Mauritania is a hidden gem in West Africa, offering stunning landscapes and unique cultural experiences. Mauritania is not as known as its neighboring countries but perhaps this has helped it preserve its amazing tourist attraction, untouched by excessive tourism.
There are a lot of places to visit in Mauritania but we have compiled only a few and they would blow your mind away.
Banc d'Arguin National Park
It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world’s most important bird-watching destinations. The park features beautiful coastal dunes and islands, making it a lovely place to visit for nature lovers.
Bird enthusiasts will be captivated by the sight of pink flamingos, pelicans, herons, and numerous other species that nest and feed in the park's lagoons and mudflats. Some of the common activities here for tourists include the exploration of the park's rich birdlife through bird-watching tours or boat trips.
Beyond its avian inhabitants, the park is home to a diverse marine ecosystem that teems with life. The park's waters host a vast array of fish species, including groupers, snappers, and barracudas, attracting not only local fishermen but also diving and snorkeling enthusiasts. Exploring the underwater world reveals colorful coral reefs, vibrant fish, and even the chance to encounter playful dolphins or majestic sea turtles.
One of the highlights of a visit to this location is the opportunity to witness an extraordinary natural phenomenon - the gathering of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins and Atlantic grey seals. Every year, between the months of April and July, these marine mammals congregate in large numbers to breed and feed.
For those seeking to immerse themselves in the local culture also, a visit to the traditional fishing villages surrounding the park is a must. At the fishing villages, you will meet the tribe of the Imraguen, who are Mauritanian fishermen who have been teaming up with dolphins for thousands of years in a natural and friendly way.
These communities have coexisted harmoniously with the park for centuries, relying on its resources for their livelihoods.
They will take you for a sailing day on their "lanche" (Traditional fishing ship) and you will have the opportunity to contemplate the marine fauna and the many bird species.
Engaging with the locals provides a glimpse into their way of life, their ancient fishing techniques, and their deep connection to the land and sea.
Chartering a boat or joining a guided tour allows visitors to witness this spectacle up close, as dolphins gracefully swim and seals bask in the sun.
Tourist activities to participate in
Birdwatching, boat trips, camping, and experiencing traditional fishing with local Imraguen fishermen.
Chinguetti
It is an ancient desert town and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Chinguetti is known for its well-preserved libraries and historic mosques, representing centuries of Islamic culture and economic role on ancient trade routes.
With buildings dating back to the 13th century, it was the capital of the Mauri kingdom and its scholars of Islamic culture were famous. A cultural and intellectual centre, it was of great importance in the region’s trade exchanges.
Its fortunes back then depended on the rich caravans that transported salt to Timbuktu and Marrakech. In Chinguetti, the Ksar, an intricate maze of alleyways in the historic centre, is the most interesting part to visit and full of atmosphere. Here, there is a beautiful 16th-century mosque whose minaret has become a symbol for Mauritania, crumbling old buildings and five libraries that still hold rare Islamic manuscripts. The Chinguetti surroundings are famous for their spectacular dunes, particularly those of the Ouadane section, the largest in the country.
Today, it preserves cultural treasures through its libraries that include rare manuscripts but faces the challenges of the harsh climate, and the faltering development plans of Mauritania.
Tourist activities to participate in
Visit the ancient libraries, explore the sand dunes of the Adrar Plateau, and enjoy the traditional architecture.
Atar
Atar is the gateway to the Adrar region, known for its stunning desert landscapes, oases, and ancient ruins. It’s also a great base for exploring nearby desert attractions.
Atar is a small city that lies a dusty ride of 5+ hours away from Mauritania’s capital of Nouakchott. While walking through the streets of Atar, you will see as many donkey carts as you would see cars.
The market of Atar is another important place to visit. There you can buy all kinds of local products, from spices and textiles to jewelry and crafts. The Grand Mosque of Atar, with its impressive adobe minaret, is another highlight of the city. The ancient Ksar of Atar, a 13th-century adobe fortress, is one of the city's most emblematic places.
In summary, Atar is a unique and fascinating tourist destination, offering a blend of culture, history, and natural beauty. Whether you're interested in history, culture, nature, or simply adventure, Atar has something to offer all visitors.
Tourist activities to participate in
Trekking in the desert, visiting oases, exploring the nearby Guelb er Richât (also known as the Eye of the Sahara).
Ouadâne
For those who do not know it, Ouadane is a historical city founded in 536 AH. It is located on the highest Adrar Plateau and includes a number of palm oases.
Once a prosperous trading town, the first reference to Ouadane was around the 15th century, and the old mosque was probably the first building of the town.
At its heyday, it had around 10,000 inhabitants and 35,000 date palms, of which only a small amount remain in our days. The main reasons for the decline of Ouadane were the ants that consumed the wooden beams of the buildings, and the shifting trade routes. Its economic importance meant that the city was protected by a wall; not the thin wall we see now, but a sturdy, thick wall with watchtowers that could withstand attacks. To survive times of siege, wells were included inside the wall.
Currently, the historic city of Ouadane is struggling to survive after it served for centuries as the capital of commercial caravans and a radiant center in the country.
This ancient saharan city is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Tourist activities to participate in
Wander through ancient ruins, visit historic mosques, and enjoy views of the surrounding desert.
Nouakchott
Nouakchott is the capital city of Mauritania and serves as its main administrative center as well as the major economic hub of the country. The city is located near the West African coast on a plateau, located around 270 miles northeast of the city of Dakar, Senegal.
The capital city of Mauritania offers a mix of modernity and tradition. It’s a place to experience local markets, culture, and the bustling port.
The city hosts several markets including the Nouakchott Silver Market, and the beaches.
Port DE is a very interesting place. It is a working fishing port and one of the biggest in West Africa. Try and get there in the late afternoon to watch the fishing boats come in and land their fish.
Port de pêche, camel market, & the traditional markets are just stunning.
Tourist activities to participate in
Visit the lively fish market, relax at Nouakchott Beach, explore the National Museum, and experience local restaurant.
Terjit
Terjit is located on the western edge of the Adrar Plateau, less than an hour's drive from Atar. Situated in a gorge protected from the sun on three sides by high rock walls, Mauritania's most beautiful oasis has been able to develop here.
Tarjit Oasis is distinguished by its natural landscapes. Tarjit is considered a popular tourist destination for those looking for tranquility and natural beauty. The oasis provides an ideal environment for camping, walking and learning about local culture
Terjit is the only oasis in the Adrar region where there is natural flowing water. The natural pool is also unique, offering virtually the only opportunity in Mauritania to safely enter an inland body of water. The bees of Terjit, which live along the dripping rock walls, are also not found elsewhere. Terjit is the best known and most visited oasis in Mauritania.
Admittedly, it is more pleasant in the main season between November and April, when the heat is less muggy and the oasis stream in Terjit becomes a river. But don't worry: bathing is possible all year round.
Among bees, date palms and hidden shady spots, tea breaks, water fun and even climbing are possible.
The nearby hostels offer sleeping facilities and invite you to enjoy sumptuous meals with a dreamlike view of the settlement and the horizon. Sunset dinner at the end of the world. In front of the oasis is a village whose inhabitants often spend the day under shady date palms.
Tourist activities to participate in
Enjoy the cool springs, camp under the stars, and hike around the surrounding area.
Tichit
Tichit, known for its traditional stone houses and the remnants of a rich medieval history, is a small village located in the Tagant Plateau in the central part of Mauritania. Located above sea level the town is connected with a single 250 km sand track to Tidjikja making it extremely hard to access and justify the isolation in which it is left.
The Dhar Tichitt Neolithic site was settled by agro pastoral communities around 2000 BC. These communities built stone settlements, which are the oldest surviving archaeological settlements in West Africa. The exact origins of Tichitt are unknown, but it is believed to have been founded by the proto-Mande peoples around 2000 BCE. They built their settlements on the cliffs of the Dhar Tichitt massif, which provided them with protection from the desert and a source of water.
The site was abandoned around 500 BC, when the area became more arid. Hundreds of rock art images have been found at the site, depicting animals and hunting scenes.
Tichit is another ancient Saharan town that is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Tourist activities to participate in
Explore ancient ruins, learn about the town's history, and enjoy the surrounding desert landscapes.
The Eye of the Sahara (Guelb er Richât)
The Richat Structure is a ring mound of sedimentary rock measuring 45 km in diameter. It is also called “Guelb” (from Arabic qalb: heart, center) which is the Saharan name for an inselberg, an elevation in the middle of flat land. The Richat Structure is only 30 km away from Ouadane.
Its rings are only a few dozen meters high, but are visible even from space. Therefore, the guelb is also used by astronauts as a landing marker. The rings were formed by deposition, superposition and consolidation of differently composed loose masses.
The origin of the Richat Structure is not yet completely clarified. For a long time the theory prevailed that the structure was formed by a meteorite impact. Some researchers are also of the opinion that a volcanic eruption was the cause of the stone ring walls. This mysterious geological formation is one of the most fascinating natural wonders in Mauritania. It resembles a giant eye from space, making it a popular destination for geologists and adventurers.
Very close to Guilb er Richat are the remains of the former Portuguese fort of Agadir (also: Aghouedir). Built in the 15th century, it represented, along with the fort of Arguin, the only Portuguese possession in the territory of present-day Mauritania. The short detour to the western edge of the Richat structure is worthwhile for the handcrafted artifacts offered there alone.
Most tour agencies in Mauritania include The Guelb er Richat tour to various tours that lead into the Adrar region.
Tourist activities to participate in
Aerial sightseeing, trekking, and photography.
Tidjikja
Tidjikja is the regional capital of Tagant founded towards the end of the 17th century for the cultivation of the date palm. The palm groves, along the wadi, are among the most impressive in the country. Known for its palm groves and traditional Saharan architecture, Tidjikja is a picturesque desert town that offers insight into Mauritania’s nomadic culture.
The old part is made up of mud houses, now in ruins, which blend in with the reddish colours of the surrounding rock. The new part, on the other hand, extends downhill on the slope that joins the cliff to the ouad. Finally, Mudjeira is a village about 140 km from Tidjikja. Formerly a French military post, today it is a dusty town surrounded by dunes and cut in half by an asphalt road.
Tidjikja is still of enormous importance for date production. Its countless groves are almost without equal in Mauritania. Once a year, between June and August, the harvest is brought in - reason enough for a festival lasting several weeks, the Guetna. At this time, a visit is particularly worthwhile, but there are good reasons to come in winter. The region is considered the hottest in the world and can easily reach 55 ° C in summer. Tidjikja is divided by an ouad, which becomes a fertile lake during the rainy season. North of it is the old town, which is worth seeing.
Tourist activities to participate in
Explore palm groves, experience local markets, and learn about the traditions of the local Bedouin tribes.
Nouadhibou
Nouadhibou is Mauritania’s second-largest city, located on the coast. It is also the second most important city of Mauritania. Located at the north of the country, less than an hour driving from the wild border between Morocco and Mauritania, controlled by Western Sahara, it is an important fishing port of the west coast of Africa.
More importantly for off the beaten path travellers, Nouadhibou is where the Mauritania iron-ore train stops to offload its cargo onto boats. The iron-ore train runs from Nouadhibou on the coast to Zouerat in the desert, a 720 kilometer trip. On the way there they bring fish and other essentials and on the way back it's filled with Iron for export.
Nouadhibou is also famous for its ship graveyard, where old ships are left to rust in the harbor, and for its excellent fishing opportunities.
Road travellers can drive from Western Sahara/Morocco in less than an hour from the border. Alternatively, travellers coming from the south, such as Senegal or the capital of Mauritania, Nouakchott, will find that the road between the two main cities takes about 5 hours on the country’s best road.
Areas to visit include Cape Blanc, the port area of Nouadhibou, Nouadhibou Market, fishing port and the peninsula. Cape Blanc is a cape on the peninsula where Nouadhibou is located.
The place is known for its colony of monk seals and also as it was the emplacement where the famous ship graveyard of Mauritania was. Since a few years ago, however, the ship graveyard has been dismantled, with the scrap metal of what was the world’s biggest collection of shipwreck having been totally collected by Chinese recycling firms.
Driving back from the cape, you might be able to see the Mauritanian ore train driving by, allowing you to take a great photo of its whole length.
The Port Area of Nouadhibou on the other hand is definitely worth popping by. In the port area, you’ll get to see the hustle and bustle of the fishermen as well as bump into different handicraft stores. While the area is controlled by a military checkpoint, it is still possible for you to get in. Avoid bringing a camera as they are really not keen on photography there.
At the Nouadhibou Market you will discover an interesting place to walk and to stock up on all kinds of trinkets, fruits and vegetables. Stop by at the fishing port which is a busy place and filled with Senegalese boats. Finally, at the Peninsula there is a small national park where for a fee you can observe the meeting point between the bay and Atlantic Ocean. This point on the peninsula is home to several monk seals.
Tourist activities to participate in
Visit the ship graveyard, explore the coastline, and enjoy fresh seafood, bird watching, tour of the iron-ore train, Cape Blanc, Nouadhibou port, fishing port, the peninsular and shopping at the Nouadhibou Market.
Conclusion
Mauritania has many other untouched tourist worthy places to visit but the ones listed in this article would offer you an equally unique and exciting experience. There are several tour agencies that offer combined tours to all these great places in Mauritania while some, only tick a few places off this list.
You can check out a list of reputable tour agencies and compare tour destinations that interest you alongside their prices.
Have you read our article on best small business opportunities in Mauritania? Find out all you need to know about doing business and the cost of living in Mauritania. Mauritania has more to offer aside from being an amazing tourist destination, it is a safe and affordable country to relocate to, start a business and raise a family. Get started or send us a message.
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