Entering Mauritania wasn't a dramatic change from the last few hundred miles. One notable difference here was an increase in sand. Contrary to what most people think, the Sahara isn't just sand dunes but many different types of landscape. There was also quite a few military check points along the road south of the border, indications of a sensitive area. The first hours drive is heading deeper into the desert. So far our route had kept us very close to the coast keeping us cool with a daily sea breeze. Now we'd lost the sea breeze and the temperatures soared! Our daily 30° was now hitting 40°.

We came up against a bloody hard decision while driving south in Mauritania and that was whether we should continue inland through 40° temperatures and a front axle hub that was sounding quite ill. After speaking to people traveling back along the route we intended to take, it started to become clear that we really had left it too late. One couple we spoke to were wrapping their dog in cold wet towels from their fridge through the day as they drove. Already the temperature was already reaching 38°, Molly was struggling to deal with the heat. Inside the cab through the glass and the heat from the engine the temperature was way over 40°! We were quite worried about the heat and thought we'd done bloody well to come this far on our maiden trip but we couldn't help feeling an urge to keep heading south. After some soul searching we both came to the decision that it wasn't fair to drag either of us or Molly through unbearable heat with the prospect of the front axle breaking down and possible not getting into Ghana without a Carnet de Passage.
We would have to drive a further 2500 miles at 40mph, in temperatures well over 40° degrees Celsius, quite a few of the miles will be over rough ground and roads, possibly get stuck on the Ghana border without a Carnet (in 45° degree heat). Would this be an enjoyable way to make the journey? No way!

So, we made our decision. We slowed down, had a bit of a look around (not much to look at) and made our way back to Nouadhibou, the largest city in the north of Mauritania. Having made the decision not to carry on southwards we didn't want to leave Mauritania too soon and later regret it. Spending a couple of days in Nouadhibou would give us time to experience more of Mauritania and get our heads straight.

Here's some of our photographs...

Why go to Mauritania? Well it's somewhere else to experience. Inland it's possible to go to some desert towns and villages. You really need to be excitable about deserts to love Mauritania. The general impression I get from people is that it's a country you have to travel through to get to the other side! Most people want to get in and out the other side as soon and possible which is a bit of a shame really.