The beautiful desert nation of Mauritania lies at a cross-roads in Africa, linking the north of the continent to the west.
The sparsely populated and rarely visited country contains vast expanses of breathtaking Saharan scenery, along with other worldly rock formations, mountains, ancient oasis towns and a wild Atlantic coastline, shrouded by the desert.
It’s known as the “Land of a Thousand Poets” and has rich cultural history in story telling, along with many fascinating UNESCO listed historic sites, dotted throughout the settlements which are peppered across its desert landscape.
Along with truly authentic Saharan experiences, it’s also home to the famous Iron Ore train, which our guests can experience, riding aboard the train as it traverses through the desert. It’s also in the country you can find the “Eye of Africa”, a natural phenomena and geographical wonder, which can be seen from space.
The harsh desert environment shapes many of the communities who live in Mauritania and the country is made up of an interesting blend of Arab, Berber, West African and ancient nomadic communities – providing a wonderful cultural experience for visitors.
Mauritania offers a true Saharan experience and one, which few international visitors have chance to see.
The Iron Ore, is one of the world’s longest and heaviest trains, stretching up to 2.5km across the Sahara Desert. It carries iron ore from the mines of Zouérat to the port city of Nouadhibou and has become famous for adventurous travellers who ride atop its open wagons through the desert — an iconic and harsh journey across one of Africa’s most remote landscapes.
Nouakchott is the capital and largest city of Mauritania, sitting on the Atlantic coast, on the edge of the Sahara Desert. Known for its busy fishing port, colourful markets and sprawling desert-edge neighbourhoods, it is often seen as one of West Africa’s most unusual capitals — where traditional nomadic culture meets a rapidly growing modern city.
The “Eye of Africa,” is a huge circular geological formation in the Sahara Desert. Visible from space, it stretches around 40km wide and became famous for its striking concentric rings, which once led people to believe it was an impact crater or even the lost city of Atlantis.
Ouadane is an ancient desert town in the Adrar region, once an important stop on the trans-Saharan trade routes. It's famous for its old stone architecture and historic libraries - a UNESCO site, surrounded by the Sahara.
A huge area of endless dunes, rocky plateaus and extreme isolation. It is famous for its raw, untouched wilderness, nomadic heritage, and striking desert landscapes that include historic caravan routes.
The Atlantic Coast is a remote stretch of shoreline, where the Sahara Desert meets the sea, with dramatic landscapes, wild untouched scenery and small fishing communities. It's also rich in birdlife and forms one of the world’s richest marine ecosystems.
Chinguetti is an ancient desert city in and one of the most important historic centres of Islamic teaching. Famous for its old stone libraries containing centuries-old manuscripts, it was once a key stop on trans-Saharan caravan routes and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site, known for its atmospheric sand-buried streets and deep cultural heritage.
Most foreign nationals require a visa to enter Mauritania, but the country introduced an e-visa system in January 2025, streamlining the process. Previously there was a visa-on-arrival system.
Visitors should now apply online before travelling, using Mauritania’s official e-visa website, and ensure you have the correct approval before departure.
If you have any questions regarding Mauritania visas or travel to Mauritania, please contact the Untamed Borders team via - info@untamedborders.com.
It is possible to travel independently in some parts of Mauritania, but it is not straightforward and there are a lot of challenges you can encounter in the country, which an experienced tour operator can help with.
This is particularly important for travellers heading into the country’s desert interior. Unless you are an experienced overland, you should not attempt to travel without support from an experienced tour operator, such as Untamed Borders.
Distances are long, temperatures can be extremely hot, facilities and resupply locations can be lacking (non-existent in some areas) and the terrain can be challenging.
Some regions also require local knowledge due to security conditions, military checkpoints, desert driving, fuel availability and navigation challenges.
For experienced overland travellers, Mauritania can be rewarding. For most visitors, however, travelling with a specialist operator is the safest and most practical way to experience the country.
The best time to visit Mauritania is during the cooler dry season, generally from November to March.
Mauritania is a desert country and temperatures can be extreme, particularly inland.
Winter / Dry Season: November – March
This is the best time to travel to Mauritania.
Temperatures are warm during the day, but generally not unbearably hot, which makes exploring the country manageable. Although it will begin to get quite hot during the tail end of March.
Nights in the desert can be cold in mid-Winter, especially in the Adrar region and around desert camps, so warm clothing is also required - despite the day time heat.
We time some of our group trips to Mauritania to depart at this time of year, where we head from the capital into the country’s desert interior, stopping at ancient trading and Islamic scholar towns, such as Chinguetti and Ouadane. We also explore the Atar, Terjit Oasis, the Eye of Africa, plus much more.
If you’re thinking of riding the famous Iron Ore Train, which Untamed Borders can assist with, this is the best time of year to experience it. Although it will be hot during day-light hours, it will be less ferocious than the summer heat, where riding exposed on the top of the train could be very hard work and dangerous.
You can find out more about riding the Iron Ore Train in this article on our website.
Extended summer: April to October
From April to October the Mauritanian weather can be extremely hot, particularly inland in the desert, away from the Atlantic coast.
Towards the middle of the summer temperatures can reach the high 40s and sometimes peak even higher, which we would advise not travelling in.
In many remote areas you have to camp and night-time temperatures can remain above 30 degrees celsius. This makes resting extremely uncomfortable and sightseeing during the day very challenging.
By late October and November, travel becomes more comfortable again and the main tourist season resumes.
Most international visitors arrive in Mauritania by air via Nouakchott–Oumtounsy International Airport.
Nouakchott is the main gateway for most travellers, with international connections via regional and international hubs such as Dakar, Casablanca, Istanbul, Paris and other West African or North African cities.
Nouadhibou also has an international airport and can be useful for travellers focusing on the coast or the Iron Ore Train route, but is less commonly used by tourists.
From Nouakchott, travellers usually continue by road to the country’s interior.
Overland Travel to Mauritania
Mauritania is one of the classic overland travel countries of West Africa, linking Morocco and Western Sahara with Senegal and the wider Sahel.
The most commonly used overland route is from Morocco-controlled Western Sahara into Mauritania at the Guerguerat / Nouadhibou border crossing. This is the main route used by many overlanders travelling between Europe, Morocco, Mauritania and West Africa.
Another important crossing is between Mauritania and Senegal, particularly around Rosso and Diama. These crossings are used by travellers continuing south towards Saint-Louis, Dakar and the wider West African coast.
Mauritania also borders Mali and Algeria, but these routes are not generally suitable for casual tourism due to security concerns, remoteness and restrictions. Travellers should avoid these borders.
Overland travel in Mauritania can be rewarding, but it requires planning. Distances are vast, desert conditions can be harsh, fuel stops may be limited and there can be checkpoints needing to be overcome.
As border regulations and security conditions can change quickly, travellers should seek current advice before planning overland travel to Mauritania. For the latest details, please email - info@untamedborders.com
Mauritania’s security situation is largely stable in tourist areas, but travelling in the nation requires careful planning due to the vastness of the desert landscapes and logistical hurdles of travelling through it.
The main tourist routes around Nouakchott, Nouadhibou, Atar, Chinguetti, Ouadane, Terjit, Banc d’Arguin and the Iron Ore Train, are increasingly visited by international travellers.
With the right support from an experienced tour operator, it is possible to enjoy these areas without too many concerns regarding security. This is particularly key when travelling through the country’s remote and harsh interior.
The Iron Ore Train also presents safety concerns - you are riding through the desert on a large freight-carrying locomotive, amongst sparsely populated landscapes. An experienced guide will have local knowledge about where the safest places to join the train are, how to stay safe on it and what equipment you need.
The wider security situation in Mauritania varies significantly by region. The border areas close to Mali, Algeria and Western Sahara should be avoided.
Most travellers visiting Mauritania’s remote desert areas do so with specialist operators, such as Untamed Borders, who understand the logistics, permissions and safety considerations required.
Mauritania is a conservative Muslim country and visitors should dress modestly.
Women should wear loose-fitting clothing that covers shoulders, upper arms and legs. Mauritanian women often wear long, loose fitting colorful dresses - something similar for travellers would be acceptable.
A headscarf is not required at all times for foreign visitors, but it is useful to carry one, particularly when visiting religious towns, rural communities or more conservative areas.
Men should generally wear long trousers and shirts or t-shirts. Shorts are not acceptable in public places.
Lightweight, breathable clothing is essential during the day, especially in desert areas, and a scarf or buff is very useful for sun, dust and wind. In the desert, temperatures can drop sharply at night during the winter months, so warm layers are also important.
For riding the Iron Ore Train, old clothing is strongly recommended because the journey is dusty, dirty and exposed, and clothes may be difficult to clean afterwards.
Eye protection (goggles), a scarf, gloves and warm layers are also useful - Untamed Borders’ team will supply the eye protection if you join our group trips.
Mauritania remains a predominantly cash-based society and the local currency is the Mauritanian Ouguiya.
Credit cards are rarely accepted outside high-end hotels or a limited number of businesses in Nouakchott, and travellers should not expect to rely on card payments.
ATMs are available in Nouakchott and some larger towns, but they often don’t work with foreign cards. In remote areas, desert regions and along the Iron Ore Train route, banking facilities are largely unavailable.
Visitors should bring enough cash for their trip, usually in Euros or US Dollars, and exchange money locally. Clean, undamaged notes are preferable. The Untamed Borders team can help guests to exchange money into local currency, on arrival in the country - usually in the capital or other major towns.
Arabic is the official language of Mauritania, with Hassaniya Arabic widely spoken in daily life.
Mauritania is also home to several other national languages, including Pulaar, Soninke and Wolof, and there are further languages among small remote communities.
French is widely used in administration, business, education and tourism, although it is not the main everyday language for many Mauritanians. However, it is a useful language and many Mauritanians will have a better grasp of French, compared to their understanding of English.
English is not widely spoken, although some guides, hotel staff and others in the tourism sector will speak it.
Internet access in Mauritania is improving, but it remains uneven.
In Nouakchott and Nouadhibou, mobile data is generally available and many hotels, cafés and restaurants offer Wi-Fi, although speeds can vary.
Outside the main cities, internet access becomes less reliable. In desert regions, remote villages, national parks and along the Iron Ore Train route, travellers should expect limited or no connectivity. Mobile coverage can disappear for long periods during overland journeys.
To prepare for this, travellers should download maps, important documents, translation tools and other key information, before leaving cities such as Nouakchott or Nouadhibou.
Mauritanian food reflects the country’s position between North Africa, West Africa and the Sahara.
Meals are often simple, filling and based around rice, meat, fish, couscous, vegetables, dates and bread. In coastal areas, especially Nouakchott and Nouadhibou, fish and seafood are common. Meanwhile inland, dishes are more likely to feature goat, camel, lamb, rice and desert staples.
Some dishes and foods visitors may encounter include:
Tea is central to Mauritanian hospitality. Strong green tea is usually served very sweet and poured several times, often with a ritual and social importance that goes far beyond the drink itself.
Meals in remote areas can be basic, especially during desert journeys, but hospitality is often generous.
Islam is the official religion of Mauritania and is practised by almost the entire population.
Mauritania is an overwhelmingly Muslim country, with Sunni Islam playing a central role in daily life, law, identity and culture. The call to prayer is heard across towns and villages, and religious customs shape social life throughout the country.
Visitors should behave respectfully around mosques, religious schools, prayer times and Islamic festivals and during Ramadan, travellers should be sensitive when eating, drinking or smoking in public during daylight hours.
The Desert and the Drum – Mbarek Ould Beyrouk
A Mauritanian novel exploring tradition, family, social change and the pull between nomadic life and modernity.
I Am Alone – Mbarek Ould Beyrouk
Another important Mauritanian novel, offering insight into isolation, honour, identity and the changing cultural landscape of the Sahara.
The Country of the Moors – Alfred Le Chatelier
A historical account of Mauritania and Moorish society, useful for readers interested in the country’s pre-colonial and colonial context.
Sahara – Michael Palin
Palin’s journey across the Sahara, including reflections on desert cultures and Saharan trave - includes sections on Mauritania.
Sahara with Michael Palin
A classic travel documentary series crossing the Sahara, including Mauritania. Useful for understanding the scale, landscapes and cultures of the region.
The Mauritania Railway: Backbone of the Sahara
A documentary about the Iron Ore Train offering an excellent introduction to one of Mauritania’s most extraordinary travel experiences.
BBC & National Geographic Sahara documentaries
Several Sahara-focused documentaries explore desert life in Mauritania, covering its nomadic cultures, ecology and survival in the harsh desert environment.
Banc d’Arguin National Park documentary
Short nature films about Banc d’Arguin provide useful background on Mauritania’s Atlantic coast, migratory birds, fishing communities and UNESCO-listed landscapes.
