Port de Pêche, Camel Market and Craft Workshops
Travel advice as of October 2026: Mauritania is rated Level 3, Reconsider Travel, by the US State Department, and Level 4 applies to military-designated zones. The FCDO does not warn against Nouakchott but does warn against travel to the east and the Mali border strip. Read the US advisory and the FCDO page before you fly.
Nouakchott rewards a plan built around the clock. The livestock market is a morning sight, the craft quarter works well at midday and the fishing beach peaks in the late afternoon. One long day covers all three, with a taxi between them.
Morning: the camel market
The market sits on the south-eastern outskirts, on the Route de l’Espoir in the Beila and Tenweich area, about 10 km from downtown. Nomadic herders bring dromedaries, goats and sheep from the interior, and the best hours are from about 07:30 to 11:00. Bargaining is in Hassaniya Arabic, and young camels follow their mothers through the dust. Wear sturdy shoes, as the sand is deep and the ground is dung-covered in places. A private ride with the driver waiting costs a few hundred ouguiya; agree it first.
Midday: Ksar workshops
At the Marché Artisanal in the Ksar district, silversmiths, coppersmiths and leatherworkers work in open workshops. Women’s cooperatives sell reed mats, embroidered cushions and indigo-dyed cloth. Haggling is expected and should stay friendly. Prices vary by item and shop, so compare before buying, and pay in cash.
Late afternoon: Port de Pêche
About 5 km west of the centre, Port de Pêche is the working fish-landing beach. Between roughly 16:00 and 18:30, pirogues come in through the surf, crews roll them over logs and the catch is auctioned on the sand, next to a fish market and smoking ovens. Entry is free.
Keep out of the water. Lonely Planet reports a strong undertow and drownings every year, and Nouakchott has no surf schools or kayak hire. Wear closed shoes, and ask before you photograph anyone.
Dunes and tea
The Sahara starts at the edge of the city. A half-day dune drive with a local driver can include sandboarding on a slope and tea laid out on carpets at sunset. Settle the price per vehicle beforehand and be back before dark. Canada advises avoiding unpatrolled beaches because of banditry and carjacking.
Money and local rules
| Topic | What to know |
|---|---|
| Currency | Ouguiya (MRU, symbol UM), redenominated 10:1 on 1 January 2018 |
| Payment | Mostly cash, and foreign cards work at only a few ATMs |
| Alcohol | Illegal |
| Dress | Conservative for men and women |
| Photography | Never at the Presidential Palace, ministries or military sites |
Read more: Sightseeing in Nouakchott covers the museum, the mosques and the central markets.
Booking help
Look at city and desert options on GetYourGuide . Lonely Planet has a Port de Pêche entry .