Weekend in Mauritania
Trip Overview
This brisk two-day circuit jolts you straight from the briny Atlantic capital to a night under Sahara stars. Kick off amid Nouakchott's fish-laden quays and camel-wool stalls, then gun east through rolling dunes to the palm-shaded Terjit oasis. Expect dawn starts, warm desert gusts, and Hassaniya Arabic murmuring over glasses of sweet tea. By sunset on day two you'll have wolfed down fiery thieboudienne, ducked beneath date palms for shade, and watched the Milky Way climb above a nomad tent.
Pace
Active
Daily Budget
$110-150 per day
Best Seasons
November through March, when daytime Mauritania weather hovers around 25 °C and nights are crisp
Ideal For
Weekend escapists, First-time Sahara visitors, Photographers chasing dunes, Food hunters after Mauritania food
Day-by-Day Itinerary
A complete plan for every day of your trip
1
Atlantic Arrival & Market Grids
Morning fish auction, carpet bargaining, and a sunset camel ride along Plage de Nouakchott.
Morning
Port de Pêche fish market
Reach the docks at first light as wooden pirogues skid onto wet sand and crews haul silver fish still thrashing. Salt spray bites your cheeks while gulls wheel and scream. Haggle for a red snapper and have it grilled on the spot.
Lunch
Restaurant Sahara
Afternoon
Marché Capitale & carpet souk
Thread between pyramids of dyed leather slippers and saffron-colored spice sacks. Finger hand-woven camel-wool rugs whose indigo patterns still carry the scent of desert camp smoke. Haggling is expected. Open at half the asking price.
Evening
Camel ride on Plage de Nouakchott at dusk, then dinner
Fresh shrimp brochettes at beachside Le Pelican while Atlantic waves hiss in the dark
Where to Stay Tonight
Plateau district near Avenue Abdel Nasser (Hotel Tfeila or similar)
Secure area with reliable Wi-Fi and easy 7 a.m. departure for Terjit
See all Mauritania accommodation options →Bring small euro coins for the port porters. They prefer coins to crumpled ouguiya notes.
Day 1 Budget: $140
2
Desert Dawn to Terjit Oasis
Terjit Oasis via Atar
Four-hour desert road trip, palm-shaded pools, and a starlit camp.
Morning
Private 4×4 to Terjit
Leave Nouakchott at 7 a.m.; smooth tarmac soon dissolves into rolling ochre dunes dotted with acacia. Feel the cabin cool under Atlantic fog, then bake as you cross the railway line where iron-ore trains roar past like rust-colored dragons.
Book driver the night before through your hotel. Negotiate fuel included.
Lunch
Auberge Terjit garden terrace
Afternoon
Swim & relax in the oasis
Follow a sandy track beneath leaning date palms to a cool rock pool fed by a trickling spring. Slide into water that carries a faint mineral scent while palm fronds clack above. Local kids may dare you to a barefoot sprint across hot sand.
Evening
Nomad-style camp dinner and stargazing
Sleep in a low canvas tent at Camping Oasis Terjit. Dinner is lamb mechoui roasted over charcoal, eaten cross-legged under constellations bright enough to throw shadows.
Where to Stay Tonight
Terjit Oasis (Camping Oasis Terjit)
Steps from the pool, zero light pollution, sunrise over red cliffs
See all Mauritania accommodation options →Pack a swimsuit and sarong. The oasis has no changing rooms, just discreet palm trunks.
Day 2 Budget: $110
Practical Information
Everything you need to know before you go
Getting Around
Nouakchott taxis are cheap but haggle hard. For Terjit, a 4×4 with driver is essential. The last 20 km is pist (soft sand). Shared taxis run to Atar, but you'll still need onward transport. Fuel quality is good along the RN2.
Book Ahead
Hotel room in Nouakchott, 4×4 with driver for Terjit, and dinner at Auberge Terjit if you want the mechoui.
Packing Essentials
Light scarf against dust, reef-safe sunscreen, headlamp, flip-flops for the oasis, and a light fleece for Terjit nights.
Total Budget
$250-300 for the weekend excluding flights
Customize Your Trip
Adapt this itinerary to your travel style
Budget Version
Take a shared sept-place taxi to Atar ($15), then hitch a pick-up to Terjit ($3). Sleep in the Auberge dorm and eat street brochettes in Nouakchott's Ksar district.
Luxury Upgrade
Upgrade to Azalaï Hotel Marhaba in Nouakchott with pool view, then hire a private Land Cruiser with A/C and cold water fridge for the desert leg. Book the deluxe en-suite bungalows at Terjit.
Family-Friendly
Swap the camel ride for a shorter horse trek on the beach. Choose Azalaï's family rooms and pack inflatable pool toys for Terjit's shallow pool. The Auberge can grill chicken instead of spicy lamb for younger palates.
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