Nouadhibou is the second largest city in Mauritania. It's a major fishing centre and large industrial port.
A key economic centre, it's home to roughly 120,000 people. Before independence, the city was called Port-Étienne by the French colonists after the first boat which arrived here, the Tienne. Since independence in 1960, it has been called Nouadhibou, which means Place of the Jackal. Many jackals used to come and drink water in a well. The town's three main parts are: Cansado: Means tired in Spanish. This area is about 10 km south of Keran. It was built by the French in 1960, for the workers of the SNIM mining company. It has a nice hotel, tennis courts and petanque grounds. Keran: The city centre was built in 1958.
The city centre can be walked in under 15 minutes, so take a walk-about and see the sights. Taxis are amazingly cheap and everywhere but not marked as taxis, when a car honks when approaching it is a taxi. The one-way taxi fare on the main roads in town is 20 ouguiyas. Taxis from the city centre to the Port Autonome area or Cansado are an additional 20 ougiyas. Two passengers are expected to fit in the front passenger seat and four passengers in the back seat. Should a woman get in the car, men may be asked to move to help her maintain an appropriate distance.
Fishing harbour with Senegalese boats. Also, there are many shipwrecks in the Nouadhibou Bay. The biggest and most recent shipwreck lies at the tip of the peninsula. At the absolute southernmost tip of the same peninsula, there is a small national park, where for a small fee you can observe the meeting point between the bay and the Atlantic Ocean. The point is home to several monk seals. Some of them have been aggressive, so keep a safe distance. Between the Port Autonome and Cansado are the ruins of an old French coastal gun emplacement designed in its day to protect the French colony from the Spanish border a few kilometres away. There is no fee and no guide.
Bird watchers can visit the salt marsh estuary next to the bay. It will be on the left as one heads towards the Centre de Pêche. There is occasionally a police check point at the green shipping container on the way there. Fishing for sea trout with spoons or squid can be exciting on the bay. There is a pier at the Centre de Pêche. Look for higher tides for better results. The hotel has a couple of boats to either take people out fishing (you can rent fishing gear as well) or to ferry small groups to a picnic island on the far side of the bay. There is a small cabin structure to shelter you from the often intense sun.
As Nouadhibou has a big commercial fishing and traditional fishing port, there is a lot of fresh seafood and fish available. Many immigrants from Senegal have restaurants here, serving fish with rice and other delicious meals. A normal price is around 70 ouguiyas. If you like Chinese food, there are several restaurants on the lower road, which cater to foreigners. For football, the FC Nouadhibou restaurant serves hamburgers, French fries and other hot sandwiches in front of several large TV screens. It's between the second and third robinets on the middle road. La Paillotte, 212, Blvd Maritime (inside Hotel Mauritalia), ☏ +222 45743218. An Italian restaurant with a Spanish chef. Nomada.
Fresh camel milk. At the entrance to town where large camel herds are gathered. Herders often sell fresh milk close to evening time. It's amazingly refreshing on a hot day.
Nouadhibou is a relatively safe city, but there are almost no street lights. Remember to take a torch when going out in the evening. The biggest danger is undisciplined road traffic. Be careful, especially in the central area. Do not cross the train tracks as many areas, even fairly close to the city centre, have not yet been cleared of mines. Only surfaced roads past the tracks are absolutely safe. If you must cross the tracks, or do so with a trusted friend who knows the area or with a local authority. Women generally stay indoors after dark. Going about town in groups is wise for both men and women. Local women are usually escorted by their male relatives at night.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
In Aug, Nouadhibou typically sees ~28°C daytime highs and 0 rainy days.
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