Mauritania offers somewhat limited shopping opportunities. That said, be on the lookout for brassware and silver jewelry, daggers, wood and silver chests, hand-dyed leather work, cushions and goat- and camel-hair carpets. The craftsmanship can be quite good.
Shopping Hours: Saturday-Thursday 8 am-noon and 2-7 pm. Afternoon hours are somewhat shorter during the hottest months.
Day By Day
The following itinerary catches the highlights of the country:
Day 1—Arrive Nouadhibou.
Day 2—Take an excursion into the desert. Overnight Nouadhibou.
Day 3—Fly to Nouakchott. Explore the city.
Day 4—Day trip to Rosso. Overnight Nouakchott.
Day 5—Depart Mauritania.
An ideal itinerary would include a weeklong overland trip into the desert, though you should allow two weeks to cover possible delays. Even if you're not going into the desert, allow plenty of extra time (at least several days) to account for logistical problems. Remember that everything is subject to revision or cancellation.
