Note: Javascript is disabled in your browser.
You need to enable Javascript if you want to see images and video.
Introducing Mauritania
Wild coast meets Saharan dunes. This should be enough to lure you to Mauritania. If you’re still diffident, a limited amount of hyperbole may strike a chord: think grandiose dune fields, ancient cities scoured by sandy winds, giddily deep canyons, eye-popping plateaus, sand seas larger than many a small European country and a phalanx of enchanting oases.
Sure, you may find similar landscapes in other parts of West Africa, but few are on the same scale as those in Mauritania. And few are as varied. Where else could you find such a startling interplay of dunes and ocean? If it’s tranquillity you’re after, fear not: unlike Senegal, the Mauritanian coastline is completely virginal – expect kilometres of sandy beaches without a resort in sight. And it will remain forever: an immense stretch of seashore is protected, with Parc National du Banc d’Arguin ranking as one of the best bird-watching spots in the world – Nouâdhibou, a fishing port on the Atlantic Coast, is a good gateway to this region. Nouakchott will lure you after a spell in the desert with its bountiful fresh seafood. For outdoor-adventure types, Mauritania offers the full slate of trekking options as well as exhilarating camel trips amid surreal landscapes, not to mention hot-air ballooning in the The Adrar.
Advertisement
Latest headlines for Mauritania
-
African al-Qaeda 'killed' US man
25 June 2009 9:33AM
Al-Qaeda's North African branch claims the killing of a US aid worker shot dead in Mauritania, al-Jazeera TV reports.
-
Deal to end crisis in Mauritania
5 June 2009 12:09AM
Mauritania's junta and the opposition sign a deal to end a political crisis following last year's coup.
Hotels & Hostels
Check out all our reviewed and recommended accommodation and book online.
Advertisement
