Mauritania
Phone Code
+222
Capital
Nouakchott
Population
4.7 Million
Native Name
موريتانيا
Region
Africa
Western Africa
Timezone
Greenwich Mean Time
UTC±00
On This Page
Mauritania is a vast West African country, 90% covered by Sahara Desert, bridging Arab North Africa and sub-Saharan West Africa. Named after ancient Berber kingdom of Mauretania, modern Mauritania is an Islamic republic where Arabic and French are official languages. Nouakchott, the capital on the Atlantic coast, was a tiny village of 15,000 in 1960 at independence and has grown to over 1 million. Mauritania has complex demographics: Arab-Berber Moors (majority) and sub-Saharan African groups with historical tensions over slavery (officially abolished 1981, criminalized 2007, but persists). Visitors (mostly adventurous overland travelers) are drawn to ancient caravan cities of Chinguetti, Ouadane, Tichitt, and Oualata (UNESCO sites with medieval libraries and manuscripts), Banc d'Arguin National Park coastal wetlands (UNESCO, millions of migratory birds), Richat Structure 'Eye of the Sahara' geological formation, iron ore train (world's longest train, 2.5km), Sahara Desert landscapes, Adrar Plateau, and desert camping. Mauritania offers authentic Saharan adventure and ancient Islamic culture, though tourism is limited by infrastructure and regional security concerns.
Visa Requirements for Mauritania
Mauritania offers visa on arrival for most nationalities at Nouakchott-Oumtounsy International Airport, costing approximately $120 USD (or €60) for single-entry tourist visa valid 30 days. Payment accepted in Euros or US Dollars cash. E-visas are also available through the government portal for same cost, allowing pre-approval and faster entry. African Union member citizens can enter visa-free for up to 90 days. Passport must be valid for 6 months with blank pages. Yellow fever certificate required if arriving from endemic countries. Visa on arrival is straightforward but immigration can be slow. Extensions available at police headquarters in Nouakchott. Mauritania's visa costs are high by African standards but process is relatively efficient. Security concerns in border regions with Mali and Algeria mean some areas require travel permits. Overland travel from Morocco (via Western Sahara) or Senegal is popular route for trans-Africa travelers. Note: Mauritania borders Western Sahara (disputed territory) - entry from Moroccan-controlled Western Sahara possible but complex.
Common Visa Types
Visa on Arrival (Tourist)
For tourism for most nationalities, obtained at Nouakchott Airport upon arrival.
E-Visa (Tourist/Business)
For tourism or business, applied for online before travel to speed up arrival process.
African Union Visa-Free Entry
For citizens of African Union member states who can enter without visa.
Visa Extension / Travel Permits
For tourists extending stay beyond 30 days or requiring permits for certain regions.
Important Travel Information
Travel Guide
Mauritania is one of the last great Saharan frontiers for adventurous travellers. The country's UNESCO World Heritage sites — the ancient caravan cities of Chinguetti, Ouadane, Tichitt, and Oualata with their medieval manuscript libraries — preserve a scholarly and trading heritage that once made the central Sahara a crossroads of the Islamic world. The Banc d'Arguin National Park (UNESCO) on the Atlantic coast hosts millions of migratory birds in one of the world's most important wetland ecosystems. The Richat Structure, a 40-kilometre geological formation visible from space, has become an iconic destination. Tourism infrastructure is limited but improving, and most visitors travel with local guides in 4x4 vehicles. The best season is November to March; summer temperatures can exceed 50 degrees Celsius.
Ways to Experience This Destination
Chinguetti, Ouadane, Tichitt, and Oualata are UNESCO-listed medieval trading cities that once anchored trans-Saharan caravan routes. Chinguetti alone houses five important manuscript libraries with Quranic texts and scientific works dating back centuries. These fragile sites, partly threatened by encroaching sand, reward respectful visitors with a tangible connection to Africa's Islamic scholarly tradition.
Mauritania's Sahara offers vast erg dune fields, rocky hammada plateaus, and the Adrar region's dramatic escarpments. The Richat Structure — a 40 km concentric geological formation near Ouadane, sometimes called the Eye of the Sahara or Eye of Africa — is one of the most extraordinary natural features on the continent. Desert camping under unpolluted skies is a highlight.
The Banc d'Arguin National Park (UNESCO) stretches along the Atlantic coast between Nouakchott and Nouadhibou, combining Saharan sand dunes with rich coastal wetlands. Millions of migratory birds — flamingos, pelicans, terns, cormorants — make this one of the most biodiverse sites in West Africa. The indigenous Imraguen fishermen are famous for their traditional dolphin-assisted fishing technique.
The Mauritanian iron ore train — stretching up to 2.5 kilometres with over 200 loaded cars — is one of the longest and heaviest trains in the world. It runs from the Zouérat mines to the port of Nouadhibou, and adventurous travellers can ride in the passenger car or atop the ore wagons for a 12–18 hour journey through open Sahara. The Nouakchott–Atar–Chinguetti overland route is the classic Mauritanian road trip.
Money & Currency
Mauritanian Ouguiya (MRU)
Currency code: MRU
Practical Money Tips
Mauritania uses the ouguiya (MRU)
The local currency is the Mauritanian ouguiya (MRU), redenominated in 2018 (the old ouguiya was divided by 10). Euros and US dollars are the preferred currencies for exchange. Bring clean, undamaged notes — worn bills may be refused. Exchange at banks or licensed bureaux de change in Nouakchott; street exchange is common but carries legal and security risks. The exchange rate fluctuates; check current rates before travel.
ATMs are limited to Nouakchott and unreliable
A small number of ATMs exist in Nouakchott (Banque Mauritanienne d'Investissement, Société Générale Mauritanie, Banque Populaire de Mauritanie), some accepting Visa cards. Mastercard acceptance is rarer. ATMs frequently run out of cash or experience technical problems. Outside Nouakchott, ATM access effectively does not exist. Plan to carry all cash needed for travel outside the capital.
Cards rarely accepted — cash is king
Credit and debit cards are accepted only at a handful of top-tier hotels in Nouakchott (Azalaï, Monotel) and possibly airline offices. Everywhere else — markets, restaurants, transport, hotels outside the capital, desert guides — payment is exclusively in ouguiya cash. Mobile money is growing for local transactions but is not practical for visitors without a Mauritanian SIM and registration.
Bring sufficient euros or US dollars in cash
Given the unreliable ATM network and near-zero card acceptance, bring your entire travel budget in euro or US dollar cash. Exchange in stages at banks in Nouakchott. Keep a mix of ouguiya denominations — small notes are essential outside the capital where change is scarce. Secure your cash carefully; money belts and hotel safes recommended.
Note: Always check current exchange rates before traveling. Currency exchange is available at airports, banks, and authorized money changers.
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