Second country, one of the least densely populated in the world, very dry, very poor and we reckon more Mercedes Benz per capita than any other country in the world, well from the 90’s that is.

Driving in the cities is appalling but surprisingly courteous or perhaps it was our size. Plastic discarded everywhere, specially plastic water bottles. No garbage collection or recycling or disposal to be seen, just dumps on the roadsides as you leave town.

The people are fantastically friendly and all routes well secured with police and military check points. Sadly one attack on foreigners two years ago has left half the country out of bounds according to western governments.

Two missed opportunities were to drive up to Atar drive down to the Mali border (road now complete but not marked on maps as such) and to drive the length of Banc d’Arguin park from near the top of Mauritania to Nouakchott, all along the beach/dunes. Next time and we hope to make a next time possible.

Nouadhibou

Banc d’Arguin and the road south

Nouakchott – the capital city

The road headed east to Mali

Buildings of eastern Mauritania