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| Voyager en Mauritanie |
| Advice on Travelling |
| Pour voyager en Mauritanie louer un véhicule |
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For more info, to click here. |
| Si vous choisissez de louer un véhicule pour voyager en Mauritanie voici quelques infos et conseils de base.
Vous trouverez donc de nombreuses agences de location de voitures à Nouakchott mais aussi à Nouadhibou. Ces agences proposent des berlines ordinaires et des véhicules 4x4.
La location d'une berline n'est pas forcément dénuée d'intérêt car la Mauritanie possède maintenant de grands axes bitumés reliant Nouakchott aux quatre coins du pays Atar, Nouadhibou, Rosso, Néma.
Ce genre de véhicule, pour un tarif raisonnable, vous permettra de faire les trajets d'approche dans un confort appréciable et en profitant déjà des vastes panoramas désertiques, rien ne vous empêchant une fois à Atar, Nouadhibou ou autre, d'organiser des incursions plus sauvages en taxi-brousse ou à dos de chameaux ! |
| Nous vous invitons cependant à la plus grande prudence sur route mais encore plus en ville car le comportement des piétons ainsi que celui des nombreux animaux en liberté est totalement imprévisible le phénomène prenant une dangerosité encore plus grande la nuit ou à la tombée du jour. |
If you want to rent a vehicle, here is some basic info.
There are a number of car rental agencies in Nouakchott and Nouadhibou offering 4-door cars and 4-wheel- drive.
Mauritania has an excellent road network from Nouakchott to the four corners of the country – Atar, Nouadhibou, Rosso and Nema – so renting a car is worthwhile thinking about. The price is affordable and you can enjoy the vast desert landscape in comfort. Once you arrive at Atar, Nouadhibou or another town, you can organise an excursion by bush-taxi or camel.
Keep your eyes glued on the roads and drive carefully, particularly in the towns. Pedestrians and straying animals are unaware of the dangers, especially at sunset and during the night.
Renting a 4-wheel-drive is certainly more exciting but more expensive. Most agencies suggest a chauffeur-driven vehicle which can be frustrating for those who wish to experience driving in the desert. But, navigating a 4-wheel-drive over a sandy or pebbly terrain (unless you are experienced) you, not to mention the passengers, will lose your sense of humour after a few hours.
Another reason for hiring a chauffeur (some of whom are excellent guides), is their knowledge of the terrain. In the desert, nothing is as it appears to the naked eye. The GPS is an indispensible tool but does not resolve everything (the navigation systems do not show a plan of the tracks or the number of palms). Do not hesitate to take a guide in certain zones where your chauffeur is not familiar with. Often, a villager, wanting to return to home, will come to the rescue. A bonus, as these few days spent together, will be an excellent time for both you and the chauffeur, to inter-act culturally. Afterall, isn’t this one of the reasons why you came!
Obviously it is impossible to imagine beforehand, what could go wrong. Nevertheless, verify the state of the pneumatics, make sure there is a spare tyre in good condition….and a minimum of tools (jack, pump, cords, flashlight…). Another precious tool is the chauffeur, as he is, generally speaking, responsible for the vehicle. He knows its weaknesses and when there is a problem, he knows better than you, how to find a solution with the local population. Or, he will search in the pocket of his boubou for the latest ‘contraband’ Nokia, and…..problem solved!
Pay attention to the water – a precious commodity so don’t waste it. Make sure you have surplus for the radiator, rinse the cultery before using, boil the water before drinking, etc. PLEASE DO NOT wash your hands with mineral water in front of the villagers who walk kilometers to carry impure and, very often, brackish water.
Service stations are numerous in the towns but non-existant on long routes, off-the-beaten-tracks, and in the villages. Driving on sand or pebbles eats up the petrol so it is imperative to have ample reserve in large plastic containers or jerry cans (make sure they are waterproof – a sleeping bag perfumed with petrol does not create the right ambiance for star-gazing!).
The same applies for staying alive. Even if it is possible to replenish your supplies with basic food and bottles of water in remote villages, always keep in mind the unforeseen - a technical hitch or a desert sandstorm that could ground you for several hours…. Pack a medecine kit - antiseptics, plasters, an antibiotic cream and whatever else you think is necessary. In any case, if it is possible, an envoy of two or three vehicles is another element of security….and, perhaps more fun!
Finally, and risking to appear alarmist, never under-estimate the adversary! As at sea, or in the mountains, an unprepared excursion into the desert can turn into a total nightmare in a matter of minutes….one small thing can lead to another, and another….to the point where everything, and everyone gets out of control : glacial nights in the desert, a bungled return flight, heated arguements, and, perhaps, divorce…! |
| PS : D'une façon générale, dès que cela est matériellement possible, voyager à deux ou trois véhicules en Mauritanie est un élément de sécurité qui s'impose. |
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