Travel advisory · MauritaniaSome governments advise against all but essential travel to Mauritania.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice
- Adrar · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, New Zealand
- Algeria border strip · avoid all travel · Germany, New Zealand, US
- Assaba · avoid all travel · Canada, France, New Zealand, UK
- Eastern Mauritania · avoid all travel · Spain, France, Italy, New Zealand, UK
- Guidimaka · avoid all travel · Canada, France, New Zealand, UK
- Hodh Ech Chargui · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, New Zealand, US
- Hodh El Gharbi · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, New Zealand, UK
- Mali border strip · avoid all travel · Germany, Spain, France, Italy, New Zealand, UK, US
- North of Zouérat · avoid all travel · Germany, France, Italy
- North-east of Zouérat–Ghallaouia line · avoid all travel · France, Italy
- South-east of Akhrejit–Kankossa line · avoid all travel · France, Italy
- Tagant · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, New Zealand
- Tiris Zemmour · avoid all travel · Canada, New Zealand, UK
- East of Aghouedir–Tichit line · avoid non-essential travel · France, Italy
- Gorgol · avoid non-essential travel · France, UK
- North of Choum–Aghouedir line · avoid non-essential travel · France, Italy
- Nouadhibou to Zouérat frontier zone (PK55) · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, France, Italy
- South-east of Tichit–Kaedi line · avoid non-essential travel · France, Italy
- Western Sahara border strip · avoid non-essential travel · New Zealand, UK
Also named by one government: 25 km strip along northern borders, west of Zouérat–Ouadane line (Canada), North of Tropic of Cancer (US), Prohibited zone (Cheggat–Ain Bentili–Dhar Tichitt–Lemreyye) (Spain), Carretera de la Esperanza (Kiffa eastward) (Spain), Land route through Western Sahara (Germany), Northern region between Mauritania, Algeria and Western Sahara (Italy), West of Ghallaouia–Akhreijit–Kankossa line (Adrar and Tagant) (UK)
| Government | Advice | Updated | Read the advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (FCDO) | No advice against the whole country; advice against parts only (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| United States (State Dept) | Reconsider Travel | Aug 18, 2026 | Read the advice |
| Canada (Global Affairs) | Avoid non-essential travel | – | Read the advice |
| Germany (Auswärtiges Amt) | No advice against the whole country (regional advisories) | Oct 13, 2026 | Read the advice |
| New Zealand (SafeTravel) | Avoid non-essential travel | – | Read the advice |
| France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs) | Vigilance renforcée (reste du territoire) (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.
Banc d'Arguin National Park
Birdwatchers come to Banc d'Arguin for its wintering shorebirds, sandbanks and remote coast in northwest Mauritania.
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Banc d'Arguin National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of shallow sea, sandbanks and coastal desert on Mauritania's Atlantic coast, in the northwest. It sits on the African Atlantic flyway, and shorebirds, flamingos and pelicans gather here, most of all in the cooler months, which is when most visitors come for birdwatching.
Fishing has long been part of life in the bay. The Imraguen people have fished these waters for generations and still live in the area. Dolphins and sea turtles also live in the bay. The park suits travelers who want wildlife, quiet and long drives over sand. Access is by 4x4 on desert tracks, usually from Nouadhibou, and most visitors go with a local guide and driver. Plan two to three days for a boat trip, a few stops and the drive back on the same tracks.
Banc d'Arguin National Park in five
- Book a guide and 4x4 through a tour operatorThe park tracks are sand with few signs, and the coast is reached by vehicle. Ask whether the price covers the driver, the fuel and the park entry.Tours and tickets
- Carry ouguiya in cashThe currency is the ouguiya (MRU). Cards are often hard to use outside hotels in larger towns, so bring enough cash for fuel, meals and tips.Money and costs
- Apply for the Mauritania visa firstMost passports need a visa before arrival. Apply through a Mauritanian embassy or consulate and confirm the rules before you buy flights.Visas and entry
- Buy a Mauritel, Mattel or Chinguitel SIMSignal is patchy along the coast and in the desert, so download offline maps before you leave town.Phones and eSIM
- Carry water and agree a fuel planTracks cross open sand with no services between towns. Fill up at the last fuel stop your driver names and carry drinking water for the whole day.
Need to know
- Currency
- Ouguiya (MRU)
- Entry
- Visa needed by most passports; check with a Mauritanian embassy
- Emergency
- No verified local number here; check with your embassy
- Tipping
- Tip guides and drivers
- Time
- UTC+0, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryCool, birds present
- FebruaryPeak birds, cool
- MarchSpring birds arrive
- AprilMigration, warming
- MayHot, winds rise
- JuneHot, dusty
- JulyVery hot, dusty
- AugustHottest, humid
- SeptemberHot, quiet
- OctoberBirds return
- NovemberWaders arrive
- DecemberCool, peak birds
Right now in Banc d'Arguin National Park
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
26
- Feels like
- 28°
- Humidity
- 72%
- Wind
- 10 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 8%
Banc d'Arguin National Park
12:51 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today28°20°8%Tuesday: Clear. High 28°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Wed31°19°2%Wednesday: Clear. High 31°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Thu34°22°2%Thursday: Clear. High 34°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Fri38°24°2%Friday: Cloudy. High 38°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Sat38°25°0%Saturday: Cloudy. High 38°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun36°25°0%Sunday: Partly cloudy. High 36°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 0%.
Updated 08:27 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 40.52 MRU
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Before you go to Banc d'Arguin National Park
Rules for Banc d'Arguin National Park, checked
- Entry to the park needs a permit from the park authority; check the current rules and fee before you travel.
- The park is a protected wetland and bird breeding area; keep your distance from birds, nests and eggs.Source
- Ask permission before photographing people, especially in villages.
- Alcohol is restricted in Mauritania; avoid drinking in public and check local rules before you bring any.
Plan around Banc d'Arguin National Park
Dates, visas, money and connectivity in one place
Read the guideGetting aroundReaching the park from the coastal towns and moving around
Read the guideVisas and entryWhich passports need a visa and where to apply
Read the guideMoney and costsCarrying ouguiya cash and what to budget for
Read the guideWhere to stayBeds in the coastal towns near the park
Read the guideMauritaniaThe country, its regions and wider route ideas
Read the guideBanc d'Arguin National Park FAQ
Is Banc d'Arguin National Park worth visiting?
Yes if you want birds and a quiet coast. The park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with large flocks of waders, and the trip is slow and remote, with long drives on sand.
Do you need a guide to visit Banc d'Arguin?
Yes, go with a tour operator. The routes are sand tracks with few signs, and the operator supplies the 4x4, driver and fuel.
When is the best time to see birds at Banc d'Arguin?
The winter months, roughly November to March, when the wintering waders are present and the air is cooler. Spring migration brings more birds in March and April.
How many days do you need at Banc d'Arguin?
Two to three days allow time for the drive, birdwatching and the return on the same tracks. A day trip from Nouadhibou is possible but leaves little time to watch birds.
Can you reach Banc d'Arguin without a 4x4?
Not reliably. The tracks are sand and need a high-clearance vehicle and a driver who knows the route, so book a tour rather than hiring a car.