Visit the ancient libraries of Chinguetti
A former major Islamic scholarly and trading center on the trans-Saharan caravan route, holding centuries-old handwritten manuscripts on mathematics, astronomy, and Islamic law.
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West Africa
Things to do in Mauritania
Ancient desert libraries holding centuries-old Islamic manuscripts, one of the longest and heaviest trains on Earth cutting through the Sahara, and a coastline where the desert meets the Atlantic in dramatic fashion.
Explore Mauritania on the map →Budget$
Best for9-11 days
CapitalNouakchott
VisaE-visa or visa on arrival available for US, UK, EU, Canadian, and Australian passport holders, typically allowing stays up to 30 days.
CurrencyMauritanian ouguiya (MRU)
LanguagesArabic (official); French and regional languages including Wolof and Pulaar widely spoken
InternetGood in Nouakchott, very limited in the desert interior
Typical lodging$15–$35/night
Driving sideRight
Power & voltage230V / 50Hz (Type C/D/G varies)
Time zoneUTC+0 to UTC+1
Emergency numberVaries. Save your hotel or embassy’s number on arrival.
Dialing code+222
★★★★★ Adventure★★★★★ Culture★★★★★ Photography
Visa rules and emergency numbers can change without notice. Confirm the specifics for your nationality and dates before you travel.
Travel smart
Bottled or purified water only. Not expected; small tips are appreciated.
Mauritania's Chinguetti, once a major Islamic scholarly and trading center on the trans-Saharan caravan route, holds several ancient libraries with centuries-old handwritten manuscripts on mathematics, astronomy, and Islamic law, among the most significant collections of their kind in the Sahara. The Mauritania Railway's iron ore train, running roughly 700 kilometres from the Sahara's interior to the coast, is among the longest and heaviest trains in the world, and riding atop an open ore car through the desert has become a genuinely unusual and dramatic adventure travel experience.
When to go
Cool seasonNovember–March
The most comfortable window nationally, with lower temperatures ideal for desert travel and the Chinguetti region.
Hot, dry seasonApril–June
Rising temperatures across the Sahara, still workable but increasingly demanding for desert travel.
Peak heatJuly–September
Extremely hot across most of the country, with limited tourism activity during this period.
Transition periodOctober
Cooling temperatures as the comfortable season approaches, a reasonable shoulder month.
20 things to do
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Culture & history
9Explore the ancient Ksour towns of the Adrar region
Four UNESCO World Heritage caravan towns, Chinguetti, Ouadane, Tichitt, and Oualata, preserving centuries of trans-Saharan trading and scholarly history.
Visit the ruins of Ouadane, an abandoned caravan town
A partially ruined former trading center overlooking a dramatic desert canyon, offering a genuinely evocative window into the trans-Saharan trade era.
Watch traditional Imraguen fishing communities at work
A distinct ethnic group within Banc d'Arguin National Park who fish using traditional methods passed down for generations, including cooperative fishing with wild dolphins.
Explore the Nouakchott Fish Market
A vibrant, chaotic beachside market where fishing boats unload their daily catch directly onto the sand, a genuine slice of Mauritanian coastal life.
Explore Mauritania's National Museum in Nouakchott
A museum tracing the country's nomadic Moorish heritage, pre-colonial history, and the significance of the trans-Saharan trade routes.
Visit a traditional Bedouin desert camp
Nomadic Moorish pastoral traditions remain genuinely practiced in Mauritania's desert interior, visited respectfully through community-based tourism.
Explore the desert town of Atar
A gateway town to the Adrar region's ancient Ksour towns and desert scenery, serving as the practical starting point for most Chinguetti excursions.
Explore Oualata's distinctive painted houses
A remote UNESCO-listed caravan town in eastern Mauritania known for intricately painted geometric house facades, a unique architectural tradition.
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Adventure & outdoors
2Ride the Mauritania Railway's iron ore train
One of the longest and heaviest trains in the world, running roughly 700 kilometres through the Sahara, with passengers able to ride atop open ore cars.
Explore the desert dunes surrounding Chinguetti
The historic caravan town sits at the edge of the Sahara's Adrar region, offering classic desert scenery and camel trekking directly from town.
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Wildlife
1Visit the Banc d'Arguin National Park$22–33
A UNESCO World Heritage coastal reserve where the Sahara meets the Atlantic, hosting one of the largest concentrations of migratory shorebirds in the world.
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Food & drink
4Eat Mauritanian thieboudienne, fish and rice
A shared West African dish of fish, rice, and vegetables, reflecting Mauritania's coastal and Sahelian culinary crossroads.
Try Mauritanian mechoui, roasted lamb
Slow-roasted whole lamb prepared for celebrations, reflecting Mauritania's nomadic pastoral heritage and hospitality traditions.
Try Mauritanian zrig, a fermented camel milk drink
A traditional fermented milk drink central to Mauritania's nomadic pastoral culture, genuinely still consumed daily in much of the country.
Try Mauritanian dates from the Adrar oases
Date palm cultivation has sustained Sahara oasis communities for centuries, with an annual date festival celebrating the harvest in the Adrar region.
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Nature & scenery
3Camp overnight in the Sahara near Terjit oasis
A lush palm oasis tucked into a desert canyon, offering a striking contrast to the surrounding Sahara and a popular overnight camping spot.
Visit the Richat Structure, the 'Eye of the Sahara'
A massive, nearly perfectly circular geological formation visible from space, one of the most striking and mysterious natural landmarks in the Sahara.
Stargaze in the Sahara near the Adrar plateau
Minimal light pollution and clear desert skies make Mauritania's interior one of the best stargazing locations in West Africa.
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Photography
1Visit the Nouadhibou peninsula's ship graveyard
One of the largest ship graveyards in the world, with hundreds of abandoned vessels rusting in the bay, a genuinely strange and photogenic sight.
Common questions
▾Do I need a visa for Mauritania?
US, UK, EU, Canadian, and Australian passport holders can get an e-visa or visa on arrival, typically allowing stays up to 30 days.
▾Is Mauritania safe for tourists?
The main Nouakchott and Chinguetti circuit sees developing but manageable tourism; it's worth checking current advisories closely and traveling with an established operator, particularly for desert and border-region travel.
▾Can I really ride the iron ore train?
Yes. The Mauritania Railway's iron ore train, one of the longest and heaviest trains in the world, allows passengers to ride atop open ore cars through the Sahara, a genuinely unusual and dramatic (if uncomfortable) adventure experience.
▾How many days does Mauritania need?
9-11 days lets you combine Nouakchott with the ancient library town of Chinguetti and Sahara desert travel, given the significant distances and demanding logistics of interior travel.
▾What makes Chinguetti historically significant?
Once a major Islamic scholarly and trading center on the trans-Saharan caravan route, it holds several ancient libraries with centuries-old handwritten manuscripts, among the most significant such collections in the Sahara.
▾How much does it cost to visit Banc d'Arguin National Park?
Foreign visitor entry runs a modest MRU 1,000-1,500 (about $22-33), covering access to one of the world's most important bird sanctuaries. Most visitors combine the park with a broader desert or coastal itinerary arranged through a specialist Mauritania operator, given the country's limited independent-travel infrastructure.