» » The border, 18km from Guergarat, is heavily mined, so stay on the road.
» » Mauritanian currency (ouguiya, UM) is available at the border, and on the black market in
no-man’s land.
» » Vehicle searches and requests for a petit cadeau (little present) are not uncommon,
particularly if the Mauritanian officials find alcohol or cheap Moroccan petrol on you.
» » Alcohol consumption is illegal for Muslims in Mauritania, and non-Muslims are expected to
refrain from transporting and distributing alcohol.
» » From the border, it’s a 41km drive along the peninsula to the first major Mauritanian town,
Nouâdhibou.
» » Useful resources:
Horizons Unlimited’s Sahara Travel Forum (www.horizonsunlimited.com) has a wealth of
advice on travel between Morocco and Mauritania.
The Sahara Overland (www.sahara-overland.com) book and website are essential resources
for trans-Saharan travel.
CAR & MOTORCYCLE
» » See Click here for general information about bringing a vehicle into Morocco.
» » As this route traverses the Sahara and, at the border, a minefield, it’s highly recommended
to travel with other vehicles and set off early in order to reach the border before dusk
(particularly if you are travelling in a 2WD).
» » It’s advisable to fill up with petrol at every available station.
» » Some stations south of Dakhla may be out of fuel, in particular the last station 50km before
the border.
» » As well as getting stamped in by the police, you need to buy a 30-day temporary-vehicle-
import form (€10).
MINIBUS & JEEP
» » There are ad hoc transport links from Dakhla to the Mauritanian border and beyond.
» » Minibuses and 4WDs leave from the military checkpoint on the road out of Dakhla.
» » In Dakhla, Hotels Erraha and Sahara and the Sahara Regency are good places to pick up
information and arrange transport, with locals or overlanders.
» » Overlanders mostly ply the route between November and March.
» » Grands taxis occasionally run to the border from the main station (Dh220). You’ll then need
to hitch to get to the Mauritanian checkpoint, as walking across the border is forbidden.
» » A lift all the way to Nouâdhibou is preferable, or you will likely have to pay extortionate fees
to travel on from the border.
» » Prices range up to Dh600 for a seat in a vehicle going to Nouâdhibou.
» » From Nouâdhibou, bush taxis to the border/Dakhla cost around UM2000/11,500.
» » It’s also worth asking around the hotels and camp sites for places in departing vehicles.
» » Camping Chez Abba and Camping Baie du Lévrier (‘Chez Ali’) are popular with overlanders.
Sea
Extensive ferry links between northern Morocco and southern Europe make entering the
country across the Mediterranean a popular option. In the summer the most popular route,
Algeciras (Spain) to Tangier, is packed with day trippers and holidaymakers with campervans.
» » You can combine the ferry journey with the bus, train or your own vehicle.
» » From southern Spain and northern Morocco, you can just turn up at the dock and buy a