Explore: Mauritania
Facts
- Stretching along the west coast of Africa between Morocco and Senegal, a large part of Mauritania is the Sahara Desert. The republic is based on an Islamic socialist constitution and a traditional Muslim society and does not particularly encourage tourism.
- A long coastline has very few natural harbors and the never-ending sandy beaches are its most remarkable feature. For those in search of solitude this might be sufficient attraction, but otherwise, the country has very little to offer the cruising sailor.
- The only repair facilities available are at Nouakchott where there is a shipyard which may take on work on a yacht in an emergency. Fuel is available in both ports and also some basic provisioning.
- The security situation generally is not good and the latest travel advisories should be checked before visiting the country.
Security
Security Concerns:
Current security advice is to avoid “all but essential travel to the country”. See the FCO website for the official statement.
There is a high risk of terror attacks. The area near Western Sahara is heavily mined and travel through this area is highly unadvised. Border areas lining Algeria and Mali are notorious for banditry and jihadism. There is a general threat of kidnap throughout Mauritania from these terrorist groups.
Check the following report West Africa: Copycat Piracy Cause for Concern September 2011. Another similar incident occurred in October 2013.
Maritime Issues:
There has been a sharp rise in the number of migrants arriving in the Canary Islands with the Atlantic route from West Africa to the Canary Islands being increasingly used by smugglers who launch boats from Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania, Senegal and even the Gambia.
Up to November 2021, more than 18,000 people had reached the Canary Islands this way. See this report for more details and what do do if you encounter a migrant boat.
Last updated: November 2021
Weather
Most of the land has a harsh desert climate. The climate is better along the coast where the prevailing winds are northerly. The rainy season is from July to September when it sometimes rains heavily. A strong swell is often felt along the coast from January to March.
For links to free global weather information, forecast services and extreme weather information see the Noonsite Weather Page.
Courtesy Flag
YachtFlags.com offers a discount to Noonsite members.
YachtFlags.com provides high quality courtesy flags that are manufactured in durable Knitted Polyester fabric. Knitted so that the fabric itself does not deteriorate in the constant movement that marine flags are usually exposed to, and polyester so that the flag does not weaken in the strong UV-light usually found in the main sailing areas of the world.
Use the coupon code NOONSITE_5A2B when checking out to get 10% off today.
Buy Now On YachtFlags.comMain Ports
- Ports of Entry: Nouadhibou, Nouakchott
- Other Ports: