Money
National currency: 1 Mauritanian Ouguiya divided into 5 Khoums. Next to Madagascar, Mauritania is the only country that deviates from the decimal system in terms of currency.
Currency abbreviation: UM, MRO – ABBREVIATIONFINDER.ORG
Banknotes are in circulation with a value of 1,000, 500, 200 and 100 UM, coins are available in nominal amounts of 20, 10, 5 and 1 UM.
Currency exchange: Foreign currency can be exchanged at the airport and exchange offices and in the larger banks. The exchange rates are somewhat cheaper in Nouakchott than in other cities. It is advisable to take Euros or US dollars in cash.
Exchange rate Mauritanian Ouguiya:
Currency converter at OANDA
Credit Cards: Credit cards are only accepted in a few hotels in Nouakchott. No bank accepts credit cards.
Travelers checks: Travelers checks are almost useless in Mauritania.
ATMs: there are none in Mauritania.
Foreign exchange regulations: The national currency Ouguiya may not be imported or exported. The import of foreign currencies is unlimited, declaration obligation. Export only in the amount declared, less exchanged amounts. On entry, forms for the declaration of currency are issued, which must be kept until departure.
Bank opening times: Mon – Thu 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., Fri 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Health and Diseases
The health service of the Federal Foreign Office recommends vaccination against tetanus, diphtheria, polio and hepatitis A, and for long-term stays over 4 weeks, hepatitis B, rabies, meningococcal meningitis (ACWY) and typhoid.
A valid vaccination against yellow fever is required upon arrival for all travelers older than 1 year who want to stay longer than 2 weeks in the country. Also for all travelers who come from a yellow fever area, e.g. the neighboring country of Senegal. The yellow fever vaccination is recommended for all travelers who want to travel particularly to the southern parts of the country.
Malaria: The transmission takes place through the bite of blood-sucking nocturnal Anopheles mosquitoes. If left untreated, especially the dangerous malaria tropica, is often fatal in non-immune Europeans. The disease can break out weeks to months after your stay. If fever occurs during this time, an indication to the doctor in charge of staying in a malaria area is necessary.
There is a high risk all year round in the southern parts of the country, a medium one during the rainy season (July-October) in Adrar and Inchiri. A low risk there during the dry season and in the other parts of the country. The provinces of Dakhlet-Nouadhibou and Tiris-Zemour in the north of the country are considered malaria-free.
Depending on the travel profile, chemoprophylaxis is useful. Various prescription medications (e.g. malarone, doxycycline, Lariam) are available on the market for malaria prophylaxis. The selection and personal adaptation as well as side effects or intolerance to other medications should be discussed with a tropical medicine / travel medicine before taking them.
Due to the above-mentioned mosquito-borne infection risks, all travelers are recommended
- wear body-covering clothing (long pants, long shirts),
- Repeatedly apply insect repellent to all free areas of the body, especially in the evening and at night (malaria!)
- to sleep under a mosquito net if necessary
HIV / AIDS: Through heterosexual and homosexual contacts and when using drugs (dirty syringes or cannulas) there is always a risk of a life-threatening HIV / AIDS infection. Condom use is always recommended, but especially for casual acquaintances. The number of people infected with HIV / AIDS is well below that of other African countries, but is increasing.
Other infectious diseases: Mauritania is one of the countries where the Crimean-Congo fever can occur sporadically. In March 2003, approximately 40 people were infected mainly in Nouakchott, a few of whom succumbed to the disease. The virus is transmitted via ticks from farm animals such as sheep, goats, cattle and camels, as well as through blood from infected animals and humans. Good protection against ticks and distance from animals is recommended.
There is a risk of transmission of schistosomiasis (schistosomiasis) when bathing in fresh water, especially here in the Senegal River and in the Tarza region.
Diarrheal diseases and cholera: Most diarrheal diseases can be avoided by appropriate food and drinking water hygiene.
A few basic rules: Drink only water of safe origin, e.g. bottled water, never tap water. In case of emergency, use filtered, disinfected or boiled water. Only use drinking water for washing dishes and brushing your teeth. The following applies to food: cooking, peeling or disinfecting. Be sure to keep flies away from your food. Wash your hands with soap as often as possible, but always after bowel movements and always before food preparation and before eating. Disinfect hands where appropriate, use disposable towels
The medical care in the country cannot be compared to Europe and is technically and hygienically inadequate. Adequate global health insurance coverage and reliable travel return insurance are strongly recommended
Before you go to Mauritania, get advice from a tropical medicine advice center / a tropical medicine / travel medicine.
Addresses of doctors and clinics (without guarantee)
Nouakchott
Miss Dr. Cherif-Bretz, Tel.: 00222 525 15 71, practice near the karaoke restaurant. Luxembourgish doctor with German language skills.
Dr. Hanna, Nouakchott, not far from Air France (Boulevard Kennedy), Tel.: 00222 5 25 23 98, 6 43 33 05
Kissi Clinic, Nouakchott, near Restaurant Pizzalina, Tel.: 00222 5 29 27 27 or 5 29 01 01
Clinic Shiva, Nouakchott, near the Pizzalina restaurant. Tel.: 00222 525 80 80, 525 13 25, in an emergency: 641 15 64.
Private ambulance service. Tel.: 00222 5 24 43 33 or 5 24 43 34
Cheikh Zayed Hospital. Tel .: 00222 529 84 44, approx. 4 km from the airport on the road towards Boutilimit, after the “Carrefour Madrid” the second paved intersection to the left, after 400 m to the left, in an emergency: 00222 630 00 56, 630 51 10th
Nouadhibou
Rachad Clinic, Tel.: 00222 574 61 15, in an emergency: Tel. 00222 574 50 19.
Ettaiba Clinic, Tel.: 00222 574 59 68
Dr. Virginia Gonzalez. Spanish doctor, Tel.: 00222 574 51 83
In addition to my general disclaimer, please note the following important note:
A guarantee for the correctness and completeness of the medical information as well as a liability for possible damage cannot be assumed. You stay responsible for your healthy.
Summary of travel options in Mauritania
Airplane: Air Mauritanie (MR) flies between Nouakchott and the larger cities in Mauritania (including Nouadhibou, Kiffa, Zouerat). There are currently four flights a week between Nouâdhibou and Nouakchott.
Rail: The SNIM route between Nouâdhibou and Zouérate was built for the iron ore mines, but is used as a passenger transport due to the lack of alternatives. The train on this route is the longest in the world at around 2.3 km. The ride is free and takes around 12 hours to Choum, where most get off.
Bus and car: The roads in Mauritania are gradually being improved. In 2005 an asphalt road between Nouakchott and Nouadhibo was opened. In addition, Tidjika and Atar are connected to the capital via asphalt roads. The asphalted La Route de l’Espoir leads from Nouakchott in the east of Mauritania to Mali. All other roads, e.g. B. the connection from Atar in the west to Ain Ben Tilli in the north are sandy slopes that sometimes place high demands on vehicles. Especially in the southern part of the country you have to reckon with slopes that are impassable during the rainy season. The route through the Banc d’Arguin National Parkhas no supply points and should only be driven with a local guide, all-terrain vehicles and together with other vehicles. Water, food and fuel supplies for several days should be taken.
Rental cars are available in Nouakchott, Nouadhibou and Atar. Off-road vehicles are quite expensive in Mauritania. It is recommended to rent a chauffeured car. Documents: International driver’s license is recommended; Carnet de Passage not necessary, the vehicle is entered in the passport. Mauritanian vehicle insurance must be taken out with your own vehicle.
City traffic: Taxis can be found everywhere in Nouakchott and Nouâdhibou. A trip costs between one and three euros. You can also rent taxis for whole days.
Highlights in Mauritania
In 1996, Chinguetti, along with the Mauritanian towns of Ouadane, Oualate and Tichitt, was awarded the title of World Heritage. Chinguetti was founded in the 13th century at the intersection of several major Sahara caravan routes and quickly developed into a central trading post and an important place for Islamic scholarship. Nowadays, the small town is characterized by well-preserved ruins from its heyday, but travelers and Islamic scholars still come to admire old libraries and architecture.
The older parts of the city are made up of stone houses clustered around a mosque with a minaret.
The Friday Mosque is particularly interesting, but the former fortress of the French Foreign Legion is also worth a visit. Five old libraries are located in the old town, historical (partly from the late Middle Ages) Koran texts, but also scientific papers are stored here.
Chinguetti is often called “the seventh holiest city in Islam”. This underlines the important place the city occupies in the Islamic history of West Africa. For several centuries, Chinguetti was the most important gathering place for Mecca pilgrims from the Maghreb region. Over time, the city itself acquired a sacred status, especially for the Muslims who could not undertake the arduous journey to Mecca. This concentration of Islamic scholarship formed a center of religion and science here. In addition to religious education, law, rhetoric, mathematics, astronomy and medicine were taught here. In Arabia, the area of what is now Mauritania has long been called “Bilad Shinqit” (Land of Chinguetti).
Oualata is a historic city in southeastern Mauritania. It was one of the most important trade centers of the caravans (especially gold and salt trade), but also an important pilgrimage meeting point for the trip to Mecca in what is now Saudi Arabia.
Due to the rather difficult accessibility, only about 3,000 people currently live in Oualat, the city makes an abandoned impression. Oualate was built on a high terrace and is known for the special architecture, which is still in use today.
The city’s Islamic religious school, Madrasa, was the dominant feature of all of West Africa for several hundred years. The madrasa is partly still intact and is even training: every year about 20 students come from Islamic countries.
The Banc d’Arguin National Park is located between the northern city of Nouadhibou and the capital Nouakchott on the coast to the Atlantic Ocean. In the national park you will find different types of landscape, starting with sand dunes and coastal swamps through islands to flat coastal waters.
In 1989, UNESCO declared the Banc d’Arguin National Park a World Natural Heritage Site due to its importance as a breeding ground for migratory birds (including flamingos, terns, pelicans and sandpipers). The sandbanks and several islands in particular are used by the birds as breeding grounds. Several species of turtles and dolphins are native to the fish-rich coastal waters. There are several fishing villages on the coast.
For many visitors, a multi-day to multi-week Sahara tour with off-road vehicles or camels is a highlight of their trip. Tours can be organized in Chinguetti and Atar. It is often even possible to move to the Sahara with a few camels and Moorish guides at short notice.
Mauritania – Senegal border
The following information has been kindly provided by: Hans-Peter Hauschild, www.dbfg.de
The Mauritanian-Senegalese border crossing at Rosso has been one of the most unpleasant in all of West Africa for years, probably because it is hard to avoid for anyone traveling by car via Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal to West Africa. (only alternative: border post at the Senegal dam near Diama about 95 km west of Rosso – the slope there starts at the truck parking lot at the northern entrance to Rosso, about 100 meters before the first petrol station, turn right onto a slope that leads to the river dike and follows it – in not passable in the rainy season.)
Don’t let the intrusive “helpers” make you nervous in Rosso, stay calm, do not leave the vehicle and do not hand over your papers in front of the check-in point. Fill up in front of the city if you can.
Mauritanian side
Tip 1: If you want to / have to use this transition and do not yet have a West African Franc (FCFA), then change several hundred euros into Francs CFA in Rosso / Mauritania, money changers are waiting there. 1000, – FCFA = 300 UM = 1.50 € – trust yourself to one of the “helpers” waiting there, you will avoid harassment by the others and simplify crossing the border, a “gift” worth € 5, – should be in there – when you change money in Rosso-Senegal, many travelers lose a multiple of it and in Senegal you will face various costs that may not be payable in euros.
Better: change money already in Nouakchott, also carry copies of all vehicle documents in duplicate, copies could be requested in Rosso-Senegal and if you don’t have one, an elaborate walk to the copy shop is necessary, accompanied by an annoying troop of intrusive helpers and then the copier on strike…
- With the gate open, drive into the processing area on the river, otherwise wait until the gate opens. Drive past the central building on the right and stop at the right edge of the square when requested. Obtain an exit stamp from the police (500 UM), the police issue a small piece of paper that is picked up again by another policeman when entering the ferry. Tip: When asked: Où est notre cadeau? to be prepared.
- Buy ticket, car u. 1200 UM = 6, – €, truck 3 000 UM, therefore € 15, – prices seem somewhat arbitrary, (data from 2000)
- Customs (two-story building to the right of the entrance) – have the export of the vehicle confirmed in your passport, submit “Engagement sur Honneur” and a foreign exchange declaration on request (claim: 1,000 UM fee)
Tip: Have your bill of exchange confirmations and remaining foreign currency ready, you should also be prepared for a vehicle search
- So far there is no charge for the parking lot or for boarding the ferry. Drive when requested and have the small piece of paper ready for the police. Occasionally a Taxe Communale is charged: 800 UM
Do not pay anything to young people hanging around, who want to pull money out of your pocket with all kinds of demands and promises. The order of boarding the ferry is determined by the ferry personnel on the ferry! The ferry runs several times a day and is Mauritanian territory, so don’t let “Cadeau” questions of fellow travelers or the ferry staff make you nervous.
Senegalese side
If you have sold a vehicle in Mauritania, you should definitely keep the official sales confirmation (Quitus), do not hand it in on the Mauritanian side. In Rosso / Senegal it is easy to see from your passport that you had a car and you will be faced with great difficulties, including police arrest and the threat of being sent back to Mauritania if you do not pay a large amount of “ransom”.
Attention! Unpleasant young people on the ferry are already intruding on the tourist and want to accept the papers, ask for a carnet, change money, claim that entry without a carnet is only possible if you pay a bribe of several hundred francs – do not be helped and Do not give up your papers!
The leader of the often drunk tugs is the big, fat, initially friendly manager of the later inevitable car insurance office, who likes to stay in the check-in parking lot. It can get very uncomfortable in the end – if possible don’t go into it! – You can take care of everything yourself. One of the helpers mentioned will be happy to drive over or explain the formalities on site – make a small gift (Mauritanian residual money or approx. € 5) beforehand.
- Policeman (!) Collects passport, vehicle license (carte grise), driver’s license (permis), vaccination certificate (yellow international vaccination certificate) on the ferry.
- Drive down from the ferry and keep to the right of the building, there is the unpaved parking lot, which you are only allowed to leave after checking in and paying the parking fee. (At the exit approx. 1000 FCFA)
- At the police counter on the outside of the building you can get a passport with an entry stamp and vaccination certificate again. If the police charge a fee (1000 FCFA), it is advisable to pay this, you may need the help of the police later against the intrusive smugglers !! You can collect your driver’s license from the office inside the building.
Tip: Make sure that the tugs do not pick up the pass for you and then have the aid paid high.
- At customs (extra building) you get your vehicle registration certificate again after you have entered the data. Here you can also have the carnet stamped or get a “Passavant” for entry, valid for at least 4 days (up to 10 days possible) 15 days) in St. Louis and Dakar, a fee of 2500 or 5000 FCFA is due.
Attention: Never use a fake so-called “black carnet” in Senegal, this could result in an arrest when the vehicle is confiscated!
- Motor insurance: walk into town, approx. 100 meters outside the handling area, the insurance office is on the right. There is no CEDEAO / ECOWAS insurance here, only one for Senegal and the Gambia on request. A month costs at 10 CV (conversion of the German PS / KW into French CV required – was also necessary when the Mauritanian insurance was taken out) around € 30
- Pay the municipal parking fee (car 500, truck 1000 FCFA) and leave.
Tip: If the tugs are constantly harassing you, please complain to the border police – it helps a little.
At the exit of the village further customs / police control, checks papers including insurance and could also check the vehicle for technical defects in order to collect a fine. Route to Richard Toll – St. Louis road in very poor condition.
Border crossing at the Senegal barrage near Maka-Diama
Mauritanian side
The alternative to Rosso still leads via Rosso if you want to use the tarred road from Nouakchott to the south and do not drive directly to the barrage via slopes. However, you should change money and refuel in Rosso or better in Nouakchott, because neither is possible at the barrage. – However, the costs incurred in Diama on both sides of the border must also be paid in euros (Exchange rate: 1 euro = 650 FCFA).
The 95 km long slope from Rosso to the barrage starts at the beginning of the village, near the truck parking lot (after refueling, if you get through it, drive back) and follows the Senegal river to the west, sometimes next to the dam, sometimes on top of it. There are some checkpoints on the outskirts and on the way. In the lonely area you can often see lizards, warthogs and a number of birds, because the route follows the border of the Djoudj National Park in the south. After approx. 80 km you reach an intersection, here you turn left (south) and after a further 15 km you will see the terminal building on the right side of the road. It is car insurance, customs, municipal tax collector and police.
You no longer have anything to do with Mauritanian car insurance, but you can show your insurance contract upon request – if you do not have one or if it has become invalid, then an additional payment is due here.
At customs, the foreign exchange declaration and the “Engagement sur Honneur” are confiscated, the vehicle is deleted in the passport or the carnet is stamped and the processing fee collected (euros welcome but also rest-Ouguiya pleasant), receipt is issued. (1000 Ouguiya = 3, – €) Municipal tax of the municipality of N’Diago is payable. (VW bus: 500 Ouguiya).
Police stamp the exit in the passport and also collect – don’t forget your receipt! (1500 UM = 7.50 euros = 5000 FCFA)
Senegalese side
Then the chain is finally lowered and the Senegal barrage can be crossed, which means that the crossing fee is due immediately.
The cashier makes himself known in front of the Senegalese checkpoint, but goes into negotiations. (We paid for a VW Bus 4000 FCFA = 6, – euros, 2002, 10, – euros were requested.)
In Senegal, the police stamp the passports in the building on the right of the street and collect 5000 FCFA (2002: 20 euros = 13,500 FCFA required!). (Receipt block not present, handover of jeans pleasant)
In the customs building to the left of the street, the carnet is stamped or the “Passavant” is issued for 5000 FCFA. If the Passeavant is valid for a short period (4 days), it must be extended in Dakar at the customs station in the station, you better negotiate here.
There is the possibility of a car in the beer bar behind the customs office. To take out insurance.
The CEDEAO / ECOWAS insurance (Carte Brune) – validity: 3 months – must be requested if the trip to other West African countries is to go beyond Senegal and Gambia – for a VW Bus T3, 70 HP, 1600 ccm in 2000 FCFA 38.093 for Senegal plus FCFA 15,000 for the Carte Brune – FCFA 53,000. (Mercedes 207: FCFA 60,000) That’s about 80 euros. (2002 Carte Brune for 10 days: 19 500 FCFA = 30 euros).
Crossing the border, including car insurance, thus costs just under EUR 120, which the traveler expediently holds in small notes.
The handling takes place quickly, approx. 2 – 3 hours, there are no tugs, hordes of children or population, but then the formalities are also completed for a long time.
Continue on the new tar road approx. 20 km to the confluence with the tar road from Rosso to St. Louis, shortly after the border, take the branch to the Djoudj National Park to the left.
Mauritania – Morocco border
The following information has been kindly provided by Hans-Peter Hauschild, www.dbfg.de
The journey through Morocco and the occupied Western Sahara to the southern checkpoint at Fort Guargarat is possible without restrictions. Here you will find a map of Western Sahara.
Checks in Morocco are mostly friendly and short, the number of checkpoints has decreased. At all checkpoints in the south of Western Sahara you have to fill out lists with personal data, so-called fiche. To save time, it is recommended to take 10 to 15 copied lists of personal data with you, which you can then simply hand in to the checkpoint after asking if this is desired. The lists are also accepted in Mauritania. An example can be downloaded from the following address: http://www.kohlbach.org/Download/passüberwachung.doc
A departure from Morocco to Mauritania via other border crossings is not possible despite rumors to the contrary, and the idea of simply crossing the “green border” somewhere in the desert is completely illusory.
Morocco has surrounded the entire Western Sahara with an earth wall, in this wall there are military installations with the latest military technology in sight – if you don’t believe it, have a look at google earth (!), Everyone will be caught, if not shot down, especially you would have to go through the controls on the few access slopes first. You will be sent back there at the latest. Here is a war zone, albeit in a truce since 1993 and soldiers are nervous there.
Map of the border area Morocco / Mauritania on Cap Blanc
Travelers no longer need to join a military convoy from Dhakla to the border. After the last Moroccan border post, there is a strip of no man’s land about 4 km wide. Here it is essential to follow the extended slope (unmarked mines!). Then you reach the Mauritanian border post. This is where the tar road begins. After a few km you will reach the new road to Nouadhibou and Nouakchott.
From Agadir to Dakhla it is no problem to drive with public “grand taxis” or buses. Since the establishment of an official border crossing into Mauritania, public transport has also been going to Nouadhibou and in the opposite direction. It is best to inquire about these options at campsites, petrol stations, checkpoints or in hotels. You can even visit Smara or the small phosphate village of Boukraa. Most other places east of Smara and east of the Layoune-Dakhla-Gargarat coastal road are, however, a restricted military area and can only be visited with the approval of the local authorities.
A stopover in Dakhla is still recommended, because it is the last major place in Morocco, where you can still get everything you need at low cost. It is possible to stay on the camping site “Mouzaffir” a few km north of the city on the left (coordinates N23º45.833, W15º54.407). Mr. Boubacar, the manager, is very friendly and happy to help with all questions, but of course he is also happy about a small “cadeau”. There you can always get the latest information about the schedule and route, and you will most likely meet people who are also traveling to Mauritania or are just coming from there. A nice Moroccan restaurant on the pier is the “Samarkand”, where you can eat very cheaply in green pavilions.
Dakhla is also the last Moroccan place where you can spend the remaining dirhams, only in El Argoub, a few years ago a sleepy nest around 40 km south of the Dakhla crossing (here the last petrol station in Morocco, recently there are three more petrol stations On the tarred road to Guargarat, namely four km before El Argoub, 50 km and 280 km south of El Argoub), you can still shop for little things. With through traffic now increasing without touching Dakhla, shops and cafés / restaurants can be set up in El Argoub and along the street. Recently, the last place to stay and refuel at Motel Barbas (coordinates N22 ° 03.281, W16 ° 44.829) is approx. 80 km before the border at Guargarat.
Fort Guargaratis around 360 km from Dakhla and can be reached in a nice day stage. The road is narrow at times, but it is easy to drive (further construction work is underway), holes and signs of dissolution observed a few years ago have been repaired. The sand dune that once blocked the road has moved on. Two checkpoints en route, in Argoub and about 60 km before Guargarat. The landscape along the Atlantic is untouched and offers beautiful sandy beaches and bays, after which it previously prevented the obligation to convoy, the possibility of free travel should allow a worthwhile stopover on the Sahara Atlantic, in recent years small towns near the beach have already emerged in some places The slopes and signs,
For a long time, the Moroccan exit stamp was called Bir Gandouz, this is very misleading, as many tourists thought that they were actually in this inland place and thus completely lost track of their actual location. With current maps and a GPS determination, this should hardly be a problem today. The tarmac road ends about 7 kilometers south of Fort Guargarat and to the right of the road is a new dispatch point of the Moroccan authorities. This is where the Moroccan control of Western Sahara ends. Make sure that the check-in is correct so that you do not have any difficulties when returning or later returning from the north to Morocco.
After opening the chain stretched across the street you leave Morocco.
Note: “Lagouira”, south of Nouadhibou and southernmost until 1976 in the Spanish Western Sahara, is currently an uninhabited ruined city and is controlled by the Mauritanians. A visit to the site is only possible to a limited extent. Obtain permission from the Mauritanians on site! If you don’t want to go to Mauritania until the next day, you can spend the night in the parking lot at the Moroccan check-in point. In the south you can see the light of Nouadhibou in the sky and a slight humming and roar occasionally suggests the passing of the Mauritanian iron ore train. The air is often fresh and salty because of the nearby Atlantic (7 km west), which you can not see but can guess. In the morning there is occasionally thick fog in the desert.
Caution: the area around the site is a restricted military area and is partially mined. It is not advisable to leave the marked area.
The newly pushed slope to the south, which begins after the chain, is 4 kilometers long and can be used without problems, but it must not be left under any circumstances (danger of mines !!!). After 2 kilometers, there are clear tracks to the east (to the left), do not continue here, even if Mauritanians in front of you take this path. Very soon you will reach a place that looks like an open-air garage, here Mauritanians are preparing illegal vehicles to be smuggled into the country. If you break down and need help, there is an expensive, though probably expensive, chance to repair it.
Many Mauritanians and car pushers drive east from here on a badly marked slope through the mined area directly towards Nouakchott. This option is excluded for legal travelers, because there are no entry formalities and difficulties in the country are already programmed. If you get caught, you can expect to pay a fine.
The right slope runs south and after another 2 kilometers you will find the remains of the old Spanish tar road from Bir Gandouz to Lagouira, which you cross. Then continue on tar to the Mauritanian border post directly to the south (mines !!!).
Distance between the border posts about 5 km.
The new Mauritanian checkpoint (opened on November 20, 2004) on the new tar road to Nouadhibou and Nouakchott is a little south of the old, still valid international border between Western Sahara and RIM (République Islamique de
Mauritanie). GPS: N 21 ° 19.816 + W 16 ° 56.755
The usual border formalities have to be completed here. Fees for the entry of the vehicles could be raised (2002: motorcycle 5 euros, car to VW bus 15 euros, larger to truck about 25 euros) Payment is made in euros or other common currencies, also Moroccan dirhams are accepted, in no case possibly already exchanged Offer Ouguyia, import is prohibited.
At customs, the vehicle is entered in the passport and the declaration of honor for not selling the vehicle is issued and signed (Engagement sur Honneur), note the period of validity, possibly negotiate! Any existing Carnet de Passage is stamped, but is not necessary!
It may also be necessary to fill out a foreign exchange declaration, although it is often said that it has been abolished, but if the customs authorities issue the form, you should fill it out and pay attention to it, otherwise there may be nasty surprises when you leave the country, especially at the Senegalese border.
When officially exchanging money (not possible here so far), you will receive a receipt with a stamp, which must be shown or handed in with the declaration when you leave the country. For all checks in the country, the cash can be counted upon presentation of the foreign exchange declaration and considerable discrepancies have been imposed in the event of discrepancies, particularly when traveling south.
This ends the border control formalities and everyone can leave freely.
It is possible to continue from here directly to Nouakchott or other places in the country without visiting the city of Nouadhibou. Leaders offer themselves at the checkpoint.
At the border, however, it is not yet possible to take out motor vehicle liability insurance and change money. Proof of insurance can be requested at controls and a trip through Mauritania is not really recommended without the local currency. The insurance office in NDB is exactly opposite Camping Abba (coordinates N 20 ° 54.512 – W 17 ° 03.179) in the southern part of the city.
An ECOWAS car insurance for West Africa (Carte Brune), but is not valid in Mauritania, there are in Nouakchott at the agency TAAMIN in the Avenue Gamal Abdel Nasser, the airport, just before the large roundabout on the right side. Here this insurance is quite cheap and you already have it when you enter Mali or Senegal and save yourself problems with the border authorities or taking out this insurance in Rosso / Senegal! In Mali you can inquire about car liability insurance before entering the country, possibly from Europe:
AGF MALI ASSURANCES
Mr. RAY DACKO,
Tel: 00 223 678 55 93. or 00 223 928 52 39.
E-mail:
raydacko@yahoo.com
TEL. 223 41 65. FAX 223 00 34 Bamako.
Mauritania – Mali border
The following information was kindly, by Hans Peter Hauschild www.dbfg.de made available.
You leave Nouakchott in the direction of Aleg, Kiffa, Néma on a good tar road. The long road called Route de l’Espoir was built by Brazilians and had to be renewed and repaired several times in many areas. There is always renewal work on broken pieces, then you often drive many kilometers on slopes along the road.
Visa for Mali
If you haven’t already got it in Nouakchott, you can also get it from the Malian authorities at the border (sticker for the passport). In smaller towns this can also be a note that you have registered. A visa may then have to be obtained in Bamako.
New tar roads to Bamako:
East of Ayoun in the village of Agjert, the new tar road via Kobenni to Nioro in Mali begins.
Then another 20 km of good slopes (2006: with construction work on the tar road) and 80 km of new tar road to Diéma.
From there new tar road via Dioumara to Doubabougou, at the old north – south connection Nema – Bamako.
Continue on the new tar road to Didiéni, Kolokani, Kati and Bamako (from Kati follow the Bamako PL signs)
Slopes continue south from the following locations towards Mali:
First drive on tar road: Aleg – Bogue – Kaedi, then piste via Sélibaby to Kayes with crossing the Karakoro border river (northern Senegal inflow)
From Kayes from the tar road to Diboli on the Senegal border and on to Dakar, as well as to Bamako
Kiffa – slope via Kankossa to Kayes — only interesting for people who want to avoid the state of Senegal or just want to see this area – continue in Mali from Kayes on a tar road to Bamako (730 km) over 140 km to Sandaré, then Lakamané and Diéma
Tîntâne – Slope via Foulani to Nioro
Timbedgha – piste directly to Nara, no place with control organs on the piste that passes close to the historic settlement of Koumbi Saleh.
Néma – slope via Adel Bagrou to Nara
Néma – slope via Bassikounou to Timbuktu (the area is considered unsafe)
Alternatively, in Mali you can also make the interesting round trip from Nioro via Kayes, Bafoulabé, Mahina, Manantali, Kita, Kati to Bamako.
Nioro – Sandaré: – 90 km – (2003:) slow piste, (approx. 15 km / h)
Sandaré – Maréna – Kayes: – 150 km – tar road
Kayes – Diamou: – 50 km – very slow slope, rocky plateaus, many villages, worth seeing
Landscape, impassable when it rains
Diamou – lime mine: – 40 km – old tar road, narrow, holes
Lime mine – Bafoulabé: – 70 km – sandy slope, overgrown terrain, ruts, impassable when it rains
Bafoulabé:
Take the ferry from the north bank of Senegal, which is formed here by the confluence of the Bakoy and Bafing, and either to Bafoulabé (west) – leave the ferry on the west bank of Bafing, from there through the city to Mahina via the old tar road, in Mahina to the east on the Cross the railway bridge over the Bafing – if there is no train (!)
or leave the ferry on the east bank of Bafing and take the slope through the bush to the east, then after a few km in the bush turn right (no signs) and drive south towards Mahina
Mahina (east bank of Bafing) – Manatali: – 96 km – fast piste on the dam along the Bafing river
Manantali – Tambaga – Kita: – 145 km – partly asphalt road, last piece of fast piste
Kita – Kati – Bamako: – 185 km – fast piste
The expansion of a tar road from Bamako via Kati, Kita, Manantali, Keniébra to Saraya and Kédougou in Senegal is planned or in progress.
Border Mauritania – Mali:
Since there are often no inspection bodies in the border villages, the exit is, so to speak, illegal, unless you log off from the police and customs in the cities on the Mauritanian tarred road.
Here, however, there is often arbitrariness in the control, money claims are made or papers are requested at will. Thus, the traveler is free to choose whether to look for the authorities or hope for a control point in a border village.
It is advisable to exchange surplus Ouguiya only in Malian border towns, so that in the lonely villages of South Mauretania you don’t suddenly find yourself without money in an emergency.
Everywhere in Mali there are Mauritanian traders and shops that maintain diverse contacts to Mauritania. In the Mauritanian cities along the tarmac road, guides to Mali are often available, who mostly know the route that can be traveled and can definitely talk to the locals in villages and ask about the good route. Often people also want to travel to Mali and are looking for a ride. Local Toyota also go to Nioro and Nara and you can follow them.
The entry from Mali to Mauritania is possible on all the roads and slopes and via the corresponding locations, but it is imperative to visit the nearest authorities in Mauritania (inquire!) And customs and police clearance (entry stamp) and, if possible, motor vehicles. Get insurance, because the checkpoints near the capital at the latest cause considerable trouble if you miss it and do not believe that there were no authorities at the border, but accuse the travelers of illegal entry with costly consequences.