What to pack
Clothing
Western clothes are completely fine to wear in Mauritania. It can be quite hot during the day, even in winter, so t-shirts and pants, or even shorts for men are acceptable. For women traveling with a group, a t-shirt is fine, but shorts should be avoided. For solo female travelers, you might feel comfortable wearing a headscarf to avoid attention, as most local women will have their head covered. If you plan on visiting Tergit Oasis, don’t forget a swimsuit! If you want to wear local clothes, these can be easily purchased in the central market in Nouakchott.
Footwear
You will be walking through A LOT of sand during your time in Mauritania, even in Nouakchott.
Iron Ore Train
The key for clothing on the iron ore train is layers. During the day, there is no shade to hide in, and you will get very hot with the sun constantly beating down on you. At night, however, the desert temperature can drop to about –4 degrees Celsius and added to this is the constant rush of wind as you travel 35km/hour on an open-air train car. Pack warm layers for however cold you think you’ll be, then bring an extra layer on top of that. The iron ore dust will not permanently stain your clothes and can be washed out; however, most people err on the side of caution and wear outer layers that they do not care much about. You will also want to bring some goggles to protect your eyes from the dust. Most people prefer ski goggles. A note that you might want to bring goggles with a clear lens, instead of tinted, so your ability to see at night is not hindered. A face mask or scarf covering your mouth is also recommended, and there are many opportunities to buy scarves throughout the country if you do not pack one ahead of time. Some people choose to bring headlamps as well, particularly if they are traveling solo. If you are traveling with a tour group or have arranged a private tour, then a blanket and mattress pad will be provided for you. If you are traveling solo, you might want to consider bringing a sleeping bag. Consider that you will be on the train for many hours and bring things to entertain yourself, such as a book, markers, small games, an instrument, etc.
Luggage
One other note about luggage is that if you are planning to hop on the iron ore train solo, you will probably want to arrange to have your main luggage transported to Nouadhibou for you, and only bring a small pack with your essentials for the train. If you are on a group tour or have arranged a private tour, this will be taken care of for you.
