And it's jarring lol. Morocco kind've has a third world vibe but the people were absolutely wonderful. Nouadhibou has a much more desperate feel. There's a pretty large migrant population and I think my hostel is smack dab in the middle of that so there's some gang activity I've been warned about. I've spent the last couple days trying to figure out the currency (and cultural) switch. There are much less Arabs , in fact , the vast majority of the population here is black and from what I understand a heavy Senegalese population with refugees from Mali. I'll be here biking through to Senegal for the next month so we'll see if it grows on me.
Well , I just cycled into Nouadhibou in Mauritania
byu/phieralph inbicycletouring
by phieralph
2 Comments
Visited the country in 2023, there are places you really need to be careful.
If you come to Nouakschott, make sure to visit the fish market
[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Fishers+Port,+Nouakchott,+Mauretanien/@18.1013919,-16.026866,705m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m15!1m8!3m7!1s0xea1b3089c7f49ff:0xa02a156aeec67fc4!2sNouadhibou,+Mauretanien!3b1!8m2!3d20.9425179!4d-17.0362272!16zL20vMDI3NTB6!3m5!1s0xe964ce787487887:0x4ee5207454f03e70!8m2!3d18.1017605!4d-16.0263636!16s%2Fg%2F11b8tgw22n?hl=de&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDQwNi4wIKXMDSoJLDEwMjExNjM5SAFQAw%3D%3D](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Fishers+Port,+Nouakchott,+Mauretanien/@18.1013919,-16.026866,705m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m15!1m8!3m7!1s0xea1b3089c7f49ff:0xa02a156aeec67fc4!2sNouadhibou,+Mauretanien!3b1!8m2!3d20.9425179!4d-17.0362272!16zL20vMDI3NTB6!3m5!1s0xe964ce787487887:0x4ee5207454f03e70!8m2!3d18.1017605!4d-16.0263636!16s%2Fg%2F11b8tgw22n?hl=de&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDQwNi4wIKXMDSoJLDEwMjExNjM5SAFQAw%3D%3D)
It’s crazy.
For a good view go to this building, it’s the highest in Nouakschott
[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Fishers+Port,+Nouakchott,+Mauretanien/@18.1013919,-16.026866,705m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m15!1m8!3m7!1s0xea1b3089c7f49ff:0xa02a156aeec67fc4!2sNouadhibou,+Mauretanien!3b1!8m2!3d20.9425179!4d-17.0362272!16zL20vMDI3NTB6!3m5!1s0xe964ce787487887:0x4ee5207454f03e70!8m2!3d18.1017605!4d-16.0263636!16s%2Fg%2F11b8tgw22n?hl=de&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDQwNi4wIKXMDSoJLDEwMjExNjM5SAFQAw%3D%3D](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Fishers+Port,+Nouakchott,+Mauretanien/@18.1013919,-16.026866,705m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m15!1m8!3m7!1s0xea1b3089c7f49ff:0xa02a156aeec67fc4!2sNouadhibou,+Mauretanien!3b1!8m2!3d20.9425179!4d-17.0362272!16zL20vMDI3NTB6!3m5!1s0xe964ce787487887:0x4ee5207454f03e70!8m2!3d18.1017605!4d-16.0263636!16s%2Fg%2F11b8tgw22n?hl=de&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDQwNi4wIKXMDSoJLDEwMjExNjM5SAFQAw%3D%3D)
There is a cafe/bar on top, the security won’t let you in though if you don’t say that you wanna visit.
Best view over this crazy city
If you want a really quiet place, go to the national museum.
If you see lights out in the desert or trucks, don’t disturb. It’s young people escaping the sharia law and driving out into the desert.
Be careful. Water IS A HUGE CONCERN. Bring enough everywhere.
Cycled in summer 2022. My tips:
bring enough water everywhere
police were generally friendly, at least outside cities
be sure to camp far from the road after dark and avoid being seen
data not available along much of the desert road
sleep safe in cities, there are fine accommodations in Nouakchott. Keep belongings nearby and safe
use ioverlander for info along the road
don’t get scammed at near the border if you take the ferrry, don’t believe everything officials say, they told me the ferry was cancelled and tried to send me across with a private boat but I didn’t believe them, and it turned out that the ferry was never cancelled
and lastly…
have fun buddy. I had the time of my life, please do the same. You’re in a unique place with a unique mode of transportation. Enjoy and stay safe. Senegal is amazing as well.