Passport/Visa Requirements: Citizens of Canada and the U.S. need passports, visas, proof of sufficient funds and onward passage. Reconfirm travel document requirements with your carrier before departure.
Population: 2,667,859.
Languages: Hassanya Arabic, Wolof, French, local dialects..
Predominant Religions: Islamic..
Time Zone: Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Daylight Saving Time is not observed.
Voltage Requirements: 220 volts.
Telephone Codes: 222, country code;
Sunday-Thursday 7 am-3 pm.
Tip waiters and taxi drivers 10%-15%.
First and foremost, Mauritania is hot—very hot—year-round. The best time to visit is November-February, when temperatures are hot during the day, but cooler at night (highs around 85 F/30 C; lows around 55 F/13 C). It's hottest June-October (high temperatures average 104 F/40 C). Never go March-May, when high winds and blowing sand make life miserable. There really is no rainy season. Be sure to take a light coat or sweater for the evenings if you're going during the winter.
Nouakchott International Airport (NKC) is about 3 mi/5 km east of the capital. Air Mauritanie offers infrequent (and often overbooked) flights to several destinations within the country. Most visitors fly between Mauritanian destinations because roads, such as they are, can be obscured by sand. During low tide and at certain times of the year, many cars travel along the beaches. Sign up for either an escorted tour or hire a car-with-driver service to see the country. Desert driving can be dangerous, so make sure you have adequate supplies and never try to go it alone. The only paved and truly all-season roads are Nouakchott-Atar (via Akjoujt), Nouakchott-Rosso and Nouakchott-Nema (via Kiffa). Nouakchott has some bus service and plenty of inexpensive taxis (agree on the fare before setting foot in the cab).
Tourist Offices
Mauritania does not have tourist offices in Canada or the U.S.
Embassies of Mauritania
Canada: Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, 121 Sherwood Dr., Ottawa, ON K1Y 3V1. Phone 613-237-3283. Fax 613-237-3287. http://www.ambarimca.org.
U.S.: Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, 2129 Leroy Place N.W., Washington, DC 20008. Phone 202-232-5700. Fax 202-319-2623.
Embassies Serving Mauritania
Canada is represented by its embassy in Senegal: 45 Ave. de la Republique, Dakar. Phone 221-823-9290. Fax 221-823-8749. http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/dakar.
The U.S. Embassy is between the Spanish Embassy and the Presidency Building, in Nouakchott. Phone 252-660. Fax 251-592.
West Africa by Alex Newton et al. (Lonely Planet).
Wind, Sand and Stars by Antoine de Saint Exupery (Harvest Books). A classic account written by an adventurous aviator who flew over (and crashed into) the Mauritanian Sahara in the 1920s.
Travels in Mauritania by Peter Hudson (Virgin). A more recent travel narrative, though it is now out of print.
