Mauritania

Mauritania
Mauritania🇲🇷

Showing all 26 results

Traveling to Mauritania? Land Connected.

Mauritania is where the Sahara meets the Atlantic — ancient caravan libraries, endless dunes and one of the world's great desert railways — and the distances here are vast. Install your CGOO eSIM before you fly and you have maps, bookings and a way to stay in touch from the moment you land at Nouakchott.

Choose the Plan That Fits Your Trip

  • Fixed data or unlimited: pick from the plan grid above by trip length and data use — fixed-data plans for maps, messaging and light browsing, unlimited plans for heavy use and hotspotting.
  • Instant delivery: your QR code and installation link are emailed within minutes of checkout. Install before your flight; validity starts on the day you activate.
  • Coverage note: coverage is strongest in Nouakchott and Nouadhibou and thins fast in the desert — download offline maps before you leave the city.

Travel Highlights

  • Chinguetti: the ancient desert town of libraries, with medieval manuscripts kept in family collections.
  • Banc d'Arguin: a coastal national park of dunes, tidal flats and huge bird colonies.
  • Terjit oasis: palm groves and natural pools in the Adrar mountains, reached by desert track.
  • Nouakchott fish market: the busy Atlantic port where pirogues unload the day's catch.
  • Iron ore train: one of the longest trains in the world, running across the desert to the coast — ride only with local advice.

Getting Around

  • Local ride-hailing app: the local ClassRide app books cars in Nouakchott with fares shown upfront — coverage is limited to the capital, so outside it use hotel-called or rank taxis.
  • Shared taxis: petit taxis run set routes in Nouakchott and are paid per seat; private hires are negotiated before you close the door, as meters are rare.
  • Airport to the city: from Nouakchott airport, use the official taxi rank outside arrivals and agree the fare first; skip the freelance touts inside the terminal.
  • Desert travel: Chinguetti and the Adrar need a 4x4 and, for remote routes, a guide — roads outside the cities are often unpaved and sandy.

Safety and Practical Tips

Avoid travel near the borders with Mali and Algeria, where the security risk is highest, and take local advice before any desert trip — carry extra water, fuel and a charged phone, and never drive into the desert alone.

Petty crime is relatively low, but avoid walking alone late at night in Nouakchott, use clearly marked taxis or a hotel car after dark, and carry cash in ouguiya, as cards are almost never accepted by taxis or small shops.

Entry and Visa

Entry rules depend on your passport. Since January 2025 there is no visa on arrival — apply for an eVisa online before travel, print a copy to show on arrival, and pay the fee at the border in exact cash in euros or US dollars; carry a passport valid for at least six months.

Weather and Climate

  • Coolest months (December to February): the most comfortable time to travel, with milder days on the coast.
  • Hot season (March to June): intense heat, especially inland, where temperatures climb far above the coast.
  • Coast vs interior: Nouakchott stays roughly 20–30°C thanks to the Atlantic, while the interior desert is far hotter and drier.
  • Harmattan: the dry dusty wind blows in the cooler months and can cut visibility on desert roads.

Money and Payments

  • Currency: the Mauritanian ouguiya (MRU) — cash is the default for taxis, markets and transport.
  • Cards: virtually never accepted by taxis or small shops; larger hotels in Nouakchott may take a card, but do not count on it.
  • ATMs: available in Nouakchott and Nouadhibou; stock up before desert travel, where there are none.
  • Wise: works wherever Visa or Mastercard is accepted — it does not replace the cash you will need day to day.