Mauritania: What to Know Before You Go

Cuisine Highlights

• Thieboudienne, Senegal and Mauritania's shared national dish; rice slowly cooked in a rich tomato-fish broth with vegetables; flavored with fermented shellfish paste (guedj)
• Mechawi (grilled whole lamb), a whole lamb seasoned with cumin, coriander, and paprika then slow-roasted over coals; served at feasts and celebrations
• Zrig, a refreshing drink of sour camel's milk mixed with water; a Mauritanian nomadic tradition; nutritious and essential in desert environments
• Dates, a cornerstone of the Mauritanian diet; the Adrar region produces some of West Africa's finest dates; eaten with mint tea as a daily ritual

Traditions & Festivals

• Mint tea ceremony, the Mauritanian three-glass tea ritual is a cornerstone of hospitality; each glass has a different symbolic meaning; never refuse tea
• Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha, the dominant holidays in this strongly Islamic society; celebrated with new clothing, prayers, and elaborate feasts
• Ancient library cities of Chinguetti, one of Islam's seven holy cities; ancient manuscripts and a living scholarly tradition in a spectacular desert setting

Language & Communication

Arabic (Hassaniya dialect) is the official language and most widely spoken. French is used in government.

Pulaar, Soninke, and Wolof are spoken by minority communities. Key Arabic phrase: "As-salamu alaykum" means hello.

Mauritania has security concerns particularly in the north and near borders with Mali and Western Sahara, check current travel advisories. Nouakchott and the southern Adrar region (with its spectacular desert cities) are more accessible to tourists.

Cultural Etiquette

• Mauritania is a strongly Islamic and conservative society, dress fully and modestly; women should wear loose long-sleeved clothing and cover hair
• Never refuse the tea ceremony, accepting all three glasses is a sign of friendship; each refusal is increasingly impolite
• Slavery is a deeply sensitive topic, Mauritania was the last country to officially abolish slavery (1981); the legacy continues to be a live human rights issue
• Photography of military, government buildings, and infrastructure is prohibited; always ask permission before photographing people