 | The Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany has one for this country Partial travel warning released (Web link). Warnings are given against traveling to the immediate border area with Algeria and Mali. From travel
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 | The Austrian Foreign Ministry has one for this country Travel warning released (Web link) A warning is given against all trips to Mauritania. The uncertain situation in northern Mali is also having an impact in Mauritania. There is also a risk of kidnapping by terrorist groups. The government takes into account the security risks through a dense network of checkpoints on main roads and town entrances. Do not drive in the dark. Date of last travel warning: 13/05/2019. |
| location | |
 | |
| flag | |
 | |
| Short dates | |
| Capital | Nouakchott |
|---|---|
| Form of government | Presidential Republic |
| currency | 1 Ouguiya (UM) = 5 khoums |
| surface | 1.03 million km² |
| population | 3.2 million |
| languages | Arabic (official), French, African tribal languages |
| Religions | Islam (almost 100%), Roman Catholic |
| power grid | 230V / 50Hz |
| Phone code | 222 |
| Internet TLD | .mr |
| Time zone | CET-1h (GMT) |
Mauritania is a Muslim desert state in the northwest Sahara Desert and the Sahel zone. Sometimes Mauritania is still part of the Maghreb counted. It borders the Atlantic Ocean in the south-west of the country. The immediate neighboring countries are the Senegal in the south, Mali in the southeast and east, Algeria in the northeast and the Western Sahara in the North.
Regions
Mauritania comprises 15 regions, three of which are the capital Nouakchott form.
- Adrar - Capital Atar
- Assaba - Capital Kiffa
- Brakna - Capital Aleg
- Dakhlet Nouadhibou - Capital Nouadhibou
- Gorgol - Capital Kaedi
- Guidimaka - Capital Selibaby
- Hodh Ech Chargui - Capital Nema
- Hodh El Gharbi - Capital Ayoûn el-Atroûs
- Inchiri - Capital Akjoujt)
- Nouakchott North
- Nouakchott Ouest
- Nouakchott Sud
- Tagant - Capital Tidjikja
- Tiris Zemmour - Capital Zouérat
- Trarza - Capital Rosso
Cities
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Other goals
National parks
There are two coastal national parks in Mauritania:
- Banc d’Arguin National Park in the north (natural world heritage of UNESCO)
- Diawling National Park in the south
Special geological formations
- 1 Guelb er Richat (Richat structure) (In the province of Adrar about 30 kilometers northeast of the small town Ouadane.).
Distinctive, ring-shaped geological structure serving as a landmark.
background
Mauritania was a French colony until 1960 and became independent on November 28, 1960. Mauritania is a transition country to sub-Saharan Africa. In the northern region there are predominantly Moors and in the south (Senegal River) black Africans. The state religion is Islam with a Sunni orientation. The main source of income is iron ore mining and export, with some recent oil discoveries showing promise of economic success. Tourism is underdeveloped.
getting there
EU citizens need a valid passport and a visa for Mauritania. A visa is available from the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania (Kommandantenstr. 80, 10117 Berlin, Tel. 030-206 58 83, Fax. 030-206 74 750) in Berlin unavailable. Since March 2016, entry permits have only been issued at Nouakchott International Airport or at the border point 55 km from Nouadhibou and Rosso (not in Diama!) granted. According to reports (autumn 2016), there should only be visas at the border. However, visas were also obtained from the embassy in Rabat granted. Since January 1st, 2017 the visa fee has been reduced to € 55-95, depending on the duration. Individual travelers overland please also see the section security note.
See also: List of Mauritania's diplomatic missions abroad
Customs regulations
Travelers from Europe are allowed to import 200 cigarettes or 100 cigars or 500 g of tobacco duty-free. The import of alcohol is permitted for personal use in a quantity of a maximum of 2 liters of wine or 0.5 liters of spirits over 22%. However, these quantities must be declared upon entry.
Foreign currency can be imported by tourists up to an equivalent value of 1000 USD. It should be noted that the local currency Ouguiya is not allowed to be imported or exported. For larger amounts, the approval of the Mauritanian central bank is required. Receipts should be kept carefully.
When entering the country, there are usually no customs duties to be paid. In the event of increased effort, a fee “pour travail supplémentaire TS” may be charged. This is acknowledged.
The sale of a privately imported vehicle must be processed under customs law via the customs office in Nouakchott (customs clearance), otherwise maximum amounts will be required when leaving the country.
By train
There is no cross-border rail connection. The railway line, which runs from a mine in the north of the country across the Sahara to the port city of Nouadhibou, is the country's most important transport link. The train that runs here has long been the longest and heaviest in the world. More than 200 wagons are pulled by up to four locomotives. The cargo: up to 21,000 tons of iron ore. The railroad's greatest enemy is the sand, which is so aggressive that the tracks and wear parts of the train only have 1/6 of their normal lifespan. Next to the route there are sometimes very long and extremely sharp iron filings that were planed from the rails by the wheels of the train. This could be the undoing of vehicles as they cut through tires like butter.
By plane
Scheduled flight connections still exist Nouakchott.
By bus
From the Western Sahara there is now (2019) the possibility in Dakhla buy a bus ticket to Nouakchott for around € 35. It is advisable to do this one to two days in advance, as the bus is usually fully booked. He drives at 8 a.m. to the border in El Guerguarat. There you will be taken through no man's land in a minibus. The driver takes care of most of the visa affairs. Then it goes on by minibus to the capital. The journey takes a full day.
Car and motorcycle
A Carnet is no longer absolutely necessary for the temporary importation of the vehicle. However, self-drivers need a fee for their vehicle from customs passe avant, then one from the police cachet d'entrée. In addition, insurance must be taken out in another building (ECOWAS also possible). You can change money in the office next door. “Helpers” and “mediators” are intrusive and numerous, but not necessary. If the vehicle is lost, a corresponding police report must be drawn up on site in order to avoid the high customs clearance fees when leaving the country.
- Mauritania can be reached by land via Morocco and Western Sahara. Entry is only possible via the national road RN1 and the border post 1 El Guerguarat possible (The stamp issued here bore the place name for a long time Bir Gandus/ Bir Gandouz. That was misleading as this place is much further east). An entry into the northeast of Western Sahara via 8 Galtat Zemmour(25 ° 8 ′ 27 ″ N.12 ° 22 ′ 18 ″ W.) (ڭلتة زمور, Guelta Zemmur) to 9 Bir Moghrein(25 ° 13 '47 "N.11 ° 34 '44 "W.) ( بير مغرين , former Fort Trinquet) is not possible because it is a restricted military area.[1]
- The distance from the French border to Nouadhibou is about 5000 km. Between the Moroccan border and the Mauritanian border there is still a section that is not paved (4 km). The compulsory convoy for the Western Sahara has been lifted, there are still many mines in the border area, so the runway should not be left. The journey to the capital Nouakchott is possible on a paved road. For self-drive, the formalities are described in the article Nouadhibou. Theoretically it should be in the south to Senegal 2 Rosso
run in the same way, but here border guards and customs officers are notorious for high bribe demands (on both sides).
- About the dam of 3 Diama(16 ° 13 ′ 0 ″ N.16 ° 24 ′ 54 ″ W.), which forms the national border, you can only travel to Senegal, as no visas on arrival are issued on the Mauritanian side. Numerous "helpers", some with attached name cards, are urgent, but are completely superfluous. Self-drivers pay a receipted 50 nOu tax (bribe) on the Mauritanian side and 4000 CFA toll (with receipt) on the Senegalese side for crossing the dam, plus a fee for a 48-hour toll passavant, the possibly existing Carnet de passages must then in Dakar be registered. This is done in the 1 Port Customs Office(14 ° 40 ′ 19 ″ N.17 ° 25 ′ 30 ″ W.) (Ave. de la liberation). The person in charge on the 3rd floor, 3rd door does this for free, all other officials are bribes fishermen. One only drives with passavant however, this can be extended at the inner-city Place de l’indépendance.
- For the border crossings to Mali see im Country Articles.
- At the end of August 2018, a border crossing to Algeria was opened for the first time.[2] This is on the route Zouérat-Tindūf and leads through the middle of the area of the seat of the Polisario government in exile. In view of the practical impossibility for foreigners in Algeria to get travel permits for the Sahara region, this is unlikely to be a practicable route for the time being.
- Nom: (name)
- Prenoms: (first name)
- Date de Naissance: (date of birth)
- Lieu de Naissance: (place of birth)
- Situation Familiale: (marital status) (i.e. single, widowed, married or divorced)
- Nom de Pere: (father's name)
- Nom de Mere: (mother's name)
- Nationalite: (nationality)
- Profession: (Profession)
- Address: (home address)
- Numero de Passeport: (passport number)
- Date de Deliverance (date of issue)
- Lieu de Deliverance: (place of issue)
- Date d'Expiration: (Valid until)
- Motif de Voyage: (reason for the trip i.e. tourism)
- Date d'Entree en Mauritania: (date of entry to Mauritania)
- Validitie de Visa: (Type and duration of the visa, 30 jour)
- Frontier d'entree: (border place of crossing, entry i.e. Gueguerat from Morocco or Rosso from Senegal)
- Numero de Visa: (Visa number)
mobility
The best way to get around the country is by bus and minibus, as there are virtually no domestic flights. Individual transport is of course also possible. There are police checkpoints on all major traffic axes and junctions. All data is recorded here (allow for waiting time). It is best to prepare so-called Fiches and just hand them over.
Trunk roads
N1: Nouakchott - Atar - Zouérat - (Algerian border)
N2: Nouadhibou - Nouakchott - Rosso
N3: Nouakchott - Kiffa - Nema - (Malian border)
R10: Atar - Tidjikja (تجكجة); new tar road 2018
R11: 800 km of sandy slopes from Tidjikja above Tichit to Nema - (Malian border)
By train
The above-mentioned rail connection from Nouadhibou above Choum to Zouérat Also carries passengers. In addition, it is possible to ride for free in the ore wagons (rather something for very adventurous individual travelers). Vehicle transport is sometimes possible between the terminal stops. According to the latest statements, loading appears to be in Choum to be no longer possible.
language
The official language is official Arabic. French however, it is very common and therefore the main language for tourists. There are also numerous dialects. English is hardly widespread.
to buy
On January 1, 2018, the local currency lost a "0". There was a transition phase until July 1st. MRU was defined as the ISO code of the new Ouguiya, the code MRO denotes the old Ouguiya. The new bills are made of plastic.
Exchange rate: € 1 = 40.4 Ouguiya (Jan. 2019).
It is important to ensure that the old amounts are often used for the calculation, ie with a “0” more (2019). The old coins are also still in circulation here and there.
Credit cards are rarely used, not even in hotels or car rentals. ATMs only accept Visa.
accommodation
- 1 Camping-Vacances Tergit. Camping with cabin rental in Nouakchott, right on the beach.
- 2 Camping ABBA. Camping with room rental in Nouadhibou.
public holidays
The weekend has been set to Saturday / Sunday since 2014, but Friday is always marked by great prayer.
The government sets the days of the Islamic holidays annually, but deviations from the dates of other Islamic countries are possible.
| date | Surname | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1. 1. | New Year | |
| 28.11. | Independence day | Mauritania became independent on November 28, 1960 |
| April 12, 2021 - May 12, 2021 | Ramadan, the month of fasting | is based on the lunar calendar |
| October 19, 2021 | Birthday of the prophet |
security
Here it is advisable to inform yourself beforehand, as the security situation can change quickly. Cross-border activities by criminal or terrorist gangs lead to kidnappings of tourists / foreigners time and again. The border areas of Algeria, Mali and Mauritania are particularly affected.
activities
health
As in many developing and emerging countries, medical care is not comparable to that in Western Europe. A sensible first-aid kit should always be carried with you.
Vaccinations against tetanus, polio, diphtheria and hepatitis A are recommended. In addition, if you stay for a longer period of time, you should be vaccinated against rabies, typhoid and meningococci. A Yellow fever vaccination is when entering from risk areas in Guinea and from the Senegal required.
A foreign health insurance with repatriation is strongly recommended.
Hospitals
According to the WHO, there are around 40 hospitals across the country. Of these, 7 are so-called regional hospitals and 6 are district hospitals. The best care in the country is available in Nouakchott, although this is also at a relatively low level.
- 2 Hôpital Militaire Nouakchott (Military Hospital, Military hospital), Le Ksar Nouakchott. Tel.: 22245 25 70 15.http://www.armee.mr/fr/index.php/2012-06-06-23-09-23/867-l-hopital-militaire-de-nouakchott-un-personnel-competent-pour-des- soins-de-qualite - Only web source so far.
- 3 Hôpital Regional de Nouadhibou.Opened in 2017 and staffed by Cuban doctors. Capacity about 250 beds.
- 4 Hôpital de Kaédi.the most modern and largest hospital in Mauritania's south and of exceptional architecture. Winner of the Aga Khan Architecture Prize 1995.
Further setup in the respective articles.
climate
Hot, hotter and then cold at night. This means that Mauritania, due to its location on the northern tropic, has for the most part a hot, dry desert climate. This is mainly due to the large temperature differences between day and night. The average temperatures are 20–24 ° C in January and 30–34 ° C in July, with maximum values of up to 50 ° C.
On the coast there is often fog due to the cold Canary Islands, which is often the only cooling. In the north (Sahara), precipitation tends to fall in winter (rarely more than 100 mm per year). In the extreme south to the Senegal River, about 300–400 mm fall. This rainy season is usually from July to October.
Rules and respect
Special legal provisions
The 1983 Penal Code provides for adult male death by stoning for homosexual acts.
telecommunications
There are three cellular providers. In the capital and along the two asphalt highways, coverage is assured, even if there is frequent noise. Providers:
- Mattel, Daughter of the Tunisian Mauritano,
- Chinguitel
- Mauritel Former state enterprise and at the same time the only provider of fixed and Internet.
For longer stays outside the above-mentioned areas, a Satellite phone certainly an advantage. There are rental devices from various providers (e.g. Thuraya, Iridium, Inmersat).
literature
- Mauritania travel guide, Edith Kohlbach. A travel guide about the country's asphalt roads: entry, routes, road conditions, fuel supply, GPS coordinates, geography, city descriptions, hotels, camping, other current information ISBN 978-3-9810868-8-1 , 128 pages, 12 sketches, 66 color photos, 21 b / w photos
Web links
- Country information from the Federal Foreign Office
- Official website of the Prime Minister (French)
- State press agency AMI
- Horizons Unlimited (Travel forum; engl.)
- ↑However, Morocco announced in September 2018 that it wanted to build a 90 km long runway in order to have a border crossing to Mauritania. [1]
- ↑Here and Video clip