Mauritania

At a Glance

Mauritania is a vast West African country where the Sahara dominates, with ancient caravan cities like Chinguetti and Ouadane rising from the sand as UNESCO sites, and a culture that blends Berber, Arab, and sub-Saharan African traditions. The country has one of the most dramatic train journeys in the world, the iron ore train across the Sahara. It is for experienced desert travellers who come for the landscapes, the silence, and the ancient cities.

• Slavery was only officially criminalized in 2007 — among the last countries to do so.
• The Mauritania iron ore train is one of the longest in the world — over 2.5km, and a de facto passenger service.