Mauritania
 

I'm riding down to Senegal from London and have alresdy planned a fair bit. leaving Nov 2004.

I want to spend about 2 weeks in Mauritania exploring pistes and stuff. Will enter from Morocco and leave to get to Timbuctou.

Where should I go ? What is best to see ?

Two people on KTM 640's with extra fuel and a rannge of about 500 miles.

THanks for ideas !


Simon

Just about to do a trip down to the region my self. For planning, I can sincerrely recommmend Chris Scotts books on Adventure Motorcycling and Sahara Overland. Check out his website to. You'll find a lot of valubale info there as well.
http://www.adventure-motorcycling.com/
http://www.sahara-overland.com

Good luck !

Hi Simon.
I have been in Mauritania on April.
The places I have been and I recoomend include the piste from Nouadhibou to Choum , the Amogjar pass,Ouadane, Guelb er Richat and Chinguetti. We couldn´t go down to Nema (entry point to Tomboctu) due to mechanical problems, but the piste from Choum to Nema I have heard that it is worth it.
Nice trip.

Simon, by the time November comes the new edition will be out with half a dozen new routes in Mori, (tho JM mentions all the main highlights).
IMO, to make the most of this country, avoid the beach piste/road

CS

I got lost and almost (stupidly)died between choum and Nema

Its a long way and difficult navigation. team up with cars and expect sections of deep sand.

see my site desertbiking.co.uk

Karim

You should definately get:

Mauritanie au GPS

Cut and paste that, pop it in google, and you'll find where you can get it.

It's in French, but you should be able to get enough out of it - and all the lat-longs are very clear.

The bible for independant travel in Mauritania (and the perfect companion to Chris's book!).

Sam.

I agree with Sam about the books .
I agree also with Jorge but , about the Nouadhibou-Choum , I've done it also in April 2004 and I don't think it's very interesting except in the very end portion and IMHO the beach piste and Banc d'Argain are more interesting to see .
Near Atar there is a beautiful place : Oued El Abiod ( beetween the main road and Toungad )
Nice trip
RR ;

How about general safety these days ? Does anyone with recent experience have any scares to report on banidtry or terrorism ? (in eitehr Morocco, Mori or Mali ). Considered safe enough at the moment or not ?

hi chris,

"to make the most of this country, avoid the beach piste/road"

why?!

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best regards from Portugal
bernardo feio lightweight

I get the feeling that most people drive NDB - beach - NKT and out - just transit Mauritania. Fair enough but IMO, culturally and scenically there is much more to experience inland in the Adrar and Tagant regions. That's what I'm into, not trans-Sahara.

Ch

About safety in Mauritania, I think there is no problem now : I was there in April and the mood was good enough .
I agree with Chris to say that Adrar region is beautiful and culturally interesting , but to go to this region , I think the beach piste ( + road NK Atar wich a little boring ) is better than the train piste .
RR .

hi

ok Chris, I understand your point of view… but the beach piste (park d’ Arguin and after Nouamgar) is probably one of the more beautiful pistes I ever done… sun, ocean water, desert, great fish 

it’s not the best cultural experience but…

and I also have to agree with Roro. It’s much better then the train piste

Chris when will the new edition be ready? I’m going to mauri in august (in the way to guiné-bissau) and would like to try the new pistes…



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best regards from Portugal
bernardo feio lightweight

"sun, ocean water, desert, great fish"

Sounds like the Algarve without so much desert!

I think inland Moorish Mauritania is a most interesting and still very nomadic country.

The book might be out by September. Details on the website in a few weeks.

Chris

"think inland Moorish Mauritania is a most interesting and still very nomadic country."

No doubts about that. In the way to Guiné we are planning 15 days in the interior of mauri hopefully till Nema... but after all the sun and hot a good bath in the Atlantic Ocean will taste like haven!!


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best regards from Portugal
bernardo feio lightweight