Travel Information From Botswana to Mauritania

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Routine Vaccines

Make sure you are up-to-date on all routine vaccines before every trip. Some of these vaccines include

• Chickenpox (Varicella)
• Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis
• Flu (Influenza)
• Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR)
• Polio
• Shingles

COVID-19

All eligible travelers should be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines.

Hepatitis A

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers one year old or older going to Mauritania.
Infants 6 to 11 months old should also be vaccinated against Hepatitis A. The dose does not count toward the routine 2-dose series.
Travelers allergic to a vaccine component or who are younger than 6 months should receive a single dose of immune globulin, which provides effective protection for up to 2 months depending on dosage given.
Unvaccinated travelers who are over 40 years old, immunocompromised, or have chronic medical conditions planning to depart to a risk area in less than 2 weeks should get the initial dose of vaccine and at the same appointment receive immune globulin.

Hepatitis B

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers of all ages to Mauritania.

Malaria

CDC recommends that travelers going to Mauritania take prescription medicine to prevent malaria. Depending on the medicine you take, you will need to start taking this medicine multiple days before your trip, as well as during and after your trip. Talk to your doctor about which malaria medication you should take.

Measles

Infants 6 to 11 months old traveling internationally should get 1 dose of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine before travel. This dose does not count as part of the routine childhood vaccination series.

A single lifetime booster dose of Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) is recommended for adults who received the routine polio vaccination series as children; the routine series is recommended for unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated children and adults and those with unknown vaccination status.

Rabies

Rabid dogs are commonly found in Mauritania. If you are bitten or scratched by a dog or other mammal while in Mauritania, there may be limited or no rabies treatment available.
Consider rabies vaccination before your trip if your activities mean you will be around dogs or wildlife.
Travelers more likely to encounter rabid animals include
Campers, adventure travelers, or cave explorers (spelunkers)
Veterinarians, animal handlers, field biologists, or laboratory workers handling animal specimens
Visitors to rural areas
Since children are more likely to be bitten or scratched by a dog or other animals, consider rabies vaccination for children traveling to Mauritania.

Typhoid

Recommended for most travelers, especially those staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities or rural areas.

Yellow Fever

Required if traveling from a country with risk of YF virus transmission and ≥1 year of age.

You will need 6 months validity remaining on your passport from the date of entry.

Local Phrases Language : Arabic, Fula, Soninke, and Wolof

Local Phrases :

Greetings

Hello = marhaban (informal)
Good morning = sabāh el-khair
Good afternoon = tab masayik
Goodbye = ma`a as-salāma
Nice to meet you = saeid biliqayik

Conversational

How are you? = kayf halika?
I am good thank you = ana bikhayr shukran lak
What’s your name? = ma asmuk?
My name is … = … asmi hu ...
Do you speak English? = hal tatakalam allughat al'iinjiliziatu?
I don’t speak … = ... ana la atakalim ...
How do you say… in … = kayf yumkinuk 'an taqul fi ...
I don’t understand = la 'afham

Basics

Yes = naeam
No = raqm
Please = law samaht
Thank you = shkran lak
You’re welcome = ealaa alrahb walsaea
Excuse me = eafwan
Wait = antazir
Hurry up = eajaluu
Go away = yabtaeid
Let’s go to = linadhhab 'iilaa
I want to go to … = 'urid 'an 'adhhab 'iilaa ...
A little bit = qalilan
A lot = kthyraan

Shopping & Eating Out

Restaurant = mateam
Do you have? … = hal tamtaliku? ...
Not too spicy = lays har jidana
It was delicious = laqad kanat ladhidhatan
The bill, please = alfaturat min fadlik
How much? = kam althamani?
Very expensive = ghali jidana
Can you reduce the price? = hal yumkinuk taqlil alsuera?
Please can I have a beer? = min fadlik hal yumkinuni alhusul ealaa birat?

Transportation & Directions

Taxi = sayaarat ajirih
Car = jamal
Bus = 'uwtubis
Right = alsahih
Left = alyasar
Straight = mustaqim
Stop here = tawaqaf huna

Places

Downtown = wast albalad
Street = sharie
Hotel = alfunduq
Museum = muthaf
Mall = mujamae tijariun
Market = suq
Hospital = mustashfaa
Doctor = tabib
Police = shurta
Post office = maktab albarid
Bank = bank

Time & Dates

What time is it? = 'ayu saeatin?
Today = alyawm
Tomorrow = alghad
The day after tomorrow = baed ghad
Yesterday = fi alamis
When? = mataa؟

Emergencies

Where is the toilet? = 'ayn alhamami?
Help me, please = saeadani min fadlik
Call an ambulance = aitasil bial'iiseaf
I don’t feel goo = 'ana la 'asheur bialdhuhul

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Local laws reflect the fact that Mauritania is an Islamic country. You should respect local traditions, customs, laws and religions at all times and be aware of your actions to ensure that they do not offend other cultures or religious beliefs, especially during the holy month of Ramadan or if you intend to visit religious areas. There have been incidences of visitors receiving large fines at the airport and having their passports confiscated for trying to import pork products such as chorizo, ham and bacon. You should dress modestly. Sale and consumption of alcohol is against the law. Police sometimes object to photography without prior permission. Carry ID, especially when travelling outside Nouakchott (where you may encounter many police road checks). You should comply promptly with directions from the police and other Mauritanian security forces. Homosexuality is a punishable offence in Mauritania. Drugs laws are severe. Those found in possession of any illegal drug may receive a prison sentence.

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Nouakchott

Nouakchott is the capital and largest city of Mauritania. It is one of the largest cities in the Sahel. The city also serves as the administrative and economic center of Mauritania. Nouakchott was a mid-sized village of little importance until 1958 when it was chosen as the capital of the nascent nation of Mauritania.

Customs Allowances : Click Here

Terrorism

terrorists have been known to target areas frequented by foreigners, government buildings and any area that attracts locals and foreigners alike, including: clubs, restaurants, embassies, international schools, hotels, expatriate housing compounds, churches and other places of worship, shopping centres, outdoor recreation events, tourist areas and transport hubs or identifiably western interests, including businesses.

The risk of kidnapping is also very high in Mauritania, particularly against Westerners in Nouakchott and Atar. There are regular reports of terrorists planning to kidnap Western tourists, mine workers, oil workers and aid workers in Mauritania.

The threat to Westerners of kidnapping remains very high. To avoid becoming a victim of kidnapping, avoid open terraces and cafes and change your daily routines and travel schedules.

The border areas with Mali, Algeria and Western Sahara are not safe. The risk from bandits, smugglers and extremist groups is particularly high in these areas. In particular, there have been reports that AQIM, the terrorist group responsible for the kidnapping of foreign hostages in North Africa, is active throughout this region and poses a significant security threat.

It is also not safe to travel to the eastern and northern provinces of Mauritania – Tiris Zemmour, Adrar, Tagant, and Hodh el Chargui – due to the continuing high threat from terrorism throughout the country.

Rape

Poverty and terrorist activities have lead to increasing crime levels in Mauritania. Violent crime including robbery, rape and assault are on the increase. Also, armed bandits are a major risk across Mauritania. Bandits pose a threat in beach areas, deserted areas and along the road between Mali and Mauritania. When traveling by car, you should keep the doors locked, the windows up and keep valuables out of sight.

• The most common religion in Mauritania is Islam
• Don't forget to shake hands when greeting (same sex), although the hands are generally not shaken up and down, but clasped and held. A verbal greeting or nod of acknowledgement is the norm for greeting between men and women, accompanied by placing the right hand in the middle of the chest.
• Don't forget to dress and behave conservatively - Don't wear tight and uncovering clothes.
• Don't eat, drink, smoke or chew chewing gum in public during the holy month of Ramadan.
• Don't try to import religious materials - Mauritania recognises Islam as the sole religion of its citizens and the state. Participation in Christian gatherings and activities is illegal.
• Don't import alcoholic drinks, even alcohol bought in duty-free on an inbound flight may result in a high fine and confiscation.
• Don't be surprised by little personal space and direct communication style in conversations, especially between same sex.
• Don't show the love affection in public - Don't forget the married couples are not allowed to hold hands in public in Mauritania.
• Don't necessarily travel on your own to the border region near Western Sahara - it’s still heavily mined. The border areas near Algeria and Mali are known for a higher probability of banditry - it's better to have a local guide around.
• Don't forget the rainy season extends from July to October.

Do I need travel insurance to travel to Mauritania?

Travel insurance is very important when traveling overseas. We strongly recommend that you take out cover to travel to Mauritania. You can usually take out single trip or annual multi-trip cover to give you peace of mind should anything happen.

It can be a better and cheaper option to take annual multi-trip cover as it usually covers any number of trips taken in one year with a maximum of up to around 60 days away per trip.

We work with the top names in the industry and have already pre-selected the easiest, cheapest and best quality travel insurance on the market to save you time and money trying to find the best cover.

Travel insurance typically covers the following; however, you can tailor a policy to suit your needs depending on where you are traveling to, your activities and how long you are away.

• Medical Expenses
  Medical treatment can be extremely costly and add up very quickly, and include Overnight stays in hospital, minor or major surgery, accident and emergency treatment, drugs, COVID-19 treatment, journey home if you cannot use the original ticket, dental treatment, and many more unexpected expenses.
• Baggage and personal belongings
  If your baggage is lost, stolen, damaged or delayed it is extremely frustrating. If you must buy new clothes, toiletry products or personal belongings it can be very expensive and time consuming.
• Cancellation
  Sometimes due to unforeseen circumstances you may need to cancel your trip. This could be due to several reasons such as illness, injury, a bereavement or many other scenarios. Usually airlines, tour operators and hotels have large cancellation fees, so buying travel insurance that covers this is recommended.

Health Care

Healthcare System in Mauritania

Healthcare of Mauritania is ranked 154th in the world. The healthcare system in Mauritania mainly consists of administrative centers and emergency health facilities.

Health Risk

Leptospirosis

Caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira.

Schistosomiasis

Caused by wading, swimming, bathing, or washing in contaminated water body.

African Tick-Bite Fever

Caused by Tick bite.

Chikungunya

Caused by Mosquito bite.

Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic fever

Caused by touching the body fluids of a person or animal infected with CCHF.

Dengue

Occurs from insect bites, including mosquitoes.

Leishmaniasis

Occurs from sand fly bite.

Rift River Valley

Caused by touching blood, body fluids, or tissue of infected livestock and mosquito bites

Hantavirus

Less commonly, being around someone sick with hantavirus.

Tuberculosis (TB)

Caused from an infected and contagious person coughing, speaking, or singing.