Mauritania Local Customs

  tent in Noudhibou
by sachara
 
  • tent in Noudhibou
      tent in Noudhibou
    by sachara
  •   Local Customs
    by sachara
  • in Tidjika
      in Tidjika
    by sachara
  • chuinguetti adrar mauritania
      chuinguetti adrar mauritania
    by johnsakura
  • chuinguetti adrar mauritania
      chuinguetti adrar mauritania
    by johnsakura
 
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Alcohol

by Alpha_Ghana

Before I arrived Mauritania, I was told that it was a Muslim country, no alcohol is allowed. People told me that I had to go to my embassy to claim a voucher. With this voucher I could buy a quota of alcoholised drinks for one month. I had to quickly carry the bottles to my house with a special authorisation. Then, I could never transport this alcohol again. Law is Muslim and foreigners don't have to shock local customs.This is just ***!!!!!Mauritanians drink like hell. Nothing is shown in public. But they have many hidden bars and houses were they drink alcohol to be drunk. Many of them are drunk everyday. If you want to live in Mauritania, never give your address to a Mauritanian, he will always come to your house to drink your alcohol free. Full containers of alcohols are shipped to the country with the blessing of the custom officers who take their part.

Nomad tents

by sachara

Mauritania is a country of nomads. In fact it's the only country in West Africa controlled by people who are traditionally nomads. The Moors, the dominant ethnic group, with their life-style give the country a special atmosphere.Everywhere in the country, along the road or in the middle of the desert, you can find Mauritanians, living in nomad tents. Even in the towns and villages many Mauritanians put their tents between the houses or in their inner courtyard.When the Mauritanians don't have or bring their traditional Mauritanian tent, the so-called khaima, they made their tent of other materials available. So we saw all kinds of - most temporary- tents, but also dwellings built of other materials, like pieces of metal.

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Local dress

by sachara

In the whole country from the south to the north the Mauritanian men wear the blue kaftans. Sometimes they are also white.On their heads they wrap the white, dark blue or black 14 M long veiled turban or tagelmoust, which protects them against the sun and dust.

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Khaima, traditional Mauritanian tent

by sachara

The khaima is the traditional Mauritanian tent. We saw many, when we travelled around in the country. But also at the campsites and auberges where we spent the night, you often will find these khaimas. It is possible to spend the night in a traditional khaima. We saw this possibility andyway in Tidjikja, Atar and Nouadhibou. During the day the sides of the tent are rolled up, so the desert breeze can give some ''coolness''. Than it's a great place to have the traditional tea, sitting on the matresses or cushions. During the night you can roll the sides down to protect you against the eventual cold and to give you some privacy.

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Interior roof

by sachara

When you are under a thatched roof in Mauritania, it's worth to look up. At the interior of the roof the Mauritanians put often very colourful cloth of different designs and colours behind the wooden poles of the construction.At the picture is the interior of the roof of the open air restaurant of our auberge in Tidjikja. Also the interior of the roof of our cabin in the same auberge was covered with this kind of colourful cloth.

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First greet and speack about news

by Pierangelo

Arabians are a friendly and honest people, they are very generous. But you have to approach they in the right way: they are talkative persons, first talk! Salam Aleikum. Yak la bas? Ishtari? (Peace with you. How are you? Which news?) In Arabian countries you can take pics of every one you want but... before you have to greet him, to speack about news, to become friend, then you can take pictures.

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Fishing in Mauritania

by johnsakura

The waters off the 754-kilometer-long coast of Mauritania are among the richest fishing grounds in the world. In 1986 estimates of the country's potential annual marine resources ranged between 400,000 and 700,000 tons. Mauritanian officials estimated the potential annual catch at 525,000 tons, a level close to that of Senegal, which had the largest fishing industry in West Africa. The actual catch, however, could only be estimated on the basis of export figures from Mauritania, recorded catches of licensed operators, and estimates of unrecorded and unlicensed catches. Unrecorded and unlicensed fishing in Mauritania's waters were believed to be high, perhaps in excess of 100,000 tons annually. In 1983 recorded exports and declared licensed fishing catches were estimated at 450,000 tons. Combining these figures, experts believed Mauritania's waters were close to being overfished. Although...

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accept always the invitations...

by danielperals

accept always the invitations ,they aren't so much used to tourists so the invitation are true ones with no interest only for the pleasure to have a foreigner at home having tea or lunch or sleeping.Try to learn some arabic words and this has a terrific good effect on them.

Visit the market in...

by titti

Visit the market in Nouanchott. Many craftsmen are working there, making and dyeing women’s colourful dresses (so different from what women wear in other Islamic countries).

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In Ouadane and Chinguetti...

by titti

In Ouadane and Chinguetti visit the descendants of the founding fathers; they still own very old libraries and look after the conservation and restoration of ancient manuscripts. They are very proud of their origins and culture and they’ll be very pleased to show you what they own. In Ouadane we were showed around by the man who is in charge of ancient manuscripts, old city conservation and the newly founded museum. Very agreeable. He’ll soon come to welcome you wherever you’ll lodge.

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Local traditions and culture in Mauritania

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6 Hotels in Mauritania
 
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Reviews and photos of Mauritania attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Mauritania sightseeing.

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Local Customs: Cities in Mauritania
  1. Nouadhibou Local Customs
  2. Nouakchott Local Customs
  3. Bir Moghrein Local Customs
  4. Akjoujt Local Customs
  5. Atar Local Customs
  6. Chinguetti Local Customs
  7. Cansado Local Customs
  8. Terjit Local Customs
  9. Rosso Local Customs
  10. El Mamghar Local Customs
  11. Ile d' Arguin Local Customs

More Cities in Mauritania

 

Popular Regions in Mauritania

Region de Dakhlet Nouadhibou Local Customs  Region de l' Inchiri Local Customs  Region du Tiris Zemmour Local Customs 

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Questions and Answers

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Q:  Greetings! I have a friend living in Nouakchott, and I'd like to visit her. I'm living in NY now, and I worry a bit about... 

sphynxxs profile photo

A: Well, as a foreigner you will stand out. but if you will stay in Nouakchoutt, security concerns should not keep you away. There are certainly areas to avoid as a... 

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