Mauritania - Mauritânia

THE Mauritania is a country in the region of Sahara. Part of the Maghreb, Mauritania borders the Algeria, O Senegal it's the mali, as well as with the disputed territory of the Western Sahara.

Understand

Mauritania is basically made up of desert and ocean. It is not surprising that the main attractions for tourists are the desert, in the Adrar and Tagant areas (around Atar), and the ocean, in the Bank of Arguim (a nature reserve full of dunes, with millions of birds and protected by the UNESCO). The Adrar region is exactly as you imagine the Sahara: endless ergs (dunes) and regs (rocky desert) with small mountains. Most tourists are on the west coast of the country, although there are some attractions inland (for example, the Aioun rock formations). If you decide to travel to these regions, it's good to have plenty of time.

Mauritania is an Islamic Republic. Don't be intimidated by the political status - most Mauritanians are not extremists, even though most of the population in the north of the country is very conservative and reserved. The southern part is full of friendly people, and very hospitable, even if they are not used to tourists.

Traveling to Mauritania has been easier, with flights since France until Atar during the winter, although today they are suspended. Tour guides and agencies are easy to find. However, Mauritania is not connected to the international banking system. A Visa card will only work at some international ATMs, such as Atijari or Société Générale in Nouakchott and nouadhibou. Apart from these, credit cards are not accepted almost anywhere else. It is easy to exchange euros, dollars and CFA to ouguiya in Nouakchott, however.

Climate

The climate is characterized by extreme temperatures and irregular and scarce precipitation. Annual temperature variations are small, although diurnal variations can be extreme. Harmonattan, a warm dry and sometimes dusty wind, comes from the Sahara during the long dry season and is the predominant wind, except along the coast, which is influenced by ocean winds. Most rain falls during the short rainy season (hivernage), from July to September, and annual rainfall ranges from 500 to 600 millimeters in the far south to less than 100 millimeters in the north, about two-thirds of the country.

Holidays

Date	Name
01/01	New Year's Day
20/01	Islamic New Year
31/03	Prophet's Birthday
01/05	Labour Day
25/05	Africa day
13/10	Eid al Fitr (End of Ramadan
28/11	Independence Day
20/12	Eid al Adha (Feast of Sacrifice)

Regions

coastal Mauritania The narrow coastline, with the capital and a fantastic coastline.

Sahelian Mauritania Semi-arid region in the south including the magnificent Senegal River valley.

Saharan Mauritania A huge desert in the north of the country, most of it very empty.

Cities

• Nouakchott, the capital and largest city in Mauritania. Among the important points of the city are the Museum of Nouakchott, several markets such as the Silver Market of Nouakchott, and the beaches.
• Tie - Known as an entry point to visit the ancient Moorish cities of Ouadane and Chinguetti (see below), it is also an important stop on the Dakar rally.
• Chinguetti - Along with Ouadane, Oualata and Tichit, has been a world heritage site since 1996. It is an ancient ksar, or medieval merchant town, center of the trans-Saharan routes. It continues to attract visitors who come to see its architecture, its old libraries and its exotic atmosphere.
• nouadhibou, a major fishing center and industrial port, as well as the country's second largest city. Nouadhibou's tourist attractions include the Table Remarquable, several markets, a boat graveyard and Mediterranean monk seals.
• Tichit, a partially abandoned city known for its ancient architecture. The small town also has a museum.

Other destinations

• Bank of Arguin National Park - A national park on the Mauritanian coast, which serves as a habitat for several species of birds (which, by the way, are the main attraction of the park. It is close to Nouadhibou and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Ouadane and Oualata - Along with Tichit and Chinguetti (see above) are a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to their importance as former merchant cities. In them there is a well-preserved historical heritage.

To arrive

All citizens of Western nations need a visa to enter. Persons holding West African passports do not need a visa.

In 2009, visas for Mauritania could not be purchased on arrival, so foreigners have to arrange them outside the country (eg Rabat). A single entry visa costs 37 euros, double entry is 52 euros. Two passport-size photos are required, as well as a copy of the passport information pages. Visas are available the next day.

Most people do not need vaccinations to travel to Mauritania. Only people who come from yellow fever endemic areas need to present a vaccination certificate.

By airplane

O Nouakchott International Airport is the only international airport in the country and the base of the Mauritanian Airways[1], which has been flying since Paris (approximately five hours), Dakar, Abidjan and nouadhibou. Also receives flights from algiers by Air Algeria[2] and since Paris by Air France[3]. There are options for Tunis or Las Palmas. Another alternative is to take a charter flight, which costs around €400.

Of boat

The main port is nouadhibou and there is also a small port in Nouakchott, while St. Louis does not Senegal also serves Mauritania.

By car

You can enter Mauritania by land crossing the borders with the Western Sahara, mali or Senegal. These borders can be crossed by own vehicle or by bicycle.

The road from the Western Sahara/Morocco enter the country near nouadhibou. The road is completely paved up to the Moroccan border post of Fort Guerguarat, where you have to cross about seven kilometers on a winding and rocky road, although simple, until you reach the Mauritanian border, where the tarred road starts again. Although the trip is simple, you must be careful not to leave the road between the two border posts, as the region is a minefield. This danger is still present until crossing the train line, on the Mauritanian side.

There are numerous roads that cross the border between Mauritania and the mali. The best choice is the one that connects Nara, in Mali the Ayoun al Atrous in Mauritania. Border formalities in Mali are carried out in various buildings around Nara (local children take you to the police or customs in exchange for a small gift). Mauritanian formalities are carried out in a series of buildings along the border road.

An alternative route runs directly from Mauritania to Timbuktu, mali. Travel to the road southeast of Nema, which is at the end of a tarred road that comes from Nouakchott. This road continues until Bassekounou before crossing the border near Léré, mali, going from there to Niafunke and continuing until Timbuktu.

By bus/bus or collective taxi

• Since Morocco: There are currently no buses, although CTM (the national bus company is planning to establish a service since Dakhla until Nouakchott. Currently, access from Morocco is only available by hitchhiking (you can try at Camping Moussafir north of Dakhla) or by paying the fare with Mauritanian traders (which can be found north of Dakhla), costing between 250-380Dhs (negotiable). The journey should start very early and will take most of the day, and the border post is closed at night. Cars guided by experienced drivers can be booked at Hotel Sahara. This costs around 250Dhs per person. Be careful and avoid a driver with an obvious facial pigment disorder. It has a reputation for being aggressive towards passengers.

• For Morocco: Cars with drivers can be arranged to cross the minefield from Mauritania to Western Sahara in hotels in nouadhibou.

• Since Senegal: You can take a collective taxi from Dakar (6,000 CFA) and Saint-Louis (2,000 CFA) (among others) to Rosso, where a ferry travels across the Senegal River, and other collective taxis can be taken to Nouakchott (about 2,000 UM). Beware of collective taxis that offer deals that sound too good to be true. There may be illegal taxis and they can be a dangerous means of transport. There will probably be some drivers waiting. Ask and find out the standard rate. Other border points with Senegal include the Diama Dam north of Saint-Louis.

• Since mali: There are vans that leave Kayes to Selibby daily. It is also possible to enter Nema, and across the southern border at various points.

By train/train

There are no trains between Mauritania and its neighbours.

Circular

By airplane

THE Air Mauritanie (MR) operates flights between Nouakchott and Nouadhibou.

By car

There are good roads that connect Nouakchott with Rosso in the south of the country, Néma in the southeast and Akjoujt in the north. The Route de l’Espoir, a paved highway runs from Nouakchott to Mali. All other routes are dust roads. In some regions during and after the rainy season the roads can be impassable. In the dry season the paths may be obscured by sand; a guide is highly recommended, if not essential.

It is recommended that you have an International Driving Permit, although this is not legally required.

Tourists should not attempt a desert trip without a spare set of parts and essential safety equipment. The Direction du Tourisme in Nouakchott, part of the Ministère du Commerce de l'Artisanat et du Tourisme [4], can give more information and advice on trips of this type.

car rental

Available in Nouakchott, nouadhibou and Tie. You can rent 4x4 vehicles and these are recommended, although they are expensive.

By bus/bus

Several companies (El Bouragh, El Gavileh, Global, Al-Moussavir, As-Salaam, Somatir, Sonef and LTM) operate the route. Nouakchott-nouadhibou, most of these making one trip a day.

By train/train

There is only one train line in the country, connecting nouadhibou, choum and Zouerat, which is a tourist attraction in itself. The train is said to be the longest in the world, with over 150 carriages and over two kilometers. It is used to transport iron ore from the Zouerat mine to the port of nouadhibou.

There is only one passenger carriage, but you can travel in one of the carriages that carry the iron ore (which is advisable as the passenger carriage is crowded). The ticket price is 1500 ougiyas if using the passenger carriage, while using one of the other carriages it is free. Remember to bring a handkerchief to cover your face as there is a lot of dust in the air.

Speak

Hassaniya Arabic is the language of the Moorish majority, while other languages ​​are spoken by black southern Africans, including Pulaar, Wolof, and Soninke (especially in the Guidimakha region around Selibaby). O French it is the second official language and is spoken by many, especially near cities. In the countryside, people often speak several languages ​​but not French.

it is considered polite to say salaam aleikum when getting into a taxi, office or when greeting someone. It is the compliment for many of the region's dialects.

Look

• traditional villages from the interior of the country, like Ouadane, Oualata, Tichitt and Chinguetti - In the interior of the country you can find ancient villages, forgotten by time and that have changed little over the centuries. They are one of the biggest attractions in the country, and well worth a visit.
• Desert - The desert is one of the most characteristic elements of the country, and at sunset the dunes take on a new range of colors and become much more beautiful. Very beautiful, one of the must-visits, especially in the cooler parts of the day (dawn and dusk; of course I could go at night, but I couldn't see anything).
• fishing villages - Scattered all over the coast, these villages have a unique character. Watch the men pull the fish and buy the freshest seafood in the country. Don't forget to haggle!

Knife

Buy

You can buy souvenirs at Marche Capital or Marche Sixieme in Nouakchott, or in tourist shops in Adrar. Fabric is sold in boutiques across the country, but Kaedi is famous for her dyeing technique.

Overall, the quality of most Mauritanian souvenirs is not as good as one might expect. You can find leather products, pipes, wooden pots, teapots and silver jewelry, among other things (be careful with the quality of the jewelry). The fabric, however is hand-dyed and can be very beautiful. The fabric will be sold as a mulafa (veil) - usually transparent - or as material for a boubou, with two separate pieces, for a skirt and a top. The fabric costs between 1500 MU to 8000 MU, depending on the quality and the work involved.

When buying anything at Mauritania, try to negotiate the price. Sometimes the starting price can be up to three times the actual price. Be nice, but don't worry if you insult someone by asking for a lower price.

With the

There is a decent variety of restaurants in Nouakchott with dishes ranging from 1000 to 2500 MU. Most restaurants in the capital offer pretty much the same menu - simple pizzas, burgers, sandwiches, and salads. There are a number of restaurants on the road from the Stade Olympique to the French Embassy. Some good restaurants on this road are: Pizza Lina, Cafe Liban, and Le Petit Cafe. The Sahara Cafe, on the other side of the stadium, is also a good place for pizza, sandwiches or Lebanese food, and has some of the most reasonable prices in town. Near the Marche Capitale is a street of sandwich shops offering nearly identical menus, the best of which is Prince (which taxi drivers know by name).

Outside of NouakchottYou can find hamburgers in Atar. Furthermore, you only have traditional dishes to choose from: fish and rice (chebujin) in the south and meat with rice or couscous in the north. Mechui, or grilled sheep, is also delicious, though a little more expensive. Some fruit can be found in most regional capitals. Most restaurants outside Nouakchott are not well-sanitary, so be careful. If you want, in the absence of a restaurant, you can pay a family to prepare food for you, which should be relatively cheap (no more than 1500 um), although it takes a while (about two hours to buy the food and prepare it -there).

Bottled water can be purchased for 200 MU and is a good idea for people who are not used to Africa.

If none of the ideas suits you, you can go to a supermarket and buy bread, biscuits and drinks.

Tea is usually served after a meal, but it is not included with the meal in a restaurant. If you are offered tea at someone's house, it is not polite to leave until at least the second or third cup.

drink and go out

Despite being an Islamic country there are some fun bars in the capital. Drinking can be expensive, however: beers can cost around 4.50 euros! There is a night club within the French Embassy complex. You can also try Salamander or Club VIP. Next to this is Casablanca, a bar with live music on the weekends.

note: It is illegal to import alcohol

sleep

You can find accommodation of all types, although there are only higher class hotels in Nouakchott and Tie. "Auberges" and campsites can rent beds/mattresses for around 1500 ouguiya in Adrar and in nouadhibou.

There is usually at least one hotel in every regional capital, although they can be expensive. If possible, make friends with the locals and try to get invited to stay with the family. As long as you don't mind a)sleeping on the floor or on a foam mattress b)sleeping/eating near animals, you will likely have a memorable stay.

Learn

• University of Nouakchott - Nouakchott [5].
• Mauritanian Institute for Oceanographic Research and Fisheries - nouadhibou (Tel.: ( 222) 574 51 24; ( 222) 574 84 49; ( 222) 501 27 49) /Nouakchott (Route de la Plage; Tel.: (222) 501 27 41) /Kaédi (Tel.: (222) 533 50 92) [6]

Safety

The area near the Western Sahara it is a minefield, and traveling in this area is highly inadvisable. The border areas with Algeria and Mali are known for the number of robbers. In other areas, you should avoid showing money or expensive things. Although it can be intimidating, a little research and common sense will guarantee a good trip to Mauritania.

Seek advice from your embassy or consulate. Due to the increasing number of attacks on Westerners in recent years, most Eastern nations advise great caution.

Health

For most Westerners, the local water is not safe to drink. Tourists should only drink bottled water if they do not have access to a type of filtration or water purification system. The Sahara is a very dry climate. You can get dehydrated very easily and not even realize it. In the hottest part of the year you may have to drink several liters of water a day.

The south of the country is an endemic area for malaria, and tourists should always wear a mosquito net in this area. Mosquitoes are less common in the dry desert in the north of the country, but they exist year-round in the south, although there are fewer in the dry season (December-May).

respect

learn to say salaam alaykum and greet people like that. If you're a man, don't try to shake a woman's hand, and vice versa (some African women don't have a problem shaking a man's hand, but it's better not to try to initiate contact). You can, however, say hello and touch your heart with your hand.

Be careful to eat with your right hand, especially outside Nouakchott, as cutlery may not be offered there. As in other places in the Arab world, the left hand is reserved for the bathroom. If you're left-handed... try harder.

Covering your head is not necessary, but it is polite. Westerners, especially women, can be targets of unwanted attention and harassment. Be aware, however, that many Mauritanians, both male and female, think that looking you in the eye is a sexual invitation.

If you are traveling with someone of the opposite sex, avoid touching each other in public. It is much more common to see two men holding hands than a man and a woman. As for clothes, the more skin you show, the more negative attention you get. In Nouakchott, women can wear pants, but avoid tops and knee-length skirts. Long skirts are the best choice for women. It's also a good idea to cover your arms.

If it's a woman there isn't none non-sexual reason to be private with a man. If you're asked to go into an office, or to go to the back of the store, or something like that, don't go. If you stay private with a man, however brief the time, everyone will assume they're going to have sex, and they'll judge you for it.

If you are gay or lesbian, not reveal your sexuality to any Mauritanian. They would react very harshly to this. Don't do anything in public that implies you are, or will be sentenced to death.

If it's white, Nasrani, Toubac and Toubab they are words referring to you. Small children, and sometimes naughty adults, may refer to you by this name. Nasrani means person from Nazareth. Since Christians follow the teachings of Christ, and Christ is from Nazareth, all Christians are Nazarenes.

Beware of people who take advantage of your good education to make a sale. Know that in markets, almost everyone tries to be your friend to sell you something for a higher price. They tried various tricks to convince you to buy (including "giving as a gift"), and some may even accuse you of not liking Africans if you don't want to look at their shop.

Stay in touch

There are two GSM network operators: a Mattel and the Mauritel Mobiles. For more information on coverage and roaming, see the GSM-World.

If you are on a trip through the desert, where there is no network, you can use a satellite phone. Thuraya, Iridium or Inmarsat. Thuraya is the cheapest and easiest to use. The equipment is also available for hire.

Internet cafes with DSL internet can be found at Nouakchott and nouadhibou for 200-300 UM an hour. There are also "cybercafés" with slower internet throughout the country.

This country article is usable . It contains links to major cities and other destinations (all with states of usable or better), a valid regional structure, and includes information about the country's currency, language, cuisine, and culture. At least the most important attraction is identified with directions. A braver person could use it to travel, but please dig deep and help it grow!