Think twice.
No major changes since yesterday.
Governments, one trip
What they're telling their own citizens about Mauritania
The real score
The breakdown
See it from your perspective
Think twice.
The general Sketch Score, unweighted for any specific traveler.
Don't do this
Laws that jail tourists
Restricted military zones
The Mauritanian armed forces close certain parts of the country to tourists, particularly in the eastern and northern regions. Verify which regions are closed before planning your travel.
Apostasy and blasphemy
Criticizing or disrespecting Islam is a crime. The death penalty is statutory for apostasy and blasphemy.
Religious literature and debate
Distributing non-Islamic religious literature or encouraging religious debates is prohibited. Avoid speaking negatively about Islam.
Same-sex sexual activity
Same-sex sexual activity is a severe offense. It is punishable by death for men and a lengthy prison sentence for women.
Staying healthy
What to watch out for, health-wise
Active notices
- • Diphtheria in Sub-Saharan Africa
- • Diphtheria in Sub-Saharan Africa
- • Diphtheria in Sub-Saharan Africa
- • Diphtheria in Sub-Saharan Africa
- • Diphtheria in Sub-Saharan Africa
- • Diphtheria in Sub-Saharan Africa
- • Diphtheria in Sub-Saharan Africa
- • Global Measles
Vaccines
Required: Yellow Fever
Recommended: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Malaria, Measles, Meningococcal disease, Rabies, Typhoid
Source: CDC Travelers' Health →Getting in
What you'll need at the border
Most visitors to Mauritania may obtain an electronic visa to Mauritania, unless they are a national of one of the visa-exempt countries.
Source: Wikipedia →Real, not invented
Terrorism
Terrorist attacks in Mauritania cannot be ruled out. Terrorist attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreign nationals. Stay aware of your surroundings, keep up to date with local media reports and follow the advice of local authorities.
Source: UK FCDO →Real, not invented
Cultural & legal notes
Dress code
You should dress modestly when not on the beach. Women should cover their shoulders and not wear short skirts. Men should not wear sleeveless tops or shorts.
Source: UK FCDO →LGBT+ travellers
There are no laws in Mauritania to protect LGBT+ people from discrimination. Under Mauritanian law, the maximum penalty for sexual activity between men is death. Penalties for women include a prison sentence ranging from 3 months to 2 years and a fine. Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers .
Source: UK FCDO →Right now
In the news the last few days
Real talk
What travelers actually say
Travelers looking into Mauritania face a wall of conflicting information. Official embassy guidance pushes for total avoidance, while independent travelers suggest the reality on the ground is less dire than the warnings imply. The provided discussions focus entirely on logistics, visa processes, and the appeal of the iron ore train rather than specific safety reports, crime statistics, or actual street-level threats. There is no consensus on safety because the available accounts lack concrete experiences regarding violent crime, scams, or dangerous areas. You are left to weigh official warnings against the silence of travelers who have not yet documented specific security hazards or safety incidents in the country.
“I'm wondering how worth and safe the country is. I've been checking guides and photos and definitely looks worth and interesting ; the other point, the safety is not that clear: according most embassies recommend to stay away from it unless there is an imperative reason, however some other people on the Internet mention it's not that bad.
— r/travel
“I'm not so concerned about safety but is dealing with police a big hassle?
— r/travel
Pack this, know this
The little things that trip people up
Plug & voltage
C / E / F · 220V
Driving side
right
Emergency
police: 117 / ambulance: 101 / fire: 118
Cash vs. Card
The country's currency is the Mauritanian ouguiya (pron. oo-gee-ya), denoted by the symbol "UM" or "أوقية" (ISO code: MRU). It was revalued in Dec 2017: 10 old UM (ISO: MRO) = 1 new UM (MRU). Prices are occasionally still written in the old MRO system, especially in restaurants and hotels that cater to Westerners, so don't be put off by the seemingly high prices.
Show the receipts (8 sources)
- us-state — observed 2026-09-09
- uk-fcdo — observed 2026-09-09
- ca-gac — observed 2026-09-09
- worldbank-political — observed 2026-09-09
- worldbank-policeTrust — observed 2026-09-09
- cdc-health — observed 2026-09-09
- reddit — observed 2026-09-09
- lgbtq-legal-wikipedia — observed 2026-09-09