The mysterious charm of the desert, its oases, the life of its nomads... Mauritania is not a mirage but a destination that wants to be exotic and unforgettable. A Maghreb country, bordered to the west by the Atlantic, Mauritania is the crossing point between North Africa and Black Africa. On a map, the country recognizes itself for its rectilinear borders, as drawn by the French colonizers who are at the origin of their layout. Only the Senegal River to the south constitutes a natural border with Senegal. Mauritania is first and foremost the Sahara. It extends along the Atlantic coast and covers a large majority of Mauritanian territory. Both a sea of sand like the erg Ouarane but also formed of regs, composed of stones and rock. The Adrar massif is the gateway to the dunes and palm groves. In the distance, the sandy and holy city of Chinguetti appears like a mirage. The libraries of its old city contain rare and illuminated manuscripts while its new city is animated with colourful shops. Between desert and ocean, the Banc d'Arguin National Park, on the north Atlantic coast, presents a contrasted landscape and a rich natural heritage. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is home to a unique ecosystem, many species of fish and birds, including large waders that can be seen on the offshore island of Tidra. The other Mauritanian national park is the Diawling, which covers 16,000 hectares on the southern coast. In the centre of the country, Tagant, like Adrar, also has plateaus with steep cliffs interspersed with valleys, wadis, oases and old ksour. But also pastures that green up during the rainy season. Crops are even greener, further south, in the Senegal River valley, where livestock farming is practised. The herds of white zebus of the Fulani tribes graze there peacefully. Here begins the Sahel. To the east, valleys and rocky peaks of Assaba and the great plains of Hodh lead to Nem and Oualata, millenary ksar perched on the slopes of a piton. Region where one discovers the houses of a thousand and one Saharan nights while enjoying a real hospitality enlivened by the songs and dances of the nomads. Attention all the same, because of the terrorist risks, the circulation is strongly discouraged in the north and the east of Mauritania. Risks that also exist in the Sahel region. The best time to stay in Mauritania, one of the hottest regions in the world, is from November to February. The average temperatures then rise between 20 and 25°C from mid-January, a sand wind can blow. From April to September and even more from May to June, it is really very hot (up to more than 40°C). Note that in the desert, there are very large temperature variations between day and night (where mercury can drop to 0°C). Take a flight to Mauritania, is first and foremost to answer the call of the desert. The Sahara covers the vast majority of its territory. It is still sometimes crossed by these long camel caravans which formerly animated the trans-Saharan trade. Here we are in the land of blue men, in reference to the colour of the Moorish boubou worn by Mauritanian nomads. In the large Berber tents, social life and trade negotiations take place around ritual greetings and traditional mint tea. With great hospitality, the Berbers very easily open the doors of their tents. A link between the Maghreb and sub-Saharan Africa, Mauritania is by nature a land of passage. A country where one can still taste the infinite spaces breathing a feeling of freedom into the travellers who cross them. A land of adventure where traditions remain strongly anchored. Long crossings of dunes or rocky landscapes are punctuated by the sound of tea poured under the colourful tents. Greetings are long in Mauritania and are part of the basic rules of politeness. Polite formulas can be exchanged for more than five minutes. We ask the person we are speaking to about his health, his family, his work... Questions that we answer in the affirmative. Art and culture in Mauritania The tradition of the griots, itinerant musicians playing the role of advisors through their songs, continues and these continue to find their place in modern life. Some are famous, others only in their neighborhood. Many of today's singers and musicians say they come from a line of griots. Generally speaking, music is, with poetry, the most developed and appreciated art in Mauritania. We hear mainly traditional Moorish music as well as Senegalese and Malian music.