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Mauritania

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[[File:Train_ndb-choûm_(27).JPG|thumb|right|300px|The longest train in the world, which runs from [[Nouadhibou]] to [[Choum]] and [[Zouerate]]]]
'''Mauritania''' is a very dry country on the west coast of [[Western Africa|West Africa]], south from [[Western Sahara]], north from [[Senegal]] and [[Mali]]. Mauritania doesn't seem to be a good place for hitchhikingis definitely hitchable, at least in although there are issues as the conventional sense. The majority of vehicles are shared taxis and many private vehicles which stop will try and charge the same rates, and in the desert wait times can be long due to lack of traffic.  Still it is possible to cross the country by hitchhiking; , the main roads ([[Nouakchott]]-[[Nouadhibou]], Nouakchott-[[Nema]] and Nouakchott-[[Rosso]], possibly Nouakchott-[[Atar]] as well) , are certainly hitchable, be it with overlanders, Euro-African car traders who bring vehicles to West Africa, or just nice Mauritanians curious about meeting Europeans.
In southern Mauritania on the road to [[Mali]], around [[Kiffa]] and [[Ayoun el-Atrous]] hitchhiking is much harder than in other parts of the country. People there really don't understand hitchhiking and even after long explaining of what you're doing they'll take you to the bus station. Even the police/army/gendarmerie checkpoints are somewhat harder there. Officers are able to wait for bribes for hours, force you out of the car for "safety" reasons and next day force another driver to take you. It doesn't feel very comfortable but it's certainly possible to hitch through.
Whenever hitchhiking in Mauritania, police check points will play an important role. Depending on your luck, the mood of the check point's commander and a million other factors, they will think you're great, invite you for [[food]], give you stuff and even try to find rides for you, or tell you that you absolutely can't hitchhike from there, either because it is illegal or just because it is "not normal" or "not safe", and you might be forced to take a taxi. When you're hitching with Mauritanians (except maybe if it is a taxi taking you for free, which also happens), be prepared for the police going incredible lengths to make sure you're safe and everything is in order - when [[User:Zenit|Zenit]] was hitchhiking from Rosso to Nouakchott with three Mauritanian agronomists, police sent the whole car all the way back to Rosso after three quarters of the way (150km) so the region's police chief (who had come to the station from his home for the occasion) could personally make sure Zenit was in the car voluntarily. Also, at every checkpoint (which are really numerous in Mauritania), Zenit was asked to step out of the car and taken aside to ask about the ride and to take all the information, including the car's Chassis number and the driver's phone number at one point.
In 2016, There are loads of police checkpoints on every road in mauritainia. Every time they will stop you and demand to have a fiche (photocopy of the ID page of your passport and to know where you are much less strictgoing. Carry about 30 print outs. I'm not exaggerating, you'll need them. In the past people had problems with checkpoints really messing with hitchhikers, probably because there have been however as of 2024 I had no reports problems with any checkpoints at all, nor did anyone I travelled with. They just all want to be given a printed photocopy of kidnappings or similar incidents in recent yearsyour passport, and once asked me to show them the situation in the region seems to have calmed down in generaloriginal. It was a bit of a pain and sometimes caused a couple of minutes delay, but nothing insane.
It should be possible to hitch to Mauritania from the consulate in Rabat, [[Morocco]], with overlanders calling in to get their visas, or from southern Morocco. You can also get into Mauritania with Mauritanian traders, who can be found opposite the first police checkpoint north of Dakhla. The price for a journey to Nouadhibou is currently 250-380Dhs (negotiable). Another option are Moroccan vegetable trucks leaving from Agadir or Marrakech.
But then I noticed that is not too hard to hitchhike in Mauretania, even inside the city. Just let the taxis pass. That are more or less all the old cars. I took my hands on my heart and shaked my head when they arrived (explaining takes more time). And I concentrated on the new cars. That made it quite easy then :)
 
=== Cities ===
Be aware of mines in the border region to [[Western Sahara]]. Don't leave the road there. Do not accept guides offering to take you across for a small fee, the road is clearly visible, walkable and you will only get ripped off.
Be wary on the border For crossing to Senegal if you cross at Rosso, there's many the rosso border crossing has a notorious reputation for hustlers there and scammers (even though they mainly target people in cars). You should also have  As of 2024 rosso wasn't that bad as a backpacker in the evening, a few people hissed at me but I walked straight past them, one guy insisted he was my friend but then demanded commision at the end, which he did not recieve. Still, be wary, do not give your vaccination certificate ready (passport to anyone unless they check are in full uniform with ID, do not pay for yellow fever)anything, the stamp, the ferry, its all free, or be prepared and anyone approaching you to offer you help randomly will definitely want payment. It is easier early morning to shed some money or late evening. When you arrive at the big green gate, a lot of time, possibly bothsoldier/policeman milling around will ask to see your passport. Make sure you're talking to the real police before showing it.The alternative After that you'll be directed to go to Rosso is the booth on the building to cross the Senegal River at Diamaleft for your exit stamp. It's not visible from that gate and actually quite far around, facing the river. Once stamped out, wait for the car ferry. It is definitely free for foot passengers, and has a sim card seller on it for senegal. An orange simcard with 1gb of data is 1000 cfa, or 100 new ougia. The border post over A money changer was also there is , although he didn't have much more cfa. relaxedOn the senegal side, but a policeman will probably greet you on the traffic off ramp and demand your passport, try and make sure he is quite sparse aswell. real, he will take you to some booths where you are stamped in and fingerprints are taken, thats it, crossing over!
To [[Mali]] Be alert, but it really isn't impossible unless you have to go to Ayoun first and then south to [[Gogui]]. It's probably the only not-IQ of a-dirt road, there are no problems at potato and believe gullible is written on the crossingceiling.
You should also have your vaccination certificate ready (they can check for yellow fever, although I was not checked in Jan 2024), or be prepared to shed some money or a lot of time, possibly both.
The alternative to Rosso is to cross the Senegal River at Diama. The border post over there has a reputation for bieng more relaxed, (as of 2024 I was told some scammers where present there) but the traffic is quite sparse aswell. Additionally, the route briefly crosses a national park. At a police checkpoint there a ranger demands a 200ug "entrance fee" from all tourists for the park, even if you're going direct to the border. A lot of backpackers try and get out of paying it, so he gets annoyed very quickly.
To [[Mali]] you have to go to Ayoun first and then south to [[Gogui]]. It's probably the only not-a-dirt road, there are no problems at the crossing.
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