MAURITANIA

Location - West Africa; Capital - Nouakchott; Population - 3.5 million; Currency - Ouguiya MORE MAURITANIA

I spent 2 weeks in the West African country of Mauritania in March/April 2007.

1000 Mauritanian Ouguiya

The coastal area of Nouakchott is 5kms from the centre, and is based around the fishing port

The fishing port, on Nouakchott's Atlantic coast

The Atlantic coast, Nouakchott

A restaurant in central Nouakchott (a hookah, or nargileh, is on the right)

The Grand Mosque, Nouakchott

Christina dining at Ali's in Nouakchott

A traditional tikit and khaima (tent) at Auberge Oued Tillige in the oasis town of Azougui, close to Atar

Tikits are pretty sparse, but I guess you can decorate them yourself.. Azougui

Palm trees in Azougui's oasis

Bright colours on a street in Atar

Stocking up on provisions at Atar's market

Desert landscape on the drive from Atar to Ouadane

The set for the film Fort Saganne, starring Gerard Depardieu

Ancient rock paintings on cave walls near Fort Saganne

The old city of Ouadane, known as Le Ksar al Kiali, dates to the 12th century

The ruins of the stone houses on the edge of the old quarter of Ouadane

Ouadane was an important caravan town and trading centre, transferring salt, dates and gold across the Sahara

The Adrar plateau and Sahara surround Ouadane

Walking through Le Ksar al Kiali, Ouadane

The old quarter of Ouadane

Selling souvenirs in the old quarter, Ouadane

The atmospheric Ouadane old quarter

Inside the auberge in Ouadane

Checking out the view (or escaping the kitchen?) - Ouadane

Our guide on the left, and a local historian on the right - Ouadane

There are many ancient manuscripts in Ouadane, a centre of learning since the 12th century

The ostrich eggs are visible on the mosque's minaret - Ouadane's old quarter

Outside the old quarter in Ouadane

Tin Labbe is a short drive from Ouadane

Passers-by in Tin Labbe

A 4-wheel drive across the desert from Ouadane to Tanouchert

Driving across the desert - Ouadane to Tanouchert

Our khaima, or tent for the night in Tanouchert

Helping ourselves to yet more tea - Tanouchert

There's no need to walk far to see sand dunes in Tanouchert

Of course blokes have to climb things - Tanouchert

The oasis town of Tanouchert is about half way between Ouadane and Chinguetti

Tanouchert is a tiny place with beautiful desert scenery

Palm trees in Tanouchert

Keeping a lookout from Tanouchert's dunes

Saharan sunset at Tanouchert

Starting a disastrous three day camel trek across the desert from Tanouchert to Chinguetti

Sunrise over the Sahara on day two of the camel trek. Our guide was taken ill during the night, and had sent the camel owner on a fruitless search for a car to take us to Chinguetti

For most of the second day we waited for a car to go by, drinking valuable water supplies and admiring the dunes - in the desert somewhere

Our bus stop for the day.
Finally a car passed by in the mid-afternoon and we had a lift to Chinguetti - in the desert under a tree, somewhere

These people were a godsend, but of course a drive though the desert is never problem free. Digging our way out for the second/third time - close to Chinguetti. When we arrived our guide mysteriously made a full recovery..

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LINKS

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