passport-sized photographs and two photocopies of your passport.
Your passport must be valid for at least six months after leaving the country, and it is preferable that it does not contain an Israeli entry stamp.
Safety
Security conditions have been partially deteriorated since the military coup in August 2008. Trips to the Saharan desert in border areas near Algeria and Mali are not recommended, as there is an increased risk of armed attacks and kidnappings by armed groups.
However, if you travel along Mauritania’s coast, you are generally at little risk. The fact that many French and Spanish retirees travel through Mauritania to Senegal in their motorhomes may reassure you. And if retirees are not afraid, you should not be either.
Although it is a Muslim country, there are no strict rules like those in Iran. No one tells you how to dress, but it is still better to show respect by wearing long trousers and avoiding sleeveless tops.
When is the best time to travel here?
In Mauritania, it is either hot or very hot. The best time to visit is from November to April, when daytime temperatures are around 28°C and, in the desert, temperatures can drop to about 15°C at night. During the summer months—June, July and August—temperatures can climb to nearly 50°C.
How can I get there?
By air
You can fly to the capital, Nouakchott, with the following airlines:
- Air France from Paris
- Turkish Airlines from Istanbul
- Royal Air Morocco from Casablanca
- Air Algérie from Algiers
- Air Sénégal from Dakar
- Binter Canarias from the Canary Islands
You can also find great flight deals on our website here.
On ground
Mauritania has open borders with:
Morocco — near the Mauritanian city of Nouadhibou.
From Morocco, you can reach Nouadhibou from the city of Dakhla — approximately 440 kilometres away. A bus leaves Moroccan Dakhla just before midnight, costs around 170 dirhams, and arrives at the border at about 6:00 a.m.
You can also travel by desert taxi from the Sahara Hotel in Dakhla for approximately 260 dirhams per person; departures are usually in the morning.
Senegal — has two border crossings: Rosso and Diama. Rosso is busier than Diama. Both crossings are located near the Senegalese city of Saint-Louis.
Mali — near the Mauritanian city of Néma.
Mauritania’s border with Algeria is closed.
Warning! What is true today may not be true tomorrow. Always verify the information with the local embassy or consulate.
By your own car
Yes, that is possible too! As we mentioned earlier, Mauritania is very popular with Spanish and French holidaymakers traveling to Dakar in their own cars. So the route is straightforward: from Slovakia to Spain, then take a ferry to Morocco, drive through the entire Kingdom of Morocco, and continue on to Mauritania. You can finish the journey in Senegal.
You will need:
- You need your driver’s license plus an International Driving Permit.
- An International Driving Permit can be issued on the spot at the documents department of the public-order police within the relevant district directorate of the Police Force. It costs €6.50, and you need to present a valid driver’s license and one photograph.
- The car does not need to be a 4×4, but it should be capable of covering 8,000–16,000 kilometres. Most importantly, avoid a vehicle with lots of electronics; choose one that local mechanics can repair. For example, we even came across old Ladas and Škodas.
Transportation around the country
Train — One of the biggest attractions is definitely the train that runs between Nouadhibou, Choum, and Zouérat. This train is over 2 kilometers long and connects the coastal city of Nouadhibou with the inland city of Zouérat. It is best to travel to Choum, from where people head into the desert.
Desert taxis — This is what the local cars that transport residents between cities are called. They leave when they are full. That is why it is best to set out early in the morning, when more people want to travel.
Itinerary:
When creating the itinerary, we assumed you would start your journey in northern Mauritania (assuming you will travel from Morocco through Western Sahara and finish in Senegal). You can also fly into the capital and do a round trip from there, but we recommend the more adventurous route.
Day 1: Cross the border from Morocco and travel to Nouadhibou—a port city with a wonderfully slow-paced atmosphere
- A port where hundreds of fishing boats arrive with their catch.
- The city is located on a peninsula, and at its southernmost tip there is a small national park where you can find seals. You can get there by taxi.
- There is a ship graveyard near the city.
Day 2: Take the train to Choum. The train usually leaves around 3:00 p.m. and arrives in Choum around 2:00 a.m.
Warning: Do not expect any luxury. The train usually has only two passenger cars; the rest are freight cars. This means that if you cannot get a seat, you will ride on top of a freight car. If that happens, make sure to bring sunglasses, sunscreen, enough food and water, earplugs for the wind, a scarf to protect against dust, and a cap.
Day 3: Arrive in Choum, then travel by local jeep to Atar for approximately 2,500 ouguiyas—about €65 per person—for a distance of 150 kilometers. It is a small desert town with a rather sleepy atmosphere. Overnight stay in Choum.
Day 4: Travel to Chinguetti—a two-hour journey costing approximately 1,200 ouguiyas per person, or about €30.
Day 5: A short tour of the desert town—an adobe mosque with a library—and a trip into the desert, which you can arrange through locals.
Day 6: Travel to the capital, Nouakchott, arriving in the evening.
Day 7: Explore the city. It is not particularly impressive, but the following are worth mentioning:
- Local fish market—the largest in West Africa, closed on Sundays.
- Main square — be careful not to photograph the presidential palace.
- Local beaches — they are not for swimming, but many locals come here to relax, and you can get a better sense of local life, especially in the late afternoon.
Day 8: Leave for Senegal early in the morning—head to Saint-Louis or fly home.
How much does a trip like this cost?
For an eight-day trip, budget around €600–€700. Most of your spending will go toward transportation. Food is cheap—starting at €2 per person, although hygiene is very poor—so it is better to budget at least €4 per meal. Outside the desert towns, there are no guesthouses, and accommodations start at €10.
What are the current prices of food, transportation, services, and other things? Check the prices and average cost of living in Mauritania.
Do you have questions about the article “Mauritania: Travel Advice, Tips, and Itinerary”? Leave a comment, and we’ll be happy to answer.
