Mauritania operates 2920 kilometers of paved roads and approximately 7660 kilometers of unpaved roads. The Route de l'Espoir connects Nouakchott to Néma in the east, crossing 1100 kilometers through the center of the country. This road opened in 1985 and remains the primary east-west artery. The highway from Nouakchott to Nouadhibou runs 470 kilometers along the coast. Outside these two routes, road infrastructure deteriorates significantly.
The train connecting Nouadhibou to Zouérat operates daily and holds the distinction of running one of the world's longest trains, with ore trains reaching 2.5 kilometers in length. The passenger service attaches carriages to the ore trains. The journey covers 704 kilometers through the central desert and takes 12 to 16 hours depending on freight operations. Société Nationale Industrielle et Minière operates this line primarily for iron ore transport. Travelers without permission ride in open ore cars, which SNIM tolerates but does not officially authorize. The passenger carriages cost approximately 1500 ouguiya for third class.
Within Nouakchott, shared taxis called taxi brousse operate along fixed routes. These typically charge 100 to 300 ouguiya per trip depending on distance. Private taxi fares require negotiation before departure. The city lacks public bus infrastructure. Most streets in Nouakchott remain unpaved despite being the capital.
Land border crossings operate at Rosso with Senegal, Gogui with Mali, and Guerguerat with Western Sahara. The Rosso ferry crosses the Senegal River connecting to Senegal proper. Mali border crossings require passage through extremely remote desert areas with limited fuel and water availability. The Mauritanian government restricts travel within 50 kilometers of the border with Mali due to security concerns related to armed groups active since 2011.
Domestic flights between Nouakchott and Nouadhibou operate irregularly on Mauritania Airlines International. This carrier replaced Air Mauritanie in 2010. Flight schedules change frequently and cancellations occur without advance notice.
Driving requires an international driving permit alongside a national license. Vehicle rental operates through limited agencies in Nouakchott and Nouadhibou. Four-wheel drive vehicles with GPS and satellite phones represent minimum equipment for desert travel. The Adrar Plateau region requires guided travel. Independent desert navigation has resulted in multiple tourist deaths, including four French nationals in 2007 and two Italian tourists in 2009.
Mobile phone coverage from Mauritel and Mattel reaches Nouakchott, Nouadhibou, and major towns along the Route de l'Espoir. Coverage ends within 20 to 30 kilometers of these centers. The Adrar region including Atar receives intermittent coverage. Chinguetti, Ouadane, Tichit, and Oualata have cellular service within town limits only.
Mauritania experiences three climatic periods. November through February constitutes the cool season with daytime temperatures in Nouakchott ranging from 24 to 28 degrees Celsius. Night temperatures in the Adrar Plateau drop to 5 to 10 degrees Celsius. This period receives no rainfall.
March through June represents the hot dry season. Nouakchott temperatures reach 32 to 38 degrees Celsius. Interior desert locations including Atar and Chinguetti regularly exceed 45 degrees Celsius from May through June. The harmattan wind carries sand from the Sahara during this period, reducing visibility and covering surfaces with fine dust.
July through October marks the rainy season, though rainfall remains minimal across most of the country. Nouakchott receives 50 to 100 millimeters of total annual precipitation, concentrated in August and September. The Senegal River valley in Gorgol and Guidimaka regions receives 300 to 500 millimeters annually. The Adrar Plateau receives less than 25 millimeters per year. When rain does fall in the desert regions, dry wadis flood within minutes, cutting off roads for hours or days.
The Banc d'Arguin National Park observes peak bird migration from November through March. Over 2 million migratory birds from northern Europe winter in the park according to UNESCO monitoring data. Nouadhibou attracts the highest numbers of European tourists during December and January specifically for this migration.
Ramadan timing follows the Islamic lunar calendar, shifting approximately 11 days earlier each year. During Ramadan, restaurants close during daylight hours. Transport services reduce frequency. Government offices operate reduced hours. The 2024 Ramadan period ran from March 11 through April 9. In 2025, Ramadan begins approximately March 1 and ends March 30.
Tourist numbers peak between November and February for desert tours to Chinguetti and the Adrar region. Summer months from June through August see almost no international tourism due to temperatures exceeding human safety thresholds without air conditioning.