A key economic center, it's home to roughly 90,000 people. Before independence, the town was called Port Etienne after the first boat which arrived here, Tienne. Since independence in 1960, it has been called Nouadhibou, which means Place of the Jackal. Many jackals used to come and drink water in a well. The town's three main parts are: Cansado, Keran and Numerowat. The distance from Keran to the end of Numerowatt is about 13 km.
Cansado: Means tired in Spanish. This area is about 10 km from Keran. It was built by the French in 1960, for the workers of the SNIM mining company. It has a nice hotel, tennis courts and petanque grounds.
Keran: The town centre was built in 1958. The central police, customs, banks, office supply and central market are here.
Numerowatt: Starts with the area of Socogim and is divided into 6 water taps (French: robinets). It was built in 1982-83. The water comes from a underground lake in Boulenoir, about 90 km from here. The pipes were laid in 1960. The town has developed quite recently and is growing rapidly. Most of the town lives here.
In 1990, the tarmac from Keran to Numerwatt built. In 2000, The town center roads were paved and Internet and mobile phones arrived.
In 2005, the highway between Nouadhibou-Nouakchott was completed. There is now a clean half-way stop at the 235 km mark built by a Moroccan business where you can get a fresh cup of coffee and tasty sandwiches as well as a tajine, a kind of meat stew. They also have separate toilets for men and women as well as a simple tire changing shop. Nearby is the entrance to the Banc d'Arguin national park.
Nouadhibou without SNIM or fishing would not be the same. SNIM, the Société Nationale Industrielle et Minière, is the biggest company in Mauritania. The iron was mined in the 1960s when they began building the railway which carries one of the longest trains in the world (2 km). Passengers can pay to sit inside a rail car or ride for free on top, which is quite the ride.
The other economic engine is the fishing industry. There are 3 ports: a commercial port (Port Autonome) and a local fishing port (Port Artisanal) and the private SNIM port at Cansado for iron export. If you like salty air, sea food and fish, checking out the Port Artisanal can be a treat.
There's a decent Forex or money changing office at the entrance to Keran, the down town centre, at the Carrefour crossroads. Ask for a receipt to avoid any problems crossing the borders next time you cross. They will photocopy your passport along with the receipt. Officially, you should leave your local ougiyas currency in country and not take it out with you. Smaller amounts usually aren't a problem.
Should you need help with your vehicle, look for El-Veteh Siddaty et Freres, a well known car parts store in Keran. Their manager speaks English and French and can help you find specialized mechanics such as for electrical problems. Their telephone is 574 57 39. There are many other similar shops nearby.
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Nouadhibou
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Nouadhibou - updated Apr 2024
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Nouadhibou Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.
