Mauritania / الجمهورية الإسلامية الموريتانية – Let’s explore here

Mauritania is a poor, mainly flat, desert country in North Western Africa that meets the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Parts of Macronesia lie just off the coast. It is comprised of many types of Saharan desert, and includes the fascinating Richat Structure – an incredible circular geological feature (see below) – also known as the ‘Eye of Sahara’. It shares land borders with Mali, Senegal, Morocco, the disputed Western Sahara, and Algeria.

What currency do they use in Mauritania?

In Mauritania they use the Mauritanian ouguiya, although US dollars are also accepted in many places. Cash is widely used. The use of credit / debit cards is not widely accepted. Traveller’s cheques are generally accepted. There are few ATMs in cities and towns throughout the country.

You should make yourself aware of the amount that your bank charges you for using credit and debit cards abroad. Often credit cards are cheaper for purchasing items directly, and for withdrawing cash from ATMs.

What language do they speak in Mauritania?

They speak Arabic in Mauritania, and to the East towards Senegal they speak Wolof. French is also widely spoken, whereas English is not widely spoken.

What time zone is Mauritania in?

Remember, when you’re planning your next trip to take a look at what time zone it’s in.

Do I need a visa to visit Mauritania?

We’ve created a dedicated, more comprehensive page on visas, which you should find helpful. Check it out!

What’s it like to drive in Mauritania?

We’ve also created a dedicated page to driving abroad, which you might find helpful 🙂

Current travels

Our current planned route takes us from Morocco and Western Sahara along the coast of Mauritania towards the capital, Nouakchott, before heading on to Senegal. Hopefully our journey will improve our knowledge of this intriguing and beautiful country, and enable us to meet some interesting people. We’ll be updating this page at that time – don’t forget to check back 🙂

Is wild camping legal in Mauritania?

Yes, wild camping is fine in Mauritania.

If you’ve got some awesome pictures, or some useful info that you’d like to share, let us know! 

And don’t forget to check out all the other pictures!