Mauritania Off The Beaten Path

  Plenty of diesel and petrol. Pic by...
by pfsmalo
 
  • Plenty of diesel and petrol. Pic by hpy36.
      Plenty of diesel and petrol. Pic by...
    by pfsmalo
  • Sandstorm close by the Gare du Nord.
      Sandstorm close by the Gare du Nord.
    by pfsmalo
  • First pothole!! 2 rims in one go!!!!!
      First pothole!! 2 rims in one go!!!!!
    by pfsmalo
  • The Gare du Nord.
      The Gare du Nord.
    by pfsmalo
  • Another of the many Malian refugees in Mauritania.
      Another of the many Malian refugees in...
    by pfsmalo
 
Save up to 50% off Hotels Everyday
Expedia.com Photos, Reviews and the Guaranteed Lowest Prices
Great Prices, Great Rooms
hotels.com We Know Hotels Inside And Out. Click or call now: 1-800-914-6835

Sponsored Links

Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Desert skies

by sachara

Before dark we reached the railway again. We found a nice place for camping between two low sanddunes, not far form the railway. We were just in time to sit down on the sanddune and have a look at the beautiful sky and a great sunset in the direction of the Azzeffal sandunes in the west.Just after sunset we heard the noise of an approaching train, our first one! After some time we could also see its lights. When the train came near, the noise became louder and louder. During the silent night, the noise was even so loud, that it was like we had our tents at the rails.

Tip Photo
Lost in the desert, but not alone

by sachara

The railway with its KM signs was our orientationpoint and life-line. They told us it was easy enough to find our way without a guide, just by following the most fresh tracks in the often soft sands. Most of the time we saw the KM signs of the railway very clearly. Sometimes the most fresh tracks , we followed were a few KMs away from the railroad and after some time they bend again to the railway. A few times we headed straight north to find back the railway to be sure, we didn´t get lost, after our experience the first day, when we followed the fresh tracks of pickups, leading to a nomadic camp a few KM south of the railway.So we had to drive back to the railway without tracks, so we drove as straight north as we thought we did, having the low west sun at our lefthandside. No tracks, no railway, but we did meet a nomad at a camel, coming from nowhere and going to nowhere. He had never...

Tip Photo
Ben Amira, monolith

by sachara

North of the railway Choum-Nouadhibou are two enormous monoliths of black granite. From far you can see these enormous mountains. One of both is called the monolith of Aicha, according to a local legend.Near Ben Amira are archaeological rock paintings. Except these prehistorical art you can find here also contemporary art. There are sculptures in the open air, made by artists all over the world. Allthough it was recommended to visit this place at the north side of the railway, we didn´t do it. Also because we did not see any possiblity of crossing the railway, we stayed at our track at the southside.

Tip Photo
Choum-Nouadhibou, desert track

by sachara

In the north of Mauritania we didn´t take the train, but drove with our own cars the track of 400 KM from Choum to Nouadhibou, just south of the railway. The railway with its KM signs was our orientationpoint and life-line. Sometimes we could see the signs very clearly, but sometimes the most fresh tracks, we followed were a few KMs away from the railroad. A few times we headed straight north to find back the railway to be sure, we didn´t get lost by following a wrong track.The first day we followed three fresh tracks, which bended finally a bit too much to the southwest . So we arrived in a nomadic camp and here we saw the three pickups, which tracks we were following allready some time. In the meantime we were KMs away from the railway.

Tip Photo
Tidjikja - Chinquetti, art of nature

by sachara

The second day of our desertcrossing from Tidjikja to Chinquetti we didn't only see flat plains, but after a few hours we passed also wadis, black lava fields and beautifully scaped sanddunes. Just at the moment you could get the feeling that the desert can also be very boring, the landscape changes again.Especially the sanddunes have very beautiful forms, created by the desert winds. I'm a real lover of this ''art of nature''. It's like you are in an immense open air museum.

Tip Photo
Tidjikja -Chinquetti, flat, flat, flat

by sachara

The second day of our desertcrossing from Tidjikja to Chinquetti we had to cross a very flat plain. Because the gravel surface was solid we could drive rather fast.While we were driving at this plain we didn't see anything in all directions. We saw only the very flat plain and our two cars. It gave us the feeling to be alone on this world. Where have all the people gone ?

Tip Photo
Tidjikja-Chinquetti, Baba looking for the best way

by sachara

After some time we reached a small solid part between the sanddunes, where we could stop for a while and come out of the car. It was great to walk and look around a bit in this barren landscape.In the meantime Baba, our guide, climbed the sanddunes to find out, how we could continue our crossing of the sanddunes at the best way. By the blowing of the wind sanddunes can change a lot in a very short time.

Tip Photo
Tidjikja - Chinquetti, en route again

by sachara

After Baba, our guide, found out, which way we could go best, we continued again our route through the soft sands and sanddunes. It was very exciting to drive in the middle of these sanddunes without seeing any beginning or end in any directions. Now we were in the middle of this amazing sandy landscape, the stress was gone. We had the feeling, that we could manage it and could conquer every sanddune, especially due to our excellent guide Baba and our good drivers Marius and Johan.For sure, this part of the trip was the highlight of our transsahara.

Tip Photo
Tidjikja - Chinquetti, Paris-Dakar passed here

by sachara

After we had conquered all the sanddunes, we crossed easy sandy plains, further heading north. In this area we could drive rather fast.We drove for hours without seeing any car or person. Suddenly in the middle of nowhere we saw the remains of a car of the Paris-Dakar Rally. So now we were sure, that we were at one of the routes of the rally !We stopped to have a look at the car. And of course some of us had to sit on the seat of the driver of this Paris-Dakar car.

Tip Photo
Tidjikja -Chinquetti, following the track .....

by sachara

After we had seen the remains of the car of the Paris-Dakar Rally and some camels, we were en route again. We were driving in a lovely ondulating solid sandy landscape with some scattered grass and lonely trees. Except our tracks the landscape was unspoilt. And our tracks should disappear also within a few days by the blowing wind. As it was allready late afternoon, even the temperature became more comfortable. So at the end of the day we had a very pleasant last part of the trip, before we started to look for a place to spend the night.

Tip Photo
Unique Places in Mauritania

Top 3 Hotels in Mauritania

NOVOTEL NOUAKCHOTT  Nouakchott

 1 Review and 13 Opinions  Comfortable like all of them, this Novotel is a quite recent building in the centre of Nouakchott... 

 Hotels in Nouakchott

MERCURE NOUAKCHOTT MARHABA 3M  Nouakchott

 1 Review and 18 Opinions  When I arrived Nouakchott to settle there, I had to stay 6 weeks in the hotel. Services is OK,... 

 Hotels in Nouakchott

Hotel Ikrama  Nouakchott

 5 Opinions

 Hotels in Nouakchott

6 Hotels in Mauritania
 
Explore the World
Travel Destinations
Travel Highlights

The Place

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

Experience Mauritania
Off The Beaten Path: Cities in Mauritania
  1. Nouadhibou Off The Beaten Path
  2. Nouakchott Off The Beaten Path
  3. Bir Moghrein Off The Beaten Path
  4. Akjoujt Off The Beaten Path
  5. Atar Off The Beaten Path
  6. Chinguetti Off The Beaten Path
  7. Terjit Off The Beaten Path
  8. Rosso Off The Beaten Path
  9. El Mamghar Off The Beaten Path

More Cities in Mauritania

 

Popular Regions in Mauritania

Region de Dakhlet Nouadhibou Off The Beaten Path  Region de l' Inchiri Off The Beaten Path  Region du Tiris Zemmour Off The Beaten Path 

More Regions in Mauritania

Questions and Answers

christinenoel profile photo

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... 

Read 5 Replies

postQuestion_button

Click here for best deals for

Vacation Package Specialists
Expedia Vacations Save on flight + hotel packages. Click or call now: 1 - 800-713-8214
Great Rooms, Great Prices
Hotels.com Low Rates Guaranteed!  Click or Call an Expert at 1-800-45-HOTEL
Great Rooms. Great Rates.
Travelocity Hotel rooms at up to 50% off. 
Save up to 50% off Hotels Everyday
Expedia.com Photos, Reviews and the Guaranteed Lowest Prices

Sponsored Links