Mauritania is a fascinating country with a colorful, indigenous Moorish population. Much of the land is dry and inhospitable and many locations are difficult to reach without long journeys in 4-wheel drive vehicles. Mauritania’s coast is essentially an 800km- (500-mile-) long sandy beach, all but devoid of vegetation but supporting an astonishingly large and varied population of birds.

It is a country in northwest Africa. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the west, by Senegal on the southwest, by Mali on the east and southeast, by Algeria on the northeast, and by the Morocco-controlled Western Sahara on the northwest. It is named after the ancient Berber kingdom of Mauretania. The capital and largest city is Nouakchott, located on the Atlantic coast.

Geography

Located on the Atlantic coast of the Sahara, it lies on the west coast, on the Atlantic Ocean, although with the exception of Nouakchott Wharf and a deep water port, the coastal strip is mostly left empty and allowed to flood.
Due to the rapid build-up, the city is quite spread out, with few tall buildings. It also often acts as an interface between urban Mauritanians and their nomadic fellow citizens.
Nouakchott is built around a large tree-lined street, Avenue Abd an-Nasir, which runs northeast through the city center from the airport. Other major streets are named (in French) for notable Mauritanian figures, or international personages of the 1960s: Avenue de Gaulle, Avenue Kennedy, and Avenue Lumumba, for example.

Official Language: Arabic, French

Demonym: Mauritanian

Currency: Ouguiya (MRO)

Time Zone: GMT (UTC+1)

Summer (DST): not observed (UTC+0)

Internet TLD: .mr

Calling Code: +222

VISA FORMALITIES FOR MAURITANIA

Passports
Valid passports required by all nationals of countries referred to U.K, U.S.A, Australian, Canadian, and Other EU.

Visas
Required by all nationals of countries referred to U.K, U.S.A, Australian, Canadian, and Other EU except transit passengers continuing their journey within 24 hours by the same or first connecting aircraft provided holding onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport.

Note: Nationals not referred in visa requirement line are advised to contact the embassy for visa requirements (see General Info).

Types of Visa and Cost
Tourist or Business: £42. All visas are multiple-entry.

Validity
Three months.

Applications to:
Consulate (or consular section at embassy); see General Info.

Working Days Required
Usually takes 72 hours to be processed.

Warning
Travelers are advised against all but essential travel to the area near Mauritania’s border with Algeria, and the area near Mauritania’s northern border with Mali east of Nema, because of the risk of banditry, and the activities of armed smugglers and extremist groups.

Developments in the region may trigger public unrest, especially after Friday prayers. Travelers should avoid large gatherings of people and demonstrations, which can turn hostile. Be particularly alert in public places.

Mauritania shares with the rest of the region a threat from international terrorism to visibly Western interests. It is believed that terrorist groups may be planning attacks against civilian targets, particularly those frequented by foreigners.

Travel in Mauritania can be difficult. Outside the main urban areas, there are currently only four paved roads. Conditions are otherwise poor for overland travel. Domestic flights operate between the main towns. 

Travelers should carry a copy of their passport at all times for identification purposes.

This advice is based on information provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK. It is correct at time of publishing. As the situation can change rapidly, visitors are advised to contact the following organizations for the latest travel advice:

TRAVEL ATTRACTIONS AND THINGS TO DO:

Nouakchott

The capital of Mauritania is a new city created in 1960. It lies near the sea in a desert landscape of low dunes scattered with thorn bushes, on a site adjoining an old Moorish settlement, the Ksar. The modern buildings maintain the traditional Berber style of architecture. The following places are worth visiting: The Plage du Wharf, the mosque, the Ksar and its market, the African market and the camel market, the crafts center, the Maison de la Culture and the carpet factory.

Parc National du Banc d’Arguin

Possibly Mauritania’s best attraction, this national park is a vast area of islands and coastline located on the Atlantic desert coast midway between Nouakchott and Nouâdhibou. The park, which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is one of the world’s largest bird sanctuaries and provides a shelter for over two million migrant birds from northern Europe. There are also several archaeological sites on the islands.

The Coast

Mauritania’s coast is essentially an 800km-(500 mile-) long sandy beach, all but devoid of vegetation but supporting an astonishingly large and varied population of birds. The waters are equally rich in fish and, consequently, despite the shortage of fresh water, some coastal stretches are inhabited by people. A growing port and center of the fishing industry, Nouâdhibou is situated on a peninsula at the northern end of the Bay of Levrier. Inland, the landscape is empty desert. One tribe, halfway between Nouakchott and Nouâdhibou, survives through a symbiotic relationship with wild dolphins: the marine mammals drive fish towards the shore, the tribesmen swim out with nets, and both get their share. Foreign trawlers, however, are rapidly depleting offshore fish stocks.

Adrar Region

It is important to check on conditions for travel before setting out for this region as government permission may be necessary. The Adrar is a spectacular massif of pink and brown plateau gilded with dunes and intersected by deep canyons sheltering palm groves. It lies in the north central part of the country, and begins about 320km (200 miles) northeast of Nouakchott. Atâr, capital of the region, is an oasis lying on the route of salt caravans. It is the market center for the nomads of northern Mauritania and has an old quarter, the Ksar, with flat-roofed houses and a fine palm grove. The oasis of Azoughui was the Almoravid capital in the 11th and 12th centuries, and remains of fortified buildings from this period can still be seen. A whole-day excursion from Atar leads over the breathtaking mountain pass of Homogjar to Chinguetti, a holy city of Islam, founded in the 13th century, and now listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. The city has a medieval mosque and a library housing ancient manuscripts, but much of the old town is disappearing under the encroaching drifts of sand.

Affolé and Assaba Regions

It is worth making a tour of the Affolé and Assaba regions, south and southeast of the Tagant, via Kiffa, Tamchakett and Ayoun el Atrous, to the wild plateau of El Agher. The interesting archaeological sites include Koumbi Saleh, once capital of the Ghana Empire, 70km (45 miles) from Timbedra along a good track. Near Tamchakett is Tagdawst, which has been identified as ‘Aoudaghost’, an ancient capital of a Berber empire. Oualata lies 100km (60 miles) from Néma at the end of a desert track. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, Oualata was at one time among the greatest caravan entrepôts of the Sahara. A fortified medieval town built in terraces up a rocky peak; it has for centuries been a place of refuge for scholars and has a fine library. The Muslim cemetery of Tirzet is nearby.

Bird Watching

The Parc National du Banc d’Arguin is reputed to be one of Africa’s best places for bird watching. Amongst the many species that can be observed are large colonies of aquatic birds, such as herons, pelicans and flamingos. The park is fairly difficult to access and the entry fee is approximately US$6 per day. The head office is located in Nouâdhibou.

Water Sports

There are some good spots for fishing and even surfing along the coast in the west. Swimming is also possible, but travelers should note that pick pocketing and crime is reported to be rife on Mauritania’s beaches. Remote and deserted beaches can be found near Nouâdhibou, although travelers should beware of landmines in the area.

CLIMATE OF MAURITANIA

First and foremost, Mauritania is hot -- very hot -- year-round. The best time to visit is November-February, when temperatures are hot during the day, but cooler at night (highs around 85 F/30 C; lows around 55 F/13 C). It's hottest June-October (high temperatures average 104 F/40 C). Never go March-May, when high winds and blowing sand make life miserable. There really is no rainy season. Be sure to take a light coat or sweater for the evenings if you're going during the winter.