Practical Information

Our Services

Airport Transfer

All transfers are in minibus or 4×4 from and to the airport.

Food

All meals are prepared by an experienced cook with local produce. It may vary according to availability and location. All menus are simple but elaborated with the best ingredients available. The cook will always prepare local specialties (couscous, tajine, Saharan bread, soup, ksour …). During breaks you will be served Mauritanian (Saharan) mint tea with some local snacks (peanuts, camel herders buiscuits, dates).

Water

Even if seldom in the desert, it will be served in sufficient quantities (water from the wells/or mineral water). Please take 1 or  2 water bottles for your journey. We may sometimes recommend to use purifying pastils (hydroclonazone or Micropur ) to disinfect the water. Though most of the time we use mineral water.

Difficulty

4X4 tours don’t present any difficulty except for sitting in a moving vehicle for many hours a day (please be aware it may be bumpy at times). Treks require a slight physical preparation―treks in the sand, slight differences in height, high temperatures may be reached during the day―but are not particularly difficult and young children can easily do it too.

Sustainability & Solidarity

All our team and partners on site are Mauritanians : Bed and Breakfasts, hotels, Shops (Food, craft…). Therefore a tour contributes to the local economy of the region since it enables a whole range of the population to benefit.
You are also welcome to bring clothes, medications, school tools….. that we distribute to village leaders, school directors, nurses in remote dispensaries and clinics, nursery directors and local charities.

Overnight Stays and Attire

Single or double rooms. Hotels and Bed and Breakfast are modest but comfy. In the desert, you will sleep under the Khaïma (Mauritanian tent) or in individual tents (if you wish so) (tents, mattresses, pillows and bed sheets are provided but bring your sleeping bag since nights in the Sahara may be cool or even cold depending on the season). You can also sleep under the stars if you wish so.

Please bring warm clothes for the nights and evening that may be cold. Bring comfy and decent clothes for the day since day temperatures can rise. Remember that you are in a Muslim country.

Depending on  the tour we may only sleep in a Bed and Breakfast. We can also do so if it is your choice.

Payment & Cancellation

What’s Included in Pricing

Transfer from and to the airport (Atar or Nouakchott), full board, 4×4 vehicles, entrances to cultural places that are included in the tour.

Our prices are indicated for groups of at least four people. If you are a lone traveler, or less than four, please contact us for an individual quotation.

Payment and payment timelines

We accept the following payment methods: PayPal, bank transfer, cash.

Every time we plan a trip we make reservations on your behalf. We are a small touring company and do not have investment capital and cannot afford to cover these costs up front in full. We therefore have a prepayment policy of 50% of the tour cost on confirming the tour and the remaining  50% by or on the first day of the tour.

Cancellation policy

If cancellation is necessary and made at least 21 days in advance of the confirmed tour start date, we will refund 50% of your prepayment (equates to 25% of the total cost).

If cancellation is necessary and made within 21 days of the confirmed tour start date, you can choose to reschedule the tour and push the start date back to a further date, and you will not lose any costs of your trip. However, if cancellation is absolutely necessary we will be unable to provide a refund of the prepayment amount (50% of the trip cost) due to having already booked local reservations on your behalf.

Local Logistics

Vehicles

We use recent, comfortable and air conditioned 4X4 Toyota Hilux cars,  as well as comfy sedan cars to drive in town. We also offer vehicle rentals without drivers.

Currency

The current Mauritanian currency is  the new Mauritanian Ouguiya (MRU). Please be aware that many Mauritanians still use the ancient Ouguiya and add an additional zero when talking (Ex:  300 MRO= old 3000 MRU). Indicative Currency rate: 100 MRU ≈ 2.30 €.  You can change your currency at the airport at the currency exchange office.  Shops won’t accept credit cards and even though cash machines are more common, it is still difficult to find one outside the capital city and the other two big towns (Atar and Nouadhibou).

Weather

Mauritania is a Saharan country. Temperatures are usually warm during the day. Nights can be cool or even cold during winter months. From April onward, temperatures go up until July and August (the hottest months). In October temperatures start to decrease again. It may be rainy during the months of July and August (It is called”hivernage”). 

Passport & Visa

Valid passport needed (please check the validity date extends to 6 months after your return).

Visa is required before arrival and are issued from the Mauritanian Government. Visa upon arrival is no longer offered. Visas cost €55 in cash (exact change only) and may also be paid in the USD or in Moroccan Dihram equivalent.

You may find it helpful to check with your consulate before making travel arrangements to Mauritania.

Health & Insurance

Vaccinations

COVID-19 testing is no longer compulsory.

No vaccine required. Please check vaccine recommendations with your Ministry of Foreign Affairs  or the Institute Pasteur. We recommend that you are up to date for the usual vaccines: diphtheria, polio, whooping cough, tuberculosis, typhoid fever, hepatitis A and B.

Insurances

Before your departure,  please check that your insurance covers all medical costs and emergency return travel costs, countries covered, amount, risks, and for a recommended minimal coverage amount of €10,000. Be explicit of your country of destination to make sure it is not an exclusion zone.

Travel / Ways to Arrive

Airlines

• Charters POINT AFRIQUE from Paris to  Atar   (usually from October to March).
• Regular flights (Air France, Royal Air Maroc, Turkish airlines, Tunisair, Air Sénégal…) to Nouakchott. In this case 2 days will be added from and to the airport as well as 1  or 2 additionnal nights in a hotel or B and B in Nouakchott, depending on the flight schedule.

Shipping companies

Some travelers may prefer to reach Mauritania by road. Some shipping companies(La Méridionale, GNV, Baléaria) cross the Mediterranean Sea from Sète and Marseille in the south of France, and from Barcelona and Algésiras in Spain, and arrive in Tangier or Nador in Morocco (Africa)).