Kitesurf in Mauritania : all you need to know
Mauritania, it’s a great opportunity for adventurous kite trips. It has the same conditions as Dakhla, but with nobody on the horizon.
The best season for kiting is wide, from February to September.
For kiting in Mauritania, we are interested in the spot of the Star Bay.
High Season
Required level
Best suited for
Budget
Spots
Other activities
Why kitesurfing in Mauritania is a good choice ?
Mauritania is a country in Northwest Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean. It shares borders with Western Sahara to the North (and therefore not so far from Dakhla), Senegal to the South, Mali and Algeria to the East.
The capital is Nouakchott and both Arabic and French are spoken there.
In terms of kite surfing, it’s a destination that’s still very much underdeveloped. However, with over 600 kms of coastline, one can imagine that there are a good number of unexploited spots!
In terms of health, vaccinations against yellow fever, hepatitis A, and typhoid are recommended. There is also a risk of malaria, so it’s better to discuss this with your doctor.
In terms of safety, you should be careful where you step. It’s advisable to avoid traveling at night and wandering around alone anywhere.
Best period and spots to kite in Mauritania
The spot that is increasingly being talked about is that of Star Bay, very close to the city of Nouadhibou (which is also the economic capital, and is located in the extreme north of the country).
Best wind season: from February to September.
Discover the kite spots in Mauritania
La baie d'étoile
What we love most
Drawbacks
- untouched kite spots
- ++ wind stats
- Difficult to access
- Country not necessarily safe
Our best advices to travelers
How to get there ?
Travel time: It takes a minimum of 6 hours of flight to Nouakchott (but often there is a layover) and then about 1 hour to Nouadhibou (please note, flights are not daily)
Direct flight: no
Time difference: UTC
Airlines: Air France (some direct flights but very rare) – Air Algerie – Tunisair – Royal Air Maroc…
Main airports: Nouakchott / Nouadhibou
Flight price: starting from 600€
Formalities
- Mandatory vaccines: Yellow fever vaccine is required for all travelers entering Mauritania.
- Visa requirements: American and British nationals need a visa to enter Mauritania. The cost is $120 for a single-entry visa.
- Electrical adapter: An electrical adapter may be needed as Mauritania uses European-style plugs with a voltage of 220V.
- Official language: Arabic is the official language of Mauritania.
- Currency: The currency used in Mauritania is the Mauritanian ouguiya (MRU).
Additional tips
Health: make a check with your doctor before leaving (especially for malaria, yellow fever, hepatitis A, and typhoid).
Safety: Mauritania is not the safest country, so be sure to check the information and stay informed about current events.
What are the best non kitesurfing activities ?
When you go to the Nouadhibou region for kitesurfing, you find yourself a bit like in Dakhla, with desert and wind.
All that’s left is to kite! However, the change of scenery and adventure make up for the lack of activities outside of kitesurfing.
The simple fact of discovering untouched spots is incredible.