Trarza

Trarza occupies south-western Mauritania, between the ocean and the Senegal River. It is the greenest part of the country. Its capital, Rosso, sits on the riverbank and is the main crossing into Senegal.

**Diawling National Park**, in the far south-west, is a wetland delta that hosts tens of thousands of waterbirds in winter: spoonbills, pelicans, flamingos. It was created to make good what the ecosystem lost after the Diama dam was built.

**Boutilimit** is known for its **mahadras**, traditional schools teaching the Quran, law and language, which still take students.

**Mederdra** was the historic capital of the Emirate of Trarza; **R'Kiz** is a lake in a farming area; **Maata Moulana** a recent educational city.

Its closeness to Nouakchott makes it a one- or two-day destination. For birds, November to February is best.