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Nouakchott — travel, stays & events guide
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Nouakchott city overview
Nouakchott is a city in Mauritania shaped by its region, population, local economy, landmarks, climate and civic history. This overview summarizes the city itself: where it sits, what defines it, which places anchor its identity and why it matters within the wider country.
City facts
Known forNouakchott, Capital city in Mauritania, Nouakchott planning base 3, Nouakchott planning base 4
RegionMauritaniaMauritania
Time zoneAfrica/Nouakchottlocal time
Founded1958historical origin
City history
Before 1958, Nouakchott was a small fishing town, having been a fortified fishing village (ksar) in pre-colonial times and under French rule.
Construction began in March 1958 to enlarge the village to house a population of 15,000, in 1959 Nouakchott started with its founding by indigenous people from the surrounding region, and the basics were completed.
The city was attacked twice in 1976 by the Polisario Front during the Western Sahara conflict, but the guerrillas caused little damage.
The official censuses showed 134,000 residents in 1977 and 393,325 in 1988, although both figures were probably smaller than reality.
The city has had massive and unconstrained growth, driven by the North African drought, since the beginning of the 1970s; hundreds of thousands moved there in search of a better life.
As Mauritania prepared for independence, it lacked a capital city.
The area of present-day Nouakchott was chosen by Moktar Ould Daddah, the first President of Mauritania, and his advisors.
Ould Daddah desired the new capital to symbolize modernity and national unity, which ruled out existing cities or towns in the interior.
The village was selected as the capital city for its central location between Saint-Louis, Senegal, the city from which the colony of Mauritania was governed, and Nouadhibou.
The village of Nouakchott was originally inhabited by the tribe of Bouhoubainy who are of Amazigh origin and are native to it.
They have since been moved to different settlements notably Aknodert which is situated between Nouakchott and the International Airport.
One of the intentions of choosing this location was to avoid the sensitive issue of whether the capital was built in an area dominated by the Arabs and Amazigh (Berbers) or Sub-Saharan Africans.
Nouakchott was planned with the expectation that commerce and other economic activities would not take place in the city.
Nouakchott's central business district was planned with broad streets and a grid-like structure; the new Cinquième Quartier (Fifth District) was located close to this area and became the location of a large open-air market.
Worth seeing
Nouakchott
Nouakchott is a practical Nouakchott planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Capital city in Mauritania
Capital city in Mauritania is a practical Nouakchott planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Nouakchott planning base 3
Nouakchott planning base 3 is a practical Nouakchott planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Nouakchott planning base 4
Nouakchott planning base 4 is a practical Nouakchott planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Nouakchott planning base 5
Nouakchott planning base 5 is a practical Nouakchott planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Nouakchott planning base 6
Nouakchott planning base 6 is a practical Nouakchott planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Stay overview
Compare Nouakchott before booking Nouakchott hotels. Start with the places you will repeat most, then check airport timing, parking, nightly price and event demand before choosing the final base.
Hotels & areas
Compare accommodation options in and around Nouakchott by area, not only by nightly price. A cheaper room can become expensive when airport transfers, parking, attraction routes, late arrivals or event-week demand add time and cost.
Compare stays in Nouakchott, MauritaniaFlights & airports
Main airport TBC arrival plan
- Nouakchott airport accessMain gateway TBC.
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Rental cars
Nouakchott day-trip car use
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Compare rental carsTravel tips
Best time to visit
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Transport notes
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Crowds
Prices can jump around festivals, conventions, school holidays, cruise days, ski weeks, race weekends and large sports events.
Booking detail
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Upcoming events
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