South Eastern Mauritania bush camping
 

I finished Mauritania a couple of days ago. I came in in Nema from Mali and then rode to the coast before riding north. I had no troubles and quite enjoyed the long road west- some great little pistes for fun and then the decent tar road to make time. Sorry, no waypoints as the GPS has completely packed it in.

Bush camping between Aleg and Nouak. is easy, as it is from Nouak to the Western Sahara border. Between Aleg and Nema it's tough. There are Tonnes of police check points (I went through almost 50 info. sheets!) and as soon as it starts getting late afternoon they'll stop you in town until the next day. I had one actually follow me until he saw me check into an auberge (no suggestion on which one, so I don't think it was a scam to get business). They are very nice about it and really just seem concerned- never a hint at a 'cadeaux' or anything other than polite.

I had talked to some overlanders in Burkina Faso and they had the check points, but not the lockdown in towns. So I don't know if it was being on a bike or of the security situation has ratcheted up a bit, but just so ya know...

A friend who went through on a motorbike last year had a similar experience, but had no money for auberges so camped with the police at checkpoints.

One night when he did bush camp they launched a full scale (helicopters and all) hunt for him. They were quite pissed but also relieved when he turned up at the next checkpoint.

Glad to know they are being professional for a change - I went through just as the kidnappings where happening and 60% of them were complete and utter wankers. The other 40% weren't great. Only 1 guy out of 30+ checkpoints was friendly and helpful.