Four days and three nights inside the Banc d'Arguin National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site where the Sahara meets the Atlantic — one of the most important sanctuaries for migratory birds on Earth. From Nouakchott we drive north to the fishing village of Arkeiss, sail to Tidra Island aboard a traditional Imraguen sailboat (motorized boats are banned inside the park), visit the Imraguen villages with their centuries-old fish-drying traditions, and finish at Cap Timiris, the westernmost point of the park, where immense flocks of birds gather on the sand spit. Route: Nouakchott – Chami – Arkeiss – Cap Tafarit – Iwik – Tidra Island – Ten Alloul – Teichott – R'Gueiba – Tessot – Cap Timiris – Mamghar – PK100 dunes – Nouakchott. Transport by 4x4 with a driver experienced on sandy tracks — mandatory inside the park — and a full sailing day with local Imraguen sailors. Accommodation: three nights in camps facing the ocean (traditional tents at Arkeiss and Iwik, a night under the stars at Cap Timiris). Full board with drinking water; fresh fish grilled on the shore is the specialty of the coast. Best season: November to March, at the peak of the bird migration. Note: there is no fresh water and no phone network inside the park — all water, fuel and provisions are carried from Nouakchott. Highlights: golden dunes meeting the ocean at Cap Tafarit · Imraguen sailboat to Tidra Island · dolphins and immense flocks of migratory birds · traditional fish-drying and mullet bottarga · night under the stars at Cap Timiris · the PK100 dunes rolling into the Atlantic.
Itinerary
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1
Nouakchott to Arkeiss — Where the Dunes Meet the Ocean
Banc d'Arguin →Morning departure from Nouakchott by 4x4 along the Nouadhibou road to the town of Chami (about 300 km in total today), where the park entry permits are issued and the entrance fees are paid. From Chami we leave the asphalt and continue north on the sandy track into the Banc d'Arguin National Park — a UNESCO World Heritage site protecting 12,000 km² of coastal desert, mudflats and shallow waters.
Our destination is Arkeiss, a small Imraguen fishing village near Cap Tafarit, where golden dunes roll straight down to a turquoise bay. In the late afternoon we take an easy walk between Arkeiss and Cap Tafarit — one of the most photogenic corners of the Mauritanian coast — to watch the sunset over the bay.
Dinner and overnight: camp of traditional tents at Arkeiss, a few steps from the water.
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2
Sailing to Tidra Island aboard an Imraguen Lanche
Banc d'Arguin →Early transfer along the coast to the village of Iwik (about 60 km), the heart of Imraguen life in the park. Here we board a traditional sailboat — a lanche — with local sailors: motorized boats are prohibited inside the park to protect the ecosystem, so the crossing is made under sail, exactly as it has been for generations.
We sail towards Tidra Island and the small neighboring islets of Nirouimi and Arel: close-up views of huge flocks of migratory birds — pelicans, flamingos, terns and waders by the thousands — with a good chance of dolphins escorting the boat, and stops at the sites of traditional Imraguen fishing. Lunch of fresh fish on the island or on board, then we return with the evening tide as the sun sets over the bay.
Overnight: camp at Iwik. Note: sailing times depend on the tides and the wind; the exact departure hour is set by the sailors on the morning of the trip.
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3
Imraguen Villages and Sunset at Cap Timiris
Banc d'Arguin →Morning drive south along the coast, stopping in the Imraguen villages of Ten Alloul, Teichott and R'Gueiba to discover a way of life found nowhere else: traditional fish-drying on wooden racks, the preparation of tishtar (dried fish) and the famous mullet bottarga, one of Mauritania's most prized delicacies.
After lunch we continue via the village of Tessot to Cap Timiris, near the village of Mamghar — the westernmost point of the park, where enormous flocks of birds gather on the long sand spit. The sunset from the cape, with thousands of birds lifting off the water in the golden light, is one of the great moments of the trip.
Dinner and overnight: camp under the stars at Cap Timiris.
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4
Cap Timiris to Nouakchott along the PK100 Dunes
Nouakchott →A final morning walk on the sand spit for birdwatching in the soft early light, then we leave the park southwards through Mamghar, its southern gateway. The coastal track passes the spectacular PK100 dunes, where ridges of white sand roll straight into the ocean — one last unforgettable image of the Banc d'Arguin.
We continue through the fishing villages of Tiwilit, El Messied and Bleiwakh, with a lunch stop on the way (about 160 km in total), and arrive in Nouakchott in the afternoon. End of the expedition — with memory cards full of birds, dunes and sails.
Price includes
- Transport by 4x4 with driver and fuel for the whole trip; the full-day traditional sailboat excursion to Tidra Island and the neighboring islets; camp accommodation (3 nights) with full board and drinking water; park permits and entrance fees; and a local guide throughout the itinerary.
Not included
- International flights and visa (visa on arrival available at the airport); travel insurance (mandatory); personal expenses and souvenirs; personal equipment — sleeping bag, hat and sunscreen, sunglasses, comfortable shoes, binoculars for birdwatching and spare batteries; and tips for the team — guide, driver and sailors: not included, left to your discretion and always warmly appreciated.
