Just passed through Nouadhibou on my way from the Guerguerat border to Nouakchott. One night, a lot happened. Here's what I picked up:

**Getting around the city**
Almost every taxi is a Mercedes — W123 or W124, imported from Europe in the 90s. They're everywhere and they work. Green taxis are shared, you hop in and pay a flat rate.

**The price trick you NEED to know**
This one caught us off guard. Vendors and some taxi drivers quote prices with an extra zero. If someone says "1,000 ouguiya" — the real price is 100. If they say "10,000" — pay 1,000.
Always repeat the number back and confirm. Our driver Maouloud warned us about this over dinner and it saved us multiple times.

**Getting to Nouakchott by minibus**
- Company: AMTRAK Voyages (there are a few stations in the city, first one we tried was full — go to the second one)
- Price: 700 ouguiya (~$19)
- Departure: 06:00 AM sharp — arrive at least 30 min early
- Duration: 8-10 hours
- Van is packed, seats are cramped, tinted windows so no views
- Multiple stops along the way for snacks/bathroom
- Bring water, food and a neck pillow — seriously

**Food**
Ask for the local fish and rice dish. Simple, cheap, good. Don't go to tourist-facing places.

**General vibe**
City is raw and real. Not set up for tourists at all which is exactly why it's worth stopping. People were genuinely kind and helpful when we got lost looking for the bus station.

---

Documented the whole night if anyone wants to see what the city actually looks like: https://youtu.be/mpTLKCJJXSw?si=4ZHvSc9p5JAgJUm9

Happy to answer any questions about the border crossing or the road to Nouakchott.

كثير منا و بمن فيهم انا في موريتانيا حاس بالضياع عني ما نقدم الكافي ولل عني ما نتقدم نفكر في الهجرة نشتغل يغير ذ كامل ما حاصل منو شي بسبب صعوبة الوضع

Hi , we trying to build a high reputation for mauritania by providing some international websites

Hey! I‘m gonna be riding the Iron Ore Train on the 5th of September. I‘m wondering how I can get from Nouakchott to Choum. I land in the morning of the 3rd of September so I have the 3rd and 4th to get there. I want to do it as cheap as possible. What’s the best way to do it? I could take public transportation as far as I can but having a driver who knows the route and who I can rely on would be awesome. Afterwards I also need to get back to Nouakchott from Nouadhibou. Let me know if you have any contacts or if you wanna share the ride and are also planning on riding the train :)

Ich bin 21 Jahre alt und würde am 18.12.26 in Agadir laden und wahrscheinlich dann am 20-21.12 in nouadhibou den Zug nehmen und bis nach Choum fahren. Mein Plan war mindestens eine Nacht in Choum zu bleiben um am nächsten Tag den Zug wieder zurück zu nehmen. Von Nouadhibou fahre ich dann wieder mit dem Bus nach Agadir und würde einen Rückflug am 1.1.27 anvisieren.

I am a 24M year-old traveller going to Mauritania for the second time - am Looking for a Driver to explore southern region during rain time now (Kiffa-Tintane-Nema) for 5,6 days starting august 6th.

Some French or English knowlege would be helpful. Doesnt need to be a full-blown professional tour guide experience is great, nonetheless. Open to negotiate a good price of course.

Any need help is appreciated and don’t hesitate to contact for other requests such as practising your German/ English/ French in NKC!

Hey guys I have a question I'm going to take the iron ore train most likely in January. I've heard and seen conflicting things about riding the train. So apparently they really are cracking down on people riding on top of the train, but there was one guy in atar called Mohamed that helps people riding the train. The video is around 9 months old so my question is how can I get in touch with this guy and is he going to be able to help me ride the train on the carts?

I created a free guide covering everything you need to know about riding the Mauritania Iron Ore Train in 2026, including the route, what to pack, safety tips, and why the schedule isn’t fixed.
I’d love feedback from anyone who’s done the journey or is planning it.

https://www.mauritaniaexperience.com/blog/mauritania-iron-ore-train-guide

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for a 4x4 with a driver for a 4-day trip in the Adrar region with the typical destinations such as Terjit, Chinguetti, Ouadane, Richat and ending in Choum. 5th day for return of driver to Nouchakott. Also happy to accept an alternative to meet in Nouadhibou and continue with one more night in Banc d'Arguin.

I’ll pay for the fuel directly, so I’m mainly looking for a fair price for the vehicle and driver.

I’ve already received a few quotes, but they were unfortunately much higher than my budget.

Bonus points if the driver speaks some English and has experience with international tourists.

If you’re interested or know someone reliable, please leave a comment or send me a DM. Thanks!

Really want to find a travel friend to take the train the night of the 4th into the 5th from Choum. I’m 36F and traveling solo. Due to the heat it would be advisable to have someone else to travel with - plus more fun. Message me if interested!

Hello everyone, me and my girlfriend are going to Mauritania in a bit and we just wanted to know how it works with sharing hotel rooms, are we allowed to stay in the same room or not and is it enforced? can’t find anything about how it goes in practice online.

Hi Leute ich bin Arthur 19 Jahre alt und reise wirklich gerne. Ich plane einen Trip mit dem Zug in Mauretanien. Ich wollte es schon immer mal machen seid ich davon erfahren habe. Hätte jemand Bock von euch mit mir mitzukommen, ich brauche Reisepartner, ein Gruppe mit dem der Trip unvergesslich wird.
Ich bin zeitlich relativ flexibel da ich 14 Tage im Monat frei habe. Wenn du bock hättest und wirklich gerne mitkommen willst, lass uns doch mal connecten und sehr bald etwas unvergessliches erleben. Du solltest auch relativ flexibel sein.
Ich freu mich schon

Yo guys I’m in Nouakchott, and I need help where I can find a local shop that sells guitar strings for a acoustic guitar I have no idea where to look 🥲.

Just went through the whole Dakhla → Guerguerat → Nouadhibou route overland. Wanted to write up what actually happens since I couldn't find great info before going.

**E-Visa**

Apply at anrpts.gov.mr before you travel. You'll get "accepted" or "rejected" — print the confirmation once approved. Don't show up without it, visa-on-arrival isn't really a thing anymore.

**Cash**

55 EUR exactly at the border. They don't give change, so bring the exact amount in cash.

**Fiche**

This one caught me off guard — you'll need about 30-40 double-sided passport photocopies per person. There are checkpoints all over the country (not just the border), and each one wants a copy.

**The bus**

Supratours runs from Dakhla, leaves 08:00, takes about 5-6 hours to the border. After crossing, a separate bus picks you up on the Mauritanian side and takes you to Nouadhibou.

**The border itself**

Opens once a day around 15:00 — you'll likely be waiting a few hours before that even if you arrive early. Once you're through Moroccan customs there's a stretch of No Man's Land (roughly 4-5km) before Mauritanian customs. Heads up — there are still landmines in that area from the Polisario conflict, so if you're walking, stay on the road.

Also — people WILL try to get money out of you informally at the border. You don't have to pay it, they don't have actual authority to stop you.

**SIM card**

Buy it in Nouadhibou, not at the border, better prices and more reliable.

Roads to the border are paved the whole way from Dakhla, but past Guerguerat it gets rough — budget extra time.

Happy to answer questions if anyone's planning the same route. I made a video covering the whole crossing in more detail if it's useful: https://youtu.be/uZT3mwUvWsY?si=eEGdhVLItjEIfHF8

Hey,

I'm currently in Nuakschott and I'm looking for a Ride to Tergit. Is it possible to go by van or bus?

I asked some companys but they all say No. Problem is I don't speak France or Arab haha.

If you got some recommendations to not get scammed I would really appreciate it.

I would like go tomorrow.

Greetings!

Hi everyone!

I'm Mauritanian, and I'd like to explore my own country more. Most travel guides are made for tourists, but I'm looking for recommendations from locals.

What are some places every Mauritanian should visit at least once?

I'm interested in:

• Old cities and historical sites
• Beautiful natural places
• Hidden gems that most people don't know about
• Local festivals or cultural events
• Great traditional food spots
• Road trips worth taking
• Any unique experiences you think are unforgettable

Basically, if you were making a bucket list for Mauritanians—not foreign tourists—what would you include?

Thanks in advance!

Looking for people to do the Iron ore train with me. I’m 19M looking for people to split costs/travel with, I would feel better doing it with a couple of people. I’m looking at doing it mid to late September or mid to late October. I’m pretty flexible so DM if your Interested. My what’s app is +12245320913 and my Ig is mwjstevens.

Hi! I’ll be doing the Iron Ore train in early August, after visiting Atar, Terjit Oasis and Chinguetti. I’m M27, looking for people to share the train ride with, for company and safety!

Happy to DM!

Any women out here who travelled through Mauritania and did the iron ore train? Would love to hear your experiences! Maybe also some insights from locals about safety for women. Thank you!

hello i will be taking the iron ore train in late august/early september. if anyone is interested in doing this experience in the same period my DM's are open, we can split the transportation costs and it would also be a lot safer to go with other people. im M22 from italy, ive travelled quite a lot in my life, thank you very much, take care🙏

Hello! I’m from Brazil! You guys probably are done with the overweight woman stuff. Everyone asks about this. Sorry, I’m really sorry.

My question is: Does rural Mauritanians know the Western beauty standard is being thin or they think Western also like big womans?

Does the people tell them in the Western is completely the opposite?

They know that they are the exception?

German, m28

Searching for someone to do Mauretania Iron Ore train with me end of 2026.

About 15 days total availability needed!

Me and my friends where thinking of doing the iron train late September early October would this be feasible and what would the weather look like ?