←Mauritania travel guide
Dakhlet Nouadhibou Region, Mauritania
Nouadhibou
A remote Atlantic port city and the home of the legendary ore train
AdventureNature & OutdoorsWildlife
Mauritania's second-largest city sits on a narrow peninsula bordering Western Sahara and functions as the country's commercial and fishing hub. Nouadhibou is the southern terminus of the iron ore railway, one of the longest and heaviest trains in the world, which stretches more than two kilometres as it hauls ore across some 700 kilometres of desert from Zouerate.
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Best time to visit
November to March (cooler dry season)
Region
Dakhlet Nouadhibou Region
Main airport
Nouadhibou (NDB)
Beyond the City
Day Trips from Nouadhibou
UNESCO World HeritageNature
Banc d'Arguin National Park
Stretching across 12,000 square kilometres of coastline between Nouakchott and Nouadhibou, this UNESCO World Heritage Site encompasses sand dunes, tidal mudflats, shallow coastal waters, and small islands that together form one of the most important waterbird habitats on earth. Millions of migratory birds from Europe and Siberia stop here each year alongside breeding colonies of flamingos, pelicans, and terns. Traditional Imraguen fishing communities still practise ancient techniques within the park's boundaries.
Culture
Mauritanian Iron Ore Train
Operating since 1963, this working freight railway connects the iron ore mines at Zouerate with the port of Nouadhibou across roughly 700 kilometres of open desert, and its trains routinely exceed two kilometres in length, making them among the longest and heaviest in the world. Travellers can ride in one of the few passenger cars or, in the more adventurous tradition, in an open ore wagon under the stars. Watching the train thunder through the desert at dawn or dusk is one of the defining experiences of travel in West Africa.
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Plan Your Trip
Getting Around Nouadhibou
Tours, stays, transfers, and flights — curated partner options are on the way.
Tours & Activities
Skip-the-line tickets, guided tours, and day experiences — curated partner options are on the way.
Coming soonWhere to Stay
Hotels, apartments, and guesthouses across every neighbourhood — booking options are on the way.
Coming soonAirport Transfers
Private and shared rides between the airport and the city centre — partner options are on the way.
Coming soonFlights
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Coming soonTravel Guide
Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Mauritania
Entry requirements vary by passport. Check the requirements for your specific passport on the Mauritania page at Yoogo.
The currency is the Mauritanian ouguiya (MRU), which replaced the old ouguiya (MRO) in 2018 at a rate of 10:1. Card payments are rarely accepted outside a small number of hotels in Nouakchott, so it is advisable to carry sufficient cash in local currency, as ATMs are limited and unreliable outside the capital.
Mauritania presents varied conditions across its vast territory, and the situation can change. Consult your government's official travel advisory before departure and register with your embassy on arrival in Nouakchott.
Transport between major towns relies on shared taxis (known as bush taxis or sept-places), which depart when full from designated stations in each town. For remote desert areas such as the Adrar Plateau, a hired four-wheel-drive vehicle with a knowledgeable local guide is the standard approach, as paved roads are limited and desert tracks require specialist navigation.
The period from November to March offers the most comfortable conditions for travel, with daytime temperatures ranging between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius and little risk of rain. From May onwards temperatures rise sharply across the desert interior, and July to September brings seasonal rains that can cause flooding around Nouakchott.
Arabic (specifically the Hassaniya dialect) is the national language and is widely spoken, while Pular, Soninke, and Wolof are recognised national languages of the country's various ethnic communities. French is understood in government and business contexts in Nouakchott and Atar, but English is rarely spoken outside international hotels, so a few basic Arabic phrases will be warmly appreciated.
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for travellers arriving from or transiting through countries where yellow fever transmission is a risk. Recommended vaccinations typically include hepatitis A and B, typhoid, meningitis, and rabies, and malaria prophylaxis is advisable for travel to the southern regions; consult a travel health clinic well before departure.
Tipping is not a strong local custom but is appreciated in tourist-facing services. A tip of around 10 per cent is reasonable in restaurants that do not include a service charge, and guides and drivers for desert excursions generally expect a gratuity of a similar proportion of the tour cost.