Things to Do in Nouakchott
Advisory, October 2026: The US State Department rates Mauritania Level 3, Reconsider Travel, and marks military zones Level 4, Do Not Travel. The UK FCDO has no warning for Nouakchott itself but advises against all travel to the east and the Mali border strip. Check FCDO warnings before you book anything outside the capital.
Nouakchott sits where the Sahara meets the Atlantic. It was founded in 1957 as the capital of a country that became independent in 1960, so it is low, flat and sandy rather than old. The best activities are a fish landing at the shore, a livestock market, a craft quarter and an afternoon in the dunes. The currency is the ouguiya (MRU, written UM), and it is a cash economy.
Port de Pêche at landing time
Port de Pêche is about 5 km west of the centre. In the late afternoon, roughly 16:00 to 18:30, painted wooden pirogues ride the breakers onto the sand. Crews roll them up on logs, carry crates of fish up the beach and sell the catch beside an open-air fish market with smoking ovens. Entry is free.
- Wear closed shoes. The sand is wet and littered with fish waste.
- Ask before you photograph anyone. Some people refuse or ask for money.
- Do not swim or wade. The undertow is strong and people drown here every year, according to Lonely Planet.
Camel market
The livestock market lies on the south-eastern edge of the city, on the Route de l’Espoir in the Beila and Tenweich area, about 10 km from the centre. Herders bring dromedaries, goats and sheep from the interior, and trading is busiest from about 07:30 to 11:00. The ground is deep sand, so wear sturdy shoes. A private taxi with waiting time costs a few hundred ouguiya; agree the price before you leave.
Marché Artisanal in Ksar
The craft market in the Ksar district has workshops where silver jewellery is hammered, copper teapots are made and leather chests are sewn. Women’s cooperatives sell reed mats and embroidered leather cushions. Haggle calmly and politely.
A dune drive
Dunes start just outside the city. A local driver, arranged through your hotel or a local agency, can take you out for the afternoon to ride the sand and sandboard down a slope, then set out carpets for sunset tea. Agree the price per vehicle first and return before dark. Canada advises avoiding unpatrolled beaches because of banditry and carjacking, so keep to the plan your driver knows.
Tea and food
Mint tea (ataye) is served in three glasses, poured from a height to raise a froth. Accept the glass when it is offered. Look for thieboudienne, the fish and rice dish, grilled camel and zrig, a drink of whipped milk served in a wooden bowl.
Rules worth knowing
- Alcohol is illegal.
- Dress conservatively: covered shoulders and knees, and a headscarf for women is useful at markets.
- Do not photograph the Presidential Palace, ministries or military sites.
- Avoid the Cinquième district after dark, as Canada advises, and stay in groups at night.
Read more: Sightseeing in Nouakchott covers the museum, the mosques and the big markets.
Booking help
You can compare local city and desert excursions on GetYourGuide , and the Wikivoyage Nouakchott page lists current taxi and beach information.