From the Atlantic to Chinguetti
Mauritania is a wild land of spectacular deserts, sand blown historic towns and picturesque oases. Here nomads live in goat hair tents, eking out an existence like their forefathers and adhering strongly to the traditions of the Sahara of old.
This unique Mauritania trip takes you to a country that has been little visited by travellers in recent years. It is full of hidden gems that will excite even the most experienced traveller.
We start in the capital Nouakchott. We then head up the Atlantic coast to the villages of the Imragen people, renowned for using dolphins to help them catch the fish on which they depend. We explore the Banc d’Arguin National Park with its impressive bird populations and visit the beautiful beaches of Cap Blanc.
After visiting Mauritania’s second city Nouadhibou we head inland to the almost unknown Ben Amera, second only to Australia’s Uluru in size and rising from the desert like a lost island. We explore the Guelb er Richat, a vast crater-like structure that can be seen from space. Next, we travel through the stunning Adrar region, one of Africa’s most unforgiving landscapes. Here we hope to meet nomadic groups and learn about their lives.
The highlights of this trip are saved until near the end as we visit the historic towns of Ouadane and Chinguetti. These were once important centres of scholarship and played an important role in the historic trans-Saharan caravans. Here we discover ancient mosques, crumbling citadels and wander the sandy streets, soaking up the Saharan atmosphere and almost travelling back in time.
On our way back to Nouakchott we spend our final night in the delightful oasis of Tergit, with its lush palm groves and springs. This is an exciting, unique and surprising Mauritania tour through an utterly captivating land.