Hitchhiking trip from Morocco to Mauritania
 

Hi,

I am planning a trip from Morocco to Mauritania, I will have around 2-3 weeks for a round trip

I can't speak French but will learn basics in two months. Is such trip doable? I am 26 years old, have some hitchhiking experience (China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Iran). My budget would be around 25-30 dollars per day. What do you think?

Doable? Rather it sounds too easy. Would be more of a challenge making it on 10 per day. ;)

Easy to get a ride in Morocco, I pick up hitchhikers all the time. Oftentimes military men going to their post. Taxi and bus are also inexpensive.

Thanx!
 

I hitchhiked before, Laos to Poland and some rides in Iran but never been to Africa before. That's why I am asking. Thanks for positive words!

The proverbial “most people” would consider a 2-3 week round trip to be extremely rushed. Of course, you don’t say where from in Morocco (Tangier? Marrakech? Tarfaya? It makes a difference) or where to in Mauritania, so who knows? From Tangier, you’re looking at ~5000 km, so you’ll have to hustle.

Some of the people giving you rides will expect payment, so best to keep that in mind. That aside, how much it costs you per day depends largely on where you sleep and eat.

I’m assuming you know a bit about the local climate. Hitching involves some weather exposure, and the weather is not always on your side.

Hope that’s helpful.

Mark

Marrakech.

Went from Marrakesh to Nouakchott and back by hitchhiking around 8 years ago ( damn, time flies ) and it was a fun trip. Your amount of time should be enough if you keep focused and don´t rest in places too much.

I would recommend going to Nouakchott, then Atar and take the SNIM train back. There is some info around the web about this trip and in terms of train rides I guess that there aren´t many on this planet that exciting. Guess nowardays you can still jump on the train in Choum, that´s where I "boarded" back then ! ( Inclueding a 24hr forced stopover in a families mud hut eating only rice and carrots and sleeping on the sand floor as the train had just left. May god bless these people !!! )

http://fs5.directupload.net/images/1...p/u8gjucd8.jpg

It´s not uncommon in southern Morocco or Mauretania to be asked to pay for lifts, specially as a foreigner. If you are not in a hurry you may have to wait for hours and hours ( or half a day ? ) but sometimes it´s worth considering in which part of the world you are and accept to contribute to the gasoline bill of the driver. I know some hardliner hitchhikers, so I am just mentioning it ! ;-)

Have a great trip !