In preparation for a longer upcoming trans-Saharan journey we conducted a scouting trip in Mauritania during January 2015. We spent roughly two weeks traversing 1,400 miles, mostly off-road, in a loop from the capital Nouakchott north along the coast to the border crossing near Nouadhibou then east to Choum and southeast via Chinguetti and Ouadane into the Eye of the Sahara (Geulb er Richat) and back around south west to Maaden through the White Valley to Azoueiga then Akjout and back to Nouakchott. The primary goal of this mission was to assess terrain, driving conditions, logistical concerns and approximate timeframes for a future expedition. Click links below to see a detailed report for each location.
The first installment features the capital city of Nouakchott, where the journey begins, with a spotlight on the bustling fishing port… [read]
The second installment follows the journey up the coast to the village of Iwik and looks at the importance of conserving the Banc D’Arguin national park… [read]
The third installment takes us to the border zone, the legacy of the Western Sahara conflict and the second largest city of Nouadhibou… [read]
The fourth installment follows the iron ore train, taking the route used by the Africa Eco Race and the old Paris-Dakar along the empty desert piste to Choum… [read]
