Nouakchott Safety Guide
Health, security, and travel safety information
Emergency Numbers
Save these numbers before your trip.
Healthcare
What to know about medical care in Nouakchott.
Mauritania's public system is under-resourced; expatriates and visitors rely on a handful of private clinics and the military hospital in Nouakchott.
Centre Hospitalier National (CHN) in Tevragh Zeina has ICU and surgical units; Clinique Chiva and Polyclinique Internationale accept international insurance.
Pharmacies de la Gare and Pharmacie du Port stock broad-spectrum antibiotics, rehydration salts and inhalers. Bring prescription originals as generics can differ.
Proof of travel insurance is requested on arrival at Nouakchott Airport and before admission at private clinics.
- ✓ Carry a printed list of generic drug names in French, not brand names.
- ✓ Request bottled IV fluids if admitted, tap water quality is variable.
Common Risks
Be aware of these potential issues.
Pickpocketing and bag-snatching occur in crowded markets and shared taxis.
Temperatures above 40 °C between May and October can lead to dehydration within hours.
Traffic lights often fail and lane discipline is weak. Camels and donkey carts share ring-roads.
Scams to Avoid
Watch out for these common tourist scams.
Men posing as official guides offer to lead tourists among the fishing boats, then demand inflated fees for 'permission' to take photos.
Money-changers at Nouakchott market count bills quickly and swap larger notes for smaller ones while distracting you with conversation.
Safety Tips
Practical advice to stay safe.
- • Exchange small bills at the airport. Drivers rarely have change for 2000 ouguiya notes.
- • Request that taxis use the meter or settle the fare before entering, most rides within central Nouakchott cost less than a mid-range dinner.
- • Bars attached to larger Nouakchott hotels check IDs and provide reliable security. Standalone clubs near the university can be rowdy after midnight.
- • Leave passports in the hotel safe and carry a photocopy plus driver's licence for age checks.
- • Ask permission before photographing women at Nouakchott markets, some vendors will refuse or expect a small tip.
- • Avoid pointing cameras toward government buildings around the Presidential Palace. Police may confiscate memory cards.
Information for Specific Travelers
Safety considerations for different traveler groups.
Solo women travellers report minimal street harassment in central Nouakchott, in daylight. Evening norms are more conservative, so a headscarf in your bag is useful for covering hair when entering family-run restaurants.
- → Sit in the front section of shared taxis designated for women, marked by a green sticker on the windshield.
- → Choose Nouakchott hotels with 24-hour reception if returning late from restaurants, taxis are reluctant to enter poorly lit side streets.
Same-sex relations are illegal under Mauritanian law. Penalties include fines and imprisonment.
- → Book twin instead of double rooms in Nouakchott hotels to avoid questions at check-in.
- → Avoid dating apps that show exact distance. Local police have used them in sting operations.
Travel Insurance
Protect yourself before you travel.
Nouakchott's clinics require upfront payment or proof of insurance before treatment. Evacuation to Dakar starts at charter-aircraft rates.