Travel Blog » Africa » Mauritania

Mauritania Travel Blogs

Background: Independent from France in 1960, Mauritania annexed the southern third of the former Spanish Sahara (now Western Sahara) in 1976, but relinquished it after three years of raids by the Polisario guerrilla front seeking independence for the territory. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA siezed power in a coup in 1984. Opposition parties were legalized and a new constitution approved in 1991. Two multiparty presidential elections since then were widely seen as flawed, but October 2001 legislative and municipal elections were generally free and open. A bloodless coup in August 2005 deposed President TAYA and ushered in a military council headed by Col. Ely Ould Mohamed VALL, which declared it would remain in power for up to two years while it created conditions for genuine democratic institutions. For now, however, Mauritania remains, a one-party state. The country continues to experience ethnic tensions between its black population and the Maur (Arab-Berber) populace.

Mauritania

Map of Mauritania

Mauritania's Flag

Hostels in Mauritania
Latest Mauritania Blog Entries
Mauritania Photos

By Bjorndahl
July 11th 2009

Finished in the Desert for Now Africa » Mauritania » Adrar » Chinguetti

Ancient City of Chingetti

So I have finished up my time in the desert with a camel ride in the Sahara around Chingetti. Left at 5 am and arrived in the nice quite town for about 7am. Was waived through all the checkpoints because our guide is a popular man (as he told us when he first met us). Spent most of the day relaxing and getting to know our roomates Olie from England and Corey from Calgary. They were there to checkout the city but would be leaving the next day. Me and Maarten would be doing the camel trip alone. Another amazing experience. [View Full Entry]

Guide Walking the Camels Away so they don't bother us while we sleep...

By Bjorndahl
July 11th 2009

Nouakchott Africa » Mauritania » Trarza » Nouakchott

The Only Picture I Have of Nouakchott
and it isn't even good...an ok looking mosque in the city center

Arrived in Nouakchott after a 6 hour ride in a small car with a soldier and some older funny men. Learned more about the history of Mauritania by reading my history section in the Lonely Planet I have been carrying around. This country is Desert almost completely so far. I hear it gets a bit more interesting on the border with Senegal. I have been thinking more about my last two major kind of adventures: The Iron-ore train and the camel ride. The train ride was exciting as I already noted. One of the best parts about it was being near [View Full Entry]

By kirkley
July 7th 2009

Escape from Nouakchott, Starring Dolph Lundergan Africa » Mauritania

lerneb

Escape from Nouakchott, a poem I just realized it’s April Fool’s Day. I have no one to tell. I rode back to Nouakchott on the back of a truck. I introduced Malcom, the Canadian, to the fast talking Boston/Mauritanian millionaire Sidi Boya. He’s been hired on to work on the presidential elections. I’ve taken to wearing gris gris. The Auberge erupted in madness. Frusturated marriage proposals. Mohammad was crushed, I was fearing for his health. Two French Senegalese attacked a Frenchman in the morning, wielding tire irons. I bought two bottles of whiskey [View Full Entry]

By Bjorndahl
July 7th 2009

Iron-Ore Train to Choum and then Atar Africa » Mauritania » Adrar » Atar

This is how I waited for the Train

Well, quite the experience. First I had to wait 6 hours at the train station because the shipment was behind schedule and it was more important than the passengers (makes sensen). Then when I finally got on the train, I began to experience the dust... My god. Lots of it. In my eyes, hair, ears, mouth. In all of my luggage. 12 hours. BUT it was a lot of fun. The train was an amazin experience. Now I am in Atar and tomorrow morning I leave for my camel ride! [View Full Entry]

By Bjorndahl
July 4th 2009

Philip: Border Crossing and into Mauritania Africa » Mauritania » Dakhlet Nouadhibou » Nouadhibou

No Man's Land
It was interesting being in no country for a bit. But the people were strange, all the cars had no parts.

Wow, So I thought I was going to go into some kind of internetless void for a week or so because I was going to be too busy traveling and being tired. But then luck fell on me! So last night it looked like I was going to end up paying 350 Dirham to get to Nouadhibou, which takes 7 hours of driving plus border time. Martin and I were debating whether or not to try and hitchhike or take the offer from the man we met at the bus stop in Dakhla. We met a really friendly taxi driver who [View Full Entry]

By eddy15
June 3rd 2009

Bye Bye Mauritania! Africa » Mauritania » Trarza » Nouakchott

On the Choum - Nouadibou Express!
Me with my fellow train compartment buddies!

So that’s it for Mauritania. I'm off to Senegal tomorrow. So the desert ended well. Evoku took me to his parents place in Atar the last night and got me in a cab to Choum the following day to catch a train to Nouadibou. Evoku’s family is very cute --- his wife, it turns out, is only 16 and they’ve been married for six years! Anyway, I find myself having strange paternal instincts, which must be due to a lack of intoxicants --- will cure that soon. So I got on the train with a feisty old Frenchman named Jacques. The [View Full Entry]

By eddy15
May 31st 2009

In the Sahara - Near Chinguetti Africa » Mauritania » Adrar » Chinguetti

Camel Trek 1
Riding a camel is not all that comfortable...

So the trip in the desert has been going reasonably well. Not exactly what I wanted but at least I am seeing beautiful dunes and oasis. Tonight, my third night outside on the dunes and it seems like the best place yet. Last night was shitty as I was next to the town and in the open. My God is it hot during the day. I spend 12 and 5 pm at the Oasis reading (I just finished Margret Atwood’s “Oryx and Crake” --- it’s very good) and drinking water. Actually I have two guides --- I feel like a true [View Full Entry]

By eddy15
May 29th 2009

Off to Chingetti Africa » Mauritania » Adrar » Chinguetti

Chingetti
The 7th Holiest city in Islam (or so I was told...)

First some reflections on the pick-up ride yesterday. A once in a lifetime experience. I stress ONCE. However, it was very cool despite being somewhat hellish. So yesterday I decided to take a six day camel excursion with a young guy (Evoku) from Chingetti. Once we finally got to Chingetti (blown tire on the truck) a French woman gave me some good info on Senegal. Later her Burkinabe friend gave me info about Burkina Faso so I can stay at his house --- how unbelievably friendly since he has no idea who I am. Staying with Evoku’s family which includes his [View Full Entry]

By eddy15
May 27th 2009

7 Hours on the back of a pickup - Sahara Africa » Mauritania » Adrar » Atar

On the back of Pick-up
Seven + hours through the Sahara in the middle of the day... a ONCE in a lifetime experience

Wow, I’m exhausted!! Yesterday did little - Mathias and I tried to get some beer at the end of the night, but the only place (Novotel) seemed far too pricey. Today, after trying to exchange my pounds sterling, I said good bye to Mathias and grabbed a ride to Atar. 1500 UM seemed to be a good price, except for the fact that there were seven of us (including two paratroopers) in the bed of a tiny pick-up truck for seven+ hours. OH GOD IT WAS HOT! Also an Islamist tried to convert me. Islamist: “do you know where all non-Muslims [View Full Entry]

By eddy15
May 26th 2009

Still in Nouachott Africa » Mauritania » Trarza » Nouakchott

Porte-au-peche
The world's a toy!

Still in Nouachott! I was thinking about leaving today but decided to wait until tomorrow to exchange money. Plus I don’t feel like traveling yet. It’s nice here, although not too much to do. Went to the port-au-peche with Kiryomi and Eri yesterday. This idiot asshole rich-boy Mauritanian drove us. He drove like an idiot with s**tty music blaring and almost hit a kid. He showed no inclination to honk or slow down. Took us to some resort beach, not to the port-au-peche and then told us that we couldn’t go to the port-au-peche because the police would stop us and [View Full Entry]

Travel Blog » Africa » Mauritania