Mauritania Travel Guide

Do you need a visa for Mauritania?

Most visitors need a visa. Mauritania runs an official e-visa system, and visas on arrival have also been available at Nouakchott airport and at land borders. Rules, fees and processing times change, so always check the official government portal, or your nearest Mauritanian embassy, shortly before you travel.

Bring a passport valid well beyond your trip, printed copies of your visa, and several photocopies of your passport: there are police checkpoints on the desert roads, and handing over a copy speeds things up. Once you book with us we send a current checklist with your confirmation.

Is Mauritania safe to visit?

The parts of Mauritania that travellers visit — Nouakchott, the Atlantic coast, Atar and the Adrar, Chinguetti, the Terjit oasis, the railway corridor and the Banc d'Arguin — are calm, and violent crime against visitors is rare. The remote border areas towards Mali and Algeria are a different matter and are avoided.

The realistic risks on a desert trip are practical rather than political: heat, dehydration, breakdowns far from help, and the iron ore train itself, which is loud, dusty and cold at night. Travelling with a local operator who knows the routes, carries water and spares, and briefs you properly is the single biggest safety factor.

The best time to visit Mauritania

November to March is the season. Days in the Adrar are warm rather than punishing, desert nights are cool, and the Banc d'Arguin fills with migratory birds. This is also the most comfortable time for a night in an open ore wagon.

From June to September the Sahara is extremely hot, and spring brings more wind and sand in the air. We run trips outside the main season on request, but for a first visit, aim for winter.

Money, phones and practicalities

• The currency is the Mauritanian ouguiya (MRU). Bring cash in euros or dollars to change — cards are accepted in very few places
• ATMs exist in Nouakchott and Nouadhibou, but do not count on them in the desert
• A local SIM card gives you data in the towns; expect long stretches with no signal on the train and in the Adrar
• French is the main working language, Arabic (Hassaniya) is spoken everywhere, and English is limited — our guides speak English and French
• Mauritania is a Muslim country: alcohol is not available, and modest dress is expected, especially outside the capital

What to pack for the Sahara and the iron ore train

• Warm layers and a hat: desert nights, and the train, are genuinely cold
• A headscarf or buff against dust, plus sunglasses and high-factor sun cream
• A headlamp for boarding the train in the dark, and a power bank
• A sleeping bag or thick blanket and a foam mat if you ride in an open ore wagon
• Sturdy shoes for rock and sand, and sandals plus a swimsuit for the Terjit oasis
• Cash, copies of your passport and visa, and any personal medicines

How to get to Mauritania

Most travellers fly into Nouakchott, which has connections with Paris, Casablanca, Istanbul, Dakar and several other hubs. Nouadhibou also has an airport, and some overland travellers arrive from Morocco through the Western Sahara border, or from Senegal in the south.

All our tours start with an airport pickup in Nouakchott and end back there, so you only need to book flights to and from the capital.

Frequently Asked Questions