Hostels in NOUAKCHOTT, MAURITANIA

The Delightful African City Nouakchott in Mauritania

The capital city of Nouakchott in Mauritania is also popularly called the ‘Place of Winds’. This bustling township is the economical hub of Mauritania with many industrial and financial enterprises to boast. Nouakchott is situated near the western side of the Atlantic Ocean and is by far the largest city in Mauritania.

Accommodation Options
Nouakchott is littered with numerous places offering comfortable as well as luxury lodging facilities. For example, Hotel Halima, Hotel Mouna, Auberge JMC and Residence Zahra all provide plush accommodation options. Besides, there are various cheap guesthouses, budget hotels and youth hostels for cash strapped or stringent travellers.

History
In the pre-independence era the city was part of a French Colony and was under French colonial rule till the time Nouakchott gained independence in the year 1960. Nevertheless, this city has a turbulent past, it was a main refugee camp at the time of the Sahara droughts way back in 70s decade. But, this migration period encouraged the urbanization of the city and welcomed the influx of modern culture.

Popular Places
The African city of Nouakchott has many tourist attractions; namely the famous Nouakchott museum with historical relics and modern artefacts, the sandy beaches with thriving fishing activities, the popular Nouakchott silver market and other small market places, the national archives and library. Similarly, the Cinqui district also houses many good quality handicraft items that can be bought for bargain rates. There is an old mosque donated by Saudi Arabia, which also attracts numerous foreign visitors.

Getting Around
Nouakchott is a large township and covers a huge area. Most visitors love to explore the local markets, restaurants and cafes. First time travellers may need an experienced guide to sightsee popular places of entertainment. One can rent a car or drive around in taxis that are reasonably priced, approximately 200 to 300 ouguiya depending on the distance covered. 

Places of Entertainment
The Franco Mauritanian Culture Centre can delight all music and art lovers, which houses concerts, exhibitions and movies. Soccer fans can watch live soccer match at the Stade Olympique stadium. Water addicts can indulge in surf casting and fishing. Shopping fanatics will love to shop for nomadic items like bracelets, rugs, camel saddles or handcrafted wood chests from the local markets.

Currency
The official currency used in Nouakchott is the Mauritania Ouguiya and Khoums. The popular banks include Mauritanian Commercial bank, HSBC bank, etc. Tourists can exchange foreign currency as well as travel cheque’s at leading banks, airports and Forex exchange offices. It is advisable to exchange considerable amount of cash before visiting Nouakchott city, as you can be charged heavily for cash withdrawals within the city limits. Tourists can scour the inexhaustible online websites for more news about the African currency and specifications.

Nouakchott group accommodation | Cheap hotels & budget hotels