Mauritania Safety Guide
Health, security, and travel safety information
Emergency Numbers
Save these numbers before your trip.
Healthcare
What to know about medical care in Mauritania.
Healthcare System
Mauritania's healthcare system is underdeveloped with limited facilities and resources. Medical care is concentrated in Nouakchott, with very limited services in rural areas. Most facilities lack modern equipment and adequately trained staff.
Hospitals
Centre Hospitalier National in Nouakchott is the main facility. Private clinics like Clinique du Croissant and Clinique Avicenne offer better standards but still limited services. Medical evacuation insurance is essential.
Pharmacies
Pharmacies are available in Nouakchott and major towns but stock is limited. Bring all necessary medications from home with prescriptions. Counterfeit medications are a concern.
Insurance
Comprehensive travel insurance with medical evacuation coverage (minimum $100,000) is absolutely essential. Confirm your policy covers Mauritania and includes repatriation.
Healthcare Tips
- Bring a comprehensive medical kit including all prescription medications, antibiotics, anti-malarials, and rehydration salts
- Carry copies of prescriptions and medical records in French if possible
- Identify the nearest embassy or consulate that can assist with medical evacuation
- Consider arranging medical evacuation insurance with companies like International SOS
- Drink only bottled or purified water to avoid waterborne diseases
- Ensure tetanus, hepatitis A and B, typhoid, and rabies vaccinations are current
Common Risks
Be aware of these potential issues.
Active terrorist groups including Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) operate in border regions. Kidnapping of foreigners for ransom has occurred, particularly targeting Westerners.
Pickpocketing and bag snatching occur in crowded areas, markets, and tourist sites. Vehicle break-ins are common.
Poor road conditions, lack of street lighting, unmarked hazards, livestock on roads, and erratic driving create significant risks. Sand drifts can obscure roads in desert areas.
Unexploded ordnance and landmines remain from past conflicts, particularly in northern and eastern regions near Western Sahara.
Extreme temperatures (40-50°C/104-122°F) can cause heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and severe dehydration. Desert conditions are particularly dangerous.
Contaminated water and food cause typhoid, hepatitis A, cholera, and traveler's diarrhea. Malaria is present in southern regions.
Protests and demonstrations can occur, particularly in Nouakchott, sometimes becoming violent. Political tensions can escalate quickly.
Severe sandstorms reduce visibility to zero, ground flights, and create respiratory hazards. Can strand travelers in desert areas.
Scams to Avoid
Watch out for these common tourist scams.
Individuals approach tourists claiming to be official guides, offering tours at inflated prices or leading tourists to shops where they receive commissions. Some may abandon tourists in remote areas.
Black market money changers offer favorable rates but use sleight of hand, counterfeit notes, or shortchange tourists. Some work with accomplices who distract during the exchange.
Taxi drivers quote inflated prices to foreigners or claim meters are broken. Some take unnecessarily long routes to increase fares.
Individuals posing as police or actual officers at checkpoints claim documentation issues and demand 'fines' paid directly to them rather than official channels.
Individuals approach tourists with stories of sick relatives or orphanages needing money, sometimes showing fake documents or photos.
Safety Tips
Practical advice to stay safe.
General Security
- Register with your embassy immediately upon arrival
- Maintain comprehensive situational awareness at all times
- Keep low profile and avoid discussing politics or religion publicly
- Vary your routes and routines if staying extended period
- Keep copies of important documents separate from originals
- Share itinerary with someone outside Mauritania
- Maintain emergency cash in multiple locations
- Keep phone charged and carry backup battery/power bank
Desert Travel
- Never travel alone in desert areas; use convoy system
- Carry satellite phone or emergency beacon
- Bring minimum 3 days extra water and food supplies
- Carry GPS and paper maps; don't rely solely on electronics
- Inform authorities of travel plans and expected return
- Hire experienced local guides familiar with desert navigation
- Ensure vehicle is properly equipped with recovery gear
- Know how to signal for help and locate yourself
Transportation
- Avoid all travel after dark outside cities
- Use only reputable taxi companies or hotel-arranged transport
- Keep vehicle doors locked and windows up in cities
- Don't pick up hitchhikers or accept rides from strangers
- Carry extra fuel as stations are sparse outside cities
- Have vehicle serviced before desert trips
- Know location of checkpoints and have documents ready
Health Precautions
- Complete all recommended vaccinations 4-6 weeks before travel
- Take malaria prophylaxis if traveling to southern regions
- Use 50%+ DEET insect repellent and sleep under treated nets
- Practice strict food and water hygiene
- Carry comprehensive medical kit with antibiotics
- Protect against sun exposure with SPF 50+ sunscreen
- Monitor hydration status by checking urine color
- Seek medical attention immediately for fever or diarrhea
Cultural Sensitivity
- Dress modestly covering shoulders and knees at minimum
- Ask permission before photographing people
- Use right hand for eating and greeting (left considered unclean)
- Remove shoes when entering homes and some buildings
- Avoid public displays of affection
- Respect prayer times and Islamic customs
- Learn basic French or Arabic greetings
- Be patient as concepts of time are more flexible
Money and Valuables
- Carry small amounts of cash; use hotel safes for excess
- Notify bank of travel plans to avoid card blocks
- Have backup payment methods as ATMs are unreliable
- Exchange money only at official locations
- Keep emergency cash in USD or Euros
- Avoid displaying expensive items like jewelry or cameras
- Use money belts or hidden pouches for important documents
- Photograph important documents and store in cloud
Communication
- Purchase local SIM card for mobile connectivity
- Save emergency contacts in phone before arrival
- Learn basic French phrases; English rarely spoken
- Carry written address of accommodation in Arabic/French
- Download offline maps before traveling to remote areas
- Inform someone of daily plans and check in regularly
- Carry embassy contact information at all times
- Consider renting satellite phone for desert travel
Information for Specific Travelers
Safety considerations for different traveler groups.
Women Travelers
Women travelers face additional challenges in Mauritania due to conservative Islamic culture and social norms. While violent crime against tourists is relatively rare, harassment, unwanted attention, and cultural misunderstandings are common. Women traveling alone may face more scrutiny and questioning. Conservative dress and behavior are essential for safety and respect.
- Dress very conservatively: cover shoulders, arms to wrists, legs to ankles; wear loose-fitting clothing; consider wearing headscarf in rural areas
- Avoid eye contact with men as it can be misinterpreted as interest
- Travel with companions when possible; solo female travel is unusual and draws attention
- Use female-only sections on public transport when available
- Book accommodation with good security; avoid ground floor rooms
- Wear wedding ring and invent husband/family even if single
- Avoid being out alone after dark in any area
- Don't invite men to your hotel room or visit theirs
- Be firm but polite if refusing unwanted attention; don't engage
- Consider hiring female guides for cultural activities when possible
- Keep phone charged with emergency contacts readily accessible
- Trust your instincts and remove yourself from uncomfortable situations immediately
LGBTQ+ Travelers
Homosexuality is illegal in Mauritania under Sharia law. Same-sex sexual activity can be punished with death penalty for Muslim men and imprisonment for women, though enforcement varies. No legal protections exist for LGBTQ+ individuals.
- Do not disclose sexual orientation or gender identity publicly
- Avoid any public displays of affection regardless of gender
- Do not discuss LGBTQ+ topics or rights with locals
- Be extremely discreet in all interactions and accommodations
- Book separate rooms if traveling with same-sex partner
- Remove any LGBTQ+ identifiers from social media and belongings
- Understand that being 'out' could result in arrest, violence, or deportation
- Have emergency plan including embassy contact information
- Consider whether travel to Mauritania is necessary given serious risks
- Research LGBTQ+ friendly countries in region if problems arise and evacuation needed
Travel Insurance
Comprehensive travel insurance is absolutely essential for Mauritania due to poor healthcare infrastructure, high medical evacuation costs (often $50,000-100,000+), terrorism risks, political instability, and extreme environmental conditions. Without proper insurance, a medical emergency could result in inadequate treatment or financial ruin. Many standard policies exclude Mauritania or require special coverage due to security situation.
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