MAURITANIA: Desert, dunes and oasis

This 8-day trip to Mauritania takes us to the discovery of a spectacular country where natural scenery is the real protagonist, endless expanses of sand, dunes shaped by the wind and fascinating oases where you can rest under the shade of palm trees.

The magic of the Adrar region: the desert dunes, the encounter with the nomads and the starry nights will captivate even the most experienced traveler.

In the beautiful Adrar region you will discover the ancient cities of the desert, you will visit the labyrinth of alleys of the ancient caravan city of Ouadane, an ancient Berber city that houses 23 libraries, full of ancient manuscripts, and interesting mosques.

You will visit the libraries of the desert and the stone mosque of Chinguetti, Chinguetti is located in an oasis of the Sahara Desert surrounded by high sand dunes, it is one of the seven sacred cities of Islam and here you can breathe a unique and indescribable atmosphere .

In the verdant oasis of Terjit, where you can cool off in its clear waters, you will visit the Amogjar rock paintings, testimony of an ancient past.

Your itinerary will take you to the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, here the landscape is incredible: the desert dunes meet the ocean waters.

Here, near the coast, is the Parc National du Banc d’Arguin, an important protected area established to protect this stretch of coast where migratory birds stop off during their seasonal journey; this park has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites and it is one of the best destinations for birdwatching, at certain times of the year there are up to three million specimens of birds here.

Your Mauritania trip will end in Nouakchott, the country’s capital, where the picturesque fish market is located.

Dunes at Aouja

The tented camp will be set up in front of the magnificent Aouja Dunes, certainly one of the most impressive desert sites in all of Mauritania.

You will savor a mint tea, a constant that will accompany you throughout the rest of the journey, then you will climb the Dune of Aouja, a real wall of sand, from whose top the view opens onto a palm grove; the sunset from this privileged position is breathtaking.

The wonder of the Sahara Desert, with its dunes and its colors, will be fixed forever in your memory and in the evening, sitting around the fire and under a starry sky like no other, your guide will introduce you to the secrets of the nomadic people.

The Desert: Erg Amatlich

This trip to Mauritania will take you to the Irich Valley, the favorite place of nomads due to the presence of numerous acacias and herbs, useful for camels and goats, and for the luxuriant Gleitat millstone.

You will continue to the Tivoujar Pass, where you will enjoy a magnificent view of the surrounding landscape, made of rocks and sand; from here you will walk down the walls to reach a shady place in the canyon where a picnic lunch will be set up.

Then you will continue along the White Valley, here the sand dunes give way to the eroded rock conformations, over the millennia, and to the palm groves, that are green spots contrasting with the aridity of the surroundings.

Adrar Region: Chinguetti and Ouadane

You will travel along the roads that are located on the hills of Adrar, in the Berber language adrar means mountain, until you reach the Amogjar Pass where Fort Saganne is located, here you can also see the Agrour Rock Paintings.

The Paintings of Agrour have been eroded by time and wind, but they tell how, in this place, many years ago, the environment was radically different: here, in fact, instead of the desert, there was a luxuriant savannah, populated by different animals such as elephants, giraffes, lions, antelopes and many others.

You will reach Chinguetti, a caravan city and the seventh holy city of Islam, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO; you will enter its timeless alleys where there are several libraries, that hold ancient manuscripts, and the stone mosque.

A sandy track, where it is easy to meet fennecs, desert foxes, and jackals, will lead you to Ouadane; this city, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, was founded by the Berbers in 1147 and was for a long time an important caravan center for the trade of salt, gold and dates.

You will walk along the narrow streets and alleys of this historic city that is located on the rocky sides of a hill; here you will see two mosques, from the outside, the ancient street of the 40 wise men, the houses of those who founded the city, the fortified wells and more.

You will also admire a beautiful sunset from Erg Ouarane.

Palm grove of Tanouchert

An interesting stop is planned at the palm grove of Tanouchert that, during the guetna season, that is the date harvest, is particularly lively; here you can taste the freshly milked goat or camel milk that will be offered to you by the friendly villagers.

Oasis of Terjit

Terjit is a suggestive oasis set in a canyon.

Here it will be possible to bathe in a small natural pool formed by two springs that flow from the rock, hot water flows from one spring while cold water flows from the other; a moment of relaxation at the palm grove is also foreseen while sipping a mint tea.

Atlantic Coast: Mhaijrat and Nouakchott

Mhaijrat is a fishmen village, here you will meet the Imraguen women who dry the fish and produce the bottarga.

The journey continues along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean and, following the rhythm of the tides, you proceed along the beaches and then arrive at the dunes that enter the ocean water; in this wonderful context the camp will be set up.

You will continue along the Atlantic coast between the ocean and the desert, following the rhythms of the tides, until you reach the magnificent dunes that flow into the ocean, where we will arrange your tented camp.

Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania, is the last stop on this exciting journey; you will visit the most significant places in the city, the craft shops and the port de peche, the lively fish market, where you can find the colorful fishing boats that return from fishing and are pulled ashore on the beach.

Useful Info

The best time to visit Mauritania is the Northern winter, in the months from December to February, when temperatures are warm in the South of the country and mild in the North.

The sun is strong and the sky is always clear, so sunglasses, sunscreen, a hat, a scarf or a foulard are needed for the desert sand; comfortable clothing is also recommended for traveling and something for the evening when temperatures drop after sunset.

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