Is Mauritania safe to travel?
Updated October 2026
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Is a guide mandatory in Mauritania?
No, but strongly advised
What governments say
The travel advice level each government gives for Mauritania, in its own words (for the United Kingdom, a summary by GuideMeet). Levels are not comparable between countries. Checked by GuideMeet on 4 November 2026.
| Government | Advice | Updated | Official page |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (FCDO) | Advises against all travel to parts of the country Some areas have different advice: see the official page. | Read the advice | |
| United States (State Department) | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | Read the advice | |
| Canada (Global Affairs Canada) | Avoid non-essential travel Some areas have different advice: see the official page. | Read the advice | |
| Australia (Smartraveller) | Reconsider your need to travel | Read the advice | |
| France (France Diplomatie) | See the zone map | Read the advice |
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Source: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's Smartraveller website, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Source: France Diplomatie, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Licence Ouverte 2.0, updated 10 September 2026.
At a glance, if you go with your own vehicle
- Roads: 9.5 deaths per 100,000 people a year, about 1.9 times Italy (5.0); WHO Africa region 19.4, world 15.0 (WHO estimate for 2021). (World Health Organization — Global status report on road safety 2023)
- Vehicle, drones and permits Drones Off-road driving and protected areas Carnet or deposit The vehicle goes on your passport Border posts and closing times what the official sources of the country say
- Overland regions
Advice from a local guide
Agence Walo Tourisme
5 November 2026Before reaching the Mauritanian border, I advise you to find out about the visa and apply for it in advance. … Mauritania has good tracks for adventure lovers, as well as paved roads that let you travel between several regions of the country. … Mauritania has made a great deal of effort and investment to strengthen security in recent years. I still advise you to follow the instructions of the authorities and to check traffic conditions before setting off for certain regions. … I advise you not to carry alcohol, which is prohibited, and to choose modest clothing… Don't set off to explore the Mauritanian desert without an experienced local guide.
Automatic translation.
Original text
Avant d'arriver à la frontière mauritanienne, je vous conseille de vous renseigner et d'effectuer votre demande de visa à l'avance. … La Mauritanie dispose de bonnes pistes pour les amateurs d'aventure, ainsi que de routes goudronnées qui permettent de circuler entre plusieurs régions du pays. … La Mauritanie est un pays qui a réalisé beaucoup d'efforts et d'investissements pour renforcer la sécurité au cours de ces dernières années. Je vous conseille néanmoins de respecter les consignes des autorités et de vous renseigner sur les conditions de circulation avant de partir dans certaines régions. … Je vous conseille d'éviter de transporter de l'alcool, qui est interdit, et de privilégier des vêtements sobres… Ne partez pas à la découverte du désert mauritanien sans vous faire accompagner par un guide local expérimenté.
Going with your own vehicle?
14 local guides on GuideMeet work in Mauritania: they know the roads, the permits and the areas to avoid. You contact them directly, free and with no commission.
- Agence Walo Tourisme
Nouakchott, Mauritanie 
Ahmed Salem
Nouakchott, MauritanieMoulaye Nomade
Nouakchott, Mauritanie
Mauritania Horizons
Nouakchott, Mauritania
Sidi Chighali
Nouakchott, Mauritania
@mauritania_tembahjit_tours
Nouakchott, Mauritania
Trips with local guides
Safety
Our summary of the country advice published by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Viaggiare Sicuri) on 1 March 2026.
Declared military zone
Armed traffickers, illegal gold prospecting, mines and the risk of terrorist infiltration led the authorities to declare a military zone: bounded east and north by the Mauritanian borders, west by the 10th meridian and south by the 18°40' parallel. The Mauritanian defence ministry treats anyone transiting that part of the country as a military target.
Regions advised against
All travel is advised against north of Zouerate, north-east of the Zouerate–Ghallaouia line, east of the Ghallaouia–Akhrejit line, south-east of the Akhrejit–Kankossa line and in the belt along the Mali border; the Algerian and Western Sahara borders are ruled out too. Travel only for absolute necessity north of Choum–Aghouedir, east of Aghouedir–Tichit and south-east of Tichit–Kaedi, including the wilayas of Assaba, Gorgol and Guidimaka. Given the wider Sahel picture, where terrorist groups still operate and porous borders let them strike anywhere in the region, maximum caution applies everywhere.
Minefields
The northern region between Mauritania, Algeria and Western Sahara still holds minefields from the mid-1970s that have not been fully cleared. Around the PK55 border point at Nouadhibou the ground beside the main road is mined, so leaving the main road is out of the question. Non-essential travel from PK55 up to Zouérat is also advised against.
Convoy, not solo
Independent tourism is strongly advised against, especially by car in desert areas, and desert trips without operators of proven professionalism are ruled out — for accident and medical-emergency reasons as much as security, since help may be hard to reach. For long overland stages travel in a convoy of more than one vehicle, if possible with local drivers arranged through large hotels or reputable agencies, and never at night.
Two vehicles off-road
In areas with no paved road, such as the Banc d'Arguin national park, the ministry advises using two vehicles and being accompanied by experienced guides.
Nouakchott
Petty crime is rare in the capital thanks to heavy policing, but stay out of the far outskirts, avoid the isolated beaches facing Nouakchott and the 'Le Cinquième' district after sunset, and keep away from demonstrations. If security deteriorated, places frequented by foreigners could become targets, so prefer hotels with controlled access.
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Before you rely on this
This is our summary of advice written by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Italian travellers, published on 1 March 2026. We summarise in good faith, but we cannot guarantee it is accurate, current or complete, and we take no responsibility for decisions made on the basis of it. Rules change without notice and are applied by officials at the border, not by websites. Always read the original source and the travel advice your own government publishes for Mauritania before you travel. Where a guide's profile shows “Licence verified”, we found that licence in the official public register; otherwise GuideMeet has no way of checking whether an individual guide meets any standard mentioned here — ask them directly.
Source: Viaggiare Sicuri — Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, updated 1 March 2026. Last checked by GuideMeet on 7 October 2026.