Nouadhibou

Nouadhibou is Mauritania's second-largest city and its economic powerhouse — a major fishing port, the terminus of the Iron Ore Train, and the centre of the country's fishing and mining export industries. Located on the Cap Blanc (Ras Nouadhibou) peninsula, the city has a unique geography with the Atlantic on one side and the Bay of Nouadhibou on the other. It is a fascinating, gritty city with a booming industrial character, an extraordinary ship cemetery, and a Mediterranean monk seal colony at the peninsula's tip. The population is ethnically diverse, with Moorish, Black African, and Chinese expatriate communities.

By Plane

Nouadhibou International Airport (NDB) receives flights from Gran Canaria (Binter Canarias, Mauritania Airlines) and domestic flights from Nouakchott (Mauritania Airlines). The airport is 5 km from the city centre; a taxi costs MRU 300–500.

By Train

The Iron Ore Train terminates in Nouadhibou from Zouérat (704 km, 12–16 hours). The train arrives at the mining port area, 6 km from the town centre. The passenger carriage is basic; MRU 300.

By Car / Road

A paved highway connects Nouadhibou to Nouakchott (480 km south, 5–6 hours) and the Western Sahara border at Guerguerat (100 km north). Bush taxis run from Nouakchott (MRU 600–1,000).

The city is spread out. Taxis are the main option (MRU 200–500 within the city). Motorcycle taxis are also available. The port and ship cemetery areas require transport.

• The Ship Cemetery — The rusting hulks of dozens of abandoned ships in the shallow bay — one of the world's largest ship graveyards, hauntingly photogenic.

• Cap Blanc seal colony — A colony of critically endangered Mediterranean monk seals at the peninsula's northern tip. Access requires a guide.

• Nouadhibou fishing port — The largest in West Africa, with hundreds of colourful fishing pirogues and industrial trawlers.

• The Iron Ore Train unloading pier — Watch trains dump iron ore directly into cargo ships.

• Ship Cemetery boat tour — Take a pirogue tour through the graveyard of ships at sunset.

• Seal colony visit — Visit the protected monk seal colony with a local guide.

• Fresh fish lunch — The port area has restaurants serving the freshest fish in Mauritania.

Nouadhibou is the place to eat fish: grilled dorado, grouper, sea bream, and octopus are exceptional. Restaurants on the port front (Le Phare, Chez Manou) serve excellent seafood. Lebanese and Chinese restaurants also operate.

Sweet mint tea. Bottled water. No alcohol in most establishments.

Nouadhibou has mid-range hotels. Hotel Almourabitoune (MRU 4,000–7,000) is comfortable. Hotel Amity (MRU 3,000–5,000) is another option. Budget guesthouses from MRU 1,500.

Fresh fish and seafood. Chinese goods from the expatriate shops. Mauritanian crafts are less common than in Nouakchott.

• Banc d'Arguin National Park (60 km south) — UNESCO World Heritage bird reserve.
• Chami (80 km south) — Coastal village gateway to Banc d'Arguin.
• Nouakchott (480 km south, 5–6 hours) — National capital.
• Guerguerat (100 km north) — Border crossing to Western Sahara/Morocco.