Nouakchott

Nouakchott is a strangely appealing place, a huge, dusty haze of a capital city crammed with tooting traffic and collapsing low-rise dwellings. That could be due to the city's luxurious comfort compared to the sun-baked Berber caravan towns of the great Sahara (where most travelers are either going or have been), but it could also be due to the city's earthy vibes and unpretentious character.

Built for about 15,000 people, the wider metro region currently has a population of nearly two million people! The shanty areas and nomad barrios come alive with activity, and the Nouakchott Fish Market is clearly the place to be. Here, salt-washed pirogues clamber in from the Atlantic Ocean packed with fish and seafood each morning, sellers haggle, and the locals go about their daily business.

It is, nevertheless, a strange metropolis, bustling with activity at all hours of the day. One of the nicest things to do in Mauritania is to experience the clamor and confusion of the marketplaces. Nothing beats the Nouakchott fish market for fresh fish and seafood, which is brimming with newly caught seafood every morning. The city has basic housing and residences to dwell in. The simplest amenities would feel like palace luxury if you stop here after spending time in the harsh Sahara plains.

Location: Sahara, Mauritania