MAURITANIA REPORT TRAVEL.

 

Punctual as never before from Terminal 1 of Milan Malpensa Airport at 5.25pm my plane no. AT0951 of the Royal Air Maroc Company in the direction of Terminal 2 of the Mohammed V Airport of Casablanca (Morocco), (multi-route ticket price including taxes from Malpensa to Nouakchott (Mauritania) and from Bamako (Mali) to Malpensa with a stopover in Casablanca: Euro 484.84).

Dinner is served on the aforementioned aircraft.

Punctual arrival at 7.40 pm, at Terminal 2 of Muhammad V Airport in Casablanca (Morocco).

There is a 1 hour time zone compared to Italy.

At the Muhammad V Airport in Casablanca (Morocco), there is a security check also for those entering the transit area. However, keep in mind that the same is very fast.

Punctual as never before, my plane no. 2 leaves from Terminal 2 of Muhammad V Airport in Casablanca (Morocco) at 9.45 pm. AT0511 of the Royal Air Maroc Company in the direction of Terminal 2 of Nouakchott Airport (Mauritania), (multi-route ticket price including taxes from Malpensa to Nouakchott (Mauritania) and from Bamako (Mali) to Malpensa with a stopover in Casablanca: Euro 484 , 84).

Dinner is served on the aforementioned aircraft.

Punctual arrival at 11.40pm at Nouakchott International Airport (Mauritania).

There is a 1 hour time zone compared to Italy.

To enter Mauritania, an entry visa is required, both for tourism and for work.

The tourist ticket (valid for 30 days of stay) can be obtained directly at Nouakchott Airport or even at the land borders against payment of the fee of Euro 55.00 or USD 60. The rest is given to you in Euros or Dollars and not in local currency (UM)

Once I got the tourist visa without any problems, I went to the Desk to get the entry stamp and there my fate is impacted by a boy in uniform who basically got me out of a thousand problems. He said that the invitation letter that I did not have and other non-existent things was necessary. All to get a tip of 20 USD which of course I gave for the quiet living. I asked for a discount but was not granted.

At Nouakchott International Airport (Mauritania), it is not possible to withdraw money at ATMs, but it is possible to change cash (Euros, Dollars), even after midnight, at an exchange rate, slightly disadvantageous compared to what you get in the Banks of the rest of Mauritania (1 Euro = 40 UM).

Keep in mind that very few vehicles circulate on Mauritania's roads, with the exception of large cities such as Nouakchott;

In Mauritania many people speak French but very few speak English.

Religions in Mauritania: Muslim.

In Mauritania the police are generally kind to foreigners and do not bother foreigners with requests for money.

Keep in mind that in every part of Mauritania there are numerous checkpoints and each time the Fiche is required from foreigners, which would be the form with the personal data. It is sufficient to give a photocopy of the Passport Page where the personal data are shown. It is therefore essential to bring at least twenty photocopies of the passport to Mauritania or more depending on the route you take.

From Nouakchott International Airport (Mauritania), located about 30 km north of the center of the capital, to reach it you need to take a taxi at the price of 600 UM. The journey takes about half an hour.

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One of the cheapest solutions for sleeping in the center of Nouakchott is to stay overnight at the Elwavaa Hotel, located just 1 km south of the Marchè Capitale. Cost for a room with double bed and ensuite bathroom: 600 UM. Wifi not present. Breakfast not included.

Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania is a city made up of many dirt and dusty roads. It appears quite safe during the day, a little less at night when darkness reigns supreme. However, it is a city that can be explored on foot.

If from Nouakchott you want to reach Atar, the capital of the Adrar Region, the most touristic of Mauritania, you need to go to Garage Atar which is located 5 km east of the center on the road to Atar. To reach it, a shared taxi ride costs 50 UM.

From the Atar Garage in Nouakchott, from dawn to late afternoon there are Taxi Bousse to Atar. Departure when all seats are occupied. Cost of the ride: 500 UM. You pay at the Company Desk. Duration of the trip: about 6 hours. Between Nouakchott and Atar, there are about 6 checkpoints, where the fiche (photocopy of passport) must be handed over to the Agent.

In Atar I rented a 4x4 car suitable for the Desert from Agence Biuauac Tours, including the French-speaking driver and fuel. Price for 2 days Euro 200. With this car I first reached Quadane, I slept in the open air in the Sahara Desert, then I crossed the dunes of the Desert reaching first the Oasis of Tanouchert, then Chinguetti, then Mhairith and finally the Source of Terjit, whose entrance costs 150 UM.

From various garages in Atar, from dawn to late afternoon there are Taxi Bousse to Nouakchott. Departure when all seats are occupied. If you decide to leave in the late afternoon, it is best to secure a place the day before as they are sometimes fully booked. Cost of the ride: 500 UM. You pay at the Company Desk. Duration of the trip: about 6 hours. Taxi Brousse stops next to the road to pray when it's time. Between Atar and Nouakchott, there are about 6 checkpoints, where the fiche (photocopy of passport) must be handed over to the Agent.

From Garage Atar in Nouakchott, late in the evening, I took a private taxi to Hotel Elwavaa, 6 km west, for the 200 UM fare.

If you want to reach Saint Louis in Senegal from Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania, you need to cross the Rosso River border. In theory you can also go through the much quieter frontier of Diamma (Keur Messène), but the connections are sporadic and therefore you end up opting for the much more dangerous Rosso.

If you want to reach Rosso from Nouakchott, you need to go to the Garage Rosso which is a good 5 km south of the center. To reach it, a shared taxi ride costs 20 UM.

From the Garage Rosso in Nouakchott, from dawn to late afternoon there are Taxi Bousse for Rosso. Departure when all seats are occupied. Cost of the ride: 250 UM. You pay at the Company Desk. Duration of the trip: about 3 and a half hours. Between Nouakchott and Rosso, there are some checkpoints, but they didn't ask me for any fiche (passport photocopy), perhaps because I was sitting in the back of a minibus and therefore they didn't notice me.

Keep in mind that the City of Rosso on both the Mauritanian and Senegal side is a terrible place full of evildoers, cheaters, dishonesters and pickpockets, where confusion and disorder reigns. Therefore, keep your eyes open. It is possible to change money on both sides of the border. The exchange rate is as follows: 1 Euro = 655 CFA.

 

In Rosso, the Brousse taxi from Nouakchott ends its journey about 1 km before the border post located on the edge of the Senegal River. This stretch can be done on foot (not recommended), with a shared taxi, or with a horse-drawn carriage (more expensive option).

At the chaotic border post of Rosso (open every day from 8.30 to 12.00 and from 15.00 to 18.00), have the Mauritanian exit stamp affixed to the Passport and then take a Pirogue to cross the Senegal River at the cost of 250 UM. There is also a public ferry that shuttles between Mauritania and Senegal and vice versa only 4 times a day.

My complete travel report with map, photographs and videos is available at this link:

https://vivendosalendo.blogspot.com/2018/11/viaggio-in-mauritania-nouakchott.html