Mauritania Things to Do Tips by pfsmalo Top 5 Page for this destination

Nouakchott - The beach and port III

This is the 2nd time I've been down to the beach in the late afternoon, and it's still fascinating.

Nouakchott - The beach and port II

Sit on the sand, watch the people and the beautiful sunset.

Nouakchott - The beach and port.

Around 5 in the evening take the 5 km drive out to the port, where you get to see the fishing boats coming back in with their catch, watch them dragging the boats back up onto the sand, have a nice walk along the beach and also catch a fine sunset (around 18.15). Just off the beach is a market area where you can buy the fish, have it gutted, cleaned and wrapped to take away.

Directions: About 5 km out from the centre of town. About 400 UM for a taxi and easy enough to get one back to town.

Nouakchott - The town.

Nouakchott is a very highly congested town, plenty of dust and a pall of haze hangs around the centre. Not far from the Menata is the Saoudian mosque, very nice but of course non-muslims are not allowed in. Another 200 metres sees you in the main market area. Plenty of fun just walking around and looking. If it's jewellery you're looking for it's in a small area downstairs underground. Ask anyone to show you.

Nouadhibou.

This is the first major town that you hit coming from Morocco and I can't say it's got a lot going for it. Judging by the time you get through the border you could mess it out altogether. Perhaps I'm being a bit harsh but there are very few things to see or do here. The only thing really is the road towards Cap Blanc and then you have to pass the refinery and the phosphates terminal. At Cap Cansado there is the surprising sight of the rusted hulks of the "boat cemetery". Near here is the terminus for the longest train in the world that brings the phosphates from Zouerate in the n.w. of Mauritania.