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[[File:Train_ndb-choûm_(27).JPG|thumb|right|300px|The longest train in the world, which runs from [[Nouadhibou]] to [[Choum]] and [[Zouerate]]]]
'''Mauritania''' is a very dry country on the west coast of [[Western Africa|West Africa]], south from [[Western Sahara]], north from [[Senegal]] and [[Mali]]. Mauritania doesn't seem to be a good place for hitchhikingis definitely hitchable, at least in although there are issues as the conventional sense. The majority of vehicles are shared taxis and many private vehicles which stop will try and charge the same rates, and in the desert wait times can be long due to lack of traffic. Still it is possible to cross the country by hitchhiking; , the main roads ([[Nouakchott]]-[[Nouadhibou]], Nouakchott-[[Nema]] and Nouakchott-[[Rosso]], possibly Nouakchott-[[Atar]] as well) , are certainly hitchable, be it with overlanders, Euro-African car traders who bring vehicles to West Africa, or just nice Mauritanians curious about meeting Europeans.
In southern Mauritania on the road to [[Mali]], around [[Kiffa]] and [[Ayoun el-Atrous]] hitchhiking is much harder than in other parts of the country. People there really don't understand hitchhiking and even after long explaining of what you're doing they'll take you to the bus station. Even the police/army/gendarmerie checkpoints are somewhat harder there. Officers are able to wait for bribes for hours, force you out of the car for "safety" reasons and next day force another driver to take you. It doesn't feel very comfortable but it's certainly possible to hitch through.
It should be possible to hitch to Mauritania from the consulate in Rabat, [[Morocco]], with overlanders calling in to get their visas, or from southern Morocco. You can also get into Mauritania with Mauritanian traders, who can be found opposite the first police checkpoint north of Dakhla. The price for a journey to Nouadhibou is currently 250-380Dhs (negotiable). Another option are Moroccan vegetable trucks leaving from Agadir or Marrakech.
But then I noticed that is not too hard to hitchhike in Mauretania, even inside the city. Just let the taxis pass. That are more or less all the old cars. I took my hands on my heart and shaked my head when they arrived (explaining takes more time). And I concentrated on the new cars. That made it quite easy then :)
=== Cities ===