Originally established as a fortified fishing village, Nouakchott is now the modern capital of Mauritania. It was largely developed in the late 1950s as the country prepared for independence from France, which was granted on 28 November 1960. Today, Nouakchott is home to buzzing open-air markets and monumental mosques, as well as a handful of cultural museums.
Things to do in Nouakchott
At the National Museum of Mauritania, you’ll find archaeological findings from across the country, as well as ethnographic displays that illustrate life here throughout the centuries. In addition to its collection of Mousterian, Aterian and Neolithic artefacts, it exhibits antique arrowheads, pottery fragments and traditional costumes. Sharing the same building is the National Library of Mauritania.
Don’t miss the lively Port de Peche, where you can watch the local fisherman hauling in the day’s catch and laying the fish out to dry. At the lively on-site market, you’ll find a diverse array of fresh seafood. The best time to visit is in the late afternoon when the colourfully painted pirogue boats return from a day out at sea.
Nouakchott’s city skyline is peppered with mosques, with the most impressive being the sand-coloured Saudi Mosque with its soaring twin minarets. While it’s not accessible to visitors, the elaborate exterior is worth the visit alone. Also of note is the Ould Abas Mosque with its simple, whitewashed walls and turquoise domes.
Getting around Nouakchott
Nouakchott–Oumtounsy International Airport is around an hour’s drive from the city centre and has flights to destinations across Africa and Europe. Long-distance buses connect from Nouakchott to towns and cities throughout Mauritania while local services travel within the city limits. Taxis are readily available for getting around Nouakchott.