Social ConventionsIslam has been the major influence in this country since the seventh and eighth centuries and visitors should respect the religious laws and customs. Dress for women should be uncompromisingly modest. Nearly all the population have traditionally been nomadic herdsmen. The bulk of the population is divided into two main Moorish groups, the Bidan (55%) and the Harattin (20%), with the non-Moorish population concentrated in the Senegal River area. Different classes and tribes tend to be contiguous.
International Travel:Getting There by AirMauritania’s
national airline is
Air Mauritanie (MR) (website:
www.airmauritanie.mr).
Departure TaxNone.
Main AirportsNouakchott (NKC) is 5km (3 miles) east of the city (journey time – 20 minutes).
To/from the airport: Taxis are available.
Facilities: Shops and restaurants.
Nouâdhibou (NDB) is 4km (2.5 miles) from the city. Taxis are available.
Getting There by WaterMain ports: The principal port is
Nouadhibou and there is a small port at
Nouakchott, while
St Louis in Senegal also serves Mauritania.
Getting There by RoadThe most reliable way into Mauritania overland is from Senegal. From Dakar, the journey to Nouakchott is along a 575km- (360-mile-) tarred road (journey time – approximately 8 hours).
The River Senegal has to be crossed by ferry at Rosso. There is also a paved road from Mali.
Travelers intending to drive into Mauritania from the north should contact the nearest Mauritanian diplomatic mission for an assessment of political conditions in the Western Sahara; the
Route de Mauritanie via Algeria and Senegal is out of service. The border with Algeria is currently closed.
OverviewThe following items can be imported into Mauritania by persons of 18 years of age and over without incurring customs duty:
• 200 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 450g of tobacco (women – cigarettes only).
• 50g of perfume and
250ml eau de toilette.
• One still camera, one cinecamera and one wireless set; one projector (tourists only).
Note: Sporting guns require an import and gun license, obtained prior to arrival from the Home Ministry.
Prohibited ImportsAlcohol.
Internal Travel:Getting Around By AirAir Mauritanie (MR) (website:
www.airmauritanie.mr) operates flights between Nouakchott and Nouadhibou. It is possible to charter light aircraft.
Getting Around by RailThe only line runs between Nouâdhibou and Zouérat and is provided by the national mining company,
SNIM, to serve the ore mines. Services are free but booking in advance is advisable; journeys are long and arduous and not recommended.
Getting Around by RoadTraffic drives on the right. There are adequate roads linking Nouakchott with Rosso in the south of the country, Néma in the southeast and Akjoujt in the north. A paved highway, namely
La Route de l’Espoir, runs east from Nouakchott to Mali. All other routes are sand tracks necessitating the use of 4-wheel drive vehicles. In some regions during and after the rainy season roads may become impassable. Similarly, in the dry season tracks can be obscured by drifting sand; a guide is highly recommended, if not essential.
Car hire: Available in Nouakchott, Nouâdhibou and Atâr. 4-wheel drive vehicles with a driver can be hired and are recommended, but they are expensive.
Documentation: An International Driving Permit is recommended, although it is not legally required.
Note: Travelers should never attempt any desert journey without a full set of spare parts and essential safety equipment. The Direction du Tourisme in Nouakchott, part of the Ministère du Commerce de l’Artisanat et du Tourisme, can give further information and advice on road travel (see
General Info).
Getting Around Towns and CitiesTaxis are plentiful but very expensive in the towns (Nouakchott and Nouadhibou). Fares are set, not metered, and a small tip is expected.
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