Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Regional Forums > North Africa
mauritania route & other questions mauritania route & other questions
Register FAQ Calendar Today's Posts
North Africa Topics specific to North Africa and the Sahara down to the 17th parallel (excludes Morocco)
Photo by Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

The only impossible journey
is the one
you never begin

25 years of HU Events


Destination ANYWHERE...
Adventure EVERYWHERE!



Photo by Marc Gibaud,
Clouds on Tres Cerros and
Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia



Trans Sahara Routes.

Like Tree29Likes

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 1 Jul 2023
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Jun 2023
Location: France
Posts: 50
I can't seem to find the fuel price. No website has it, and to the few who do, the prices are from 2016 or before...
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 4 Jul 2023
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 279
Please remember that Mauritania is a very under developed country, and many of the answers you seek are to be found on the road, not on the internet!
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 4 Jul 2023
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: from Portugal, living in Germany
Posts: 121
I´ve travelled to Mauritania on my motorcycle last January as part of Sahara Desert Challenge, it started in Portugal and finished in Dakar.

I was riding my '97 Africa Twin which has a tank capacity of 18+5 litres and uses around 5 l/100km on the road, translating into an autonomy of over 400km.

Petrol availability is not guaranteed at regular fuel stations, I could find it only in Nouakchott and Atar. The price per litre was 57 MRU, around 1,50EUR.

Had to then buy petrol from 5l bidons to bridge the gaps at following locations:
Total station at N20° 03.090' W15° 55.274'
Generic shop in Akjoujt at N19° 44.738' W14° 23.089'
Price is subject to negotiation.

An excellent website, regularly updated, is Chris Scott Sahara Overland, see country info.

Piste to Chinguetti, probably my favourite place on this trip:

__________________
Luis Cabrita, Honda XRV 750 Africa Twin '97
Flickr & PolarSteps
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 4 Jul 2023
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 1,511
Good to see info from someone with recent experience CaBRita

(there was a quite vocal motorcylcing blogger claiming there was no fuel in Atar in Januaray )
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 5 Jul 2023
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Jun 2023
Location: France
Posts: 50
You're the man! Why is the fuel in mauritania damn expensive? How were the roads like there? I see you're on a compact dirt road; are the roads like this everywhere or are there some tarmac roads?
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 5 Jul 2023
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: from Portugal, living in Germany
Posts: 121
Quote:
Originally Posted by dunz View Post
How were the roads like there?
I see you're on a compact dirt road; are the roads like this everywhere or are there some tarmac roads?
See the excellent Sahara Overland website for specific info on Mauritania here

A bigger version of this map can be found there, my photo was taken on the green dashed line between Atar and Chinguetti:


Regarding fuel availability:
My experience on the ground, and learned from other travellers as well, is that the situation is quite dynamic so fill up whenever you can.
__________________
Luis Cabrita, Honda XRV 750 Africa Twin '97
Flickr & PolarSteps
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 8 Jul 2023
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 2,134
Quote:
Originally Posted by dunz View Post
Why is the fuel in Mauritania damn expensive?
Two reasons:

1) Transportation costs. They don't have any refineries that I know of in the country, which means that the finished product (gasoline) rather than the raw ingredient (crude oil) needs to be transported to the country by ship, then overland to the point of sale by road.

2) Sparse population. There's not a heck of a lot of fuel sold in the country, hence, there's not a lot of competition in the industry. The formal fuel stations that exist don't pump huge volumes of fuel, which means that they need to recover their overhead costs in the form of higher price per litre.

€1.50 a litre is not bad, all things considered. That's fractionally less than the average price in continental Europe. Even in Canada, where I live, gasoline sells for about €1.10 a litre (CAD $1.60).

Michael
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 6 Jul 2023
Tim Cullis's Avatar
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: London and Granada Altiplano
Posts: 3,166
Quote:
Originally Posted by dunz View Post
I can't seem to find the fuel price. No website has it, and to the few who do, the prices are from 2016 or before...
The price of fuel is what it is. €1.50 per litre or whatever is about the same as the UK. If you want to get mad about anything, try having a go at the ferry costs of crossing the 13-km gap of the Strait of Gibraltar from Spain to Morocco. Absolute daylight robbery.

But as far as Mauritania is concerned, it's a few years since I was there, but even in remote places people seem to have private stocks, just ask around Yes, you might pay 50% premium for filling from a bidon but that's something I'm quite happy to do.

Fill up at every opportunity and consider either buying an expensive fuel bladder or risking using a highly dangerous 1.5-litre plastic water bottle (tip the contents into the tank after 30-40km to lessen the risk).
__________________
"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 6 Jul 2023
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Jun 2023
Location: France
Posts: 50
thoughts on fuel bottles vs bladders?
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 7 Jul 2023
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Iceland
Posts: 103
Quote:
Originally Posted by dunz View Post
thoughts on fuel bottles vs bladders?
It depends on how strong the bottles are. Don´t forget fuel smells bad, very very bad. If the bottle, container or whatever you use start leaking or get damaged you don´t want the fuel to spill on your clothes or equipment. So you would have to transport the fuel separate from your other stuff.
A couple of drops of fuel on your clothes is not a big deal but if your clothes get soaking wet you can throw them away.

Don´t ask me how I know
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 7 Jul 2023
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Sep 2022
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 12
Quote:
Originally Posted by dunz View Post
thoughts on fuel bottles vs bladders?
I would take a fuel bladder.
I was in Mauritania two weeks ago, and I used sturdy plastic bottles (the type where cleaning liquids are usually stored in). This worked fine. But something I didn't realize is how much petrol can actually expand when it warms up. I opened up the bottles to let some pressure out several times. I wouldn't dare to transport fuel in a less sturdy container (for example water bottles).

Maybe it was more psychological, but I still felt pretty uncomfortable driving around with plastic containers containing fuel, even though they were relatively sturdy. Next time, I will get me a fuel bladder, even if it is just for my mental peace.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 7 Jul 2023
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Jun 2023
Location: France
Posts: 50
Great point. Something along the lines of 1% for every 15 to 20 ish deg f?. Fuel bladder can be contracted down. I've got my eyes on the desert fox fuel cell.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
adv, advice, fuel availbility, idp, information, mauritainia, mauritania, north africa, richat, route planning, safety tips, wells, western sahara

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Route North Africa, Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal, Guineas Ultimo Siroco Travellers Seeking Travellers 7 15 Nov 2022 23:20
Route Planning for my Garmin Zumo GPS Erik_G Navigation - Maps, Compass, GPS 0 27 Dec 2021 08:37
2015 - Heading east from Europe, add your itinerary / plans kim Travellers Seeking Travellers 190 5 Mar 2016 07:38
London to Cape Town, November 2012 Tfoy97603 Travellers Seeking Travellers 56 4 Sep 2012 16:51
Mauritania trip report Jose Brito North Africa 12 10 Jan 2012 13:02

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

25 years of HU Events
Be sure to join us for this huge milestone!

ALL Dates subject to change.

2025 Confirmed Events:

Virginia: April 24-27
Queensland is back! May 2-5
Germany Summer: May 29-June 1
Ecuador June 13-15
Bulgaria Mini: June 27-29
CanWest: July 10-13
Switzerland: Aug 14-17
Romania: Aug 22-24
Austria: Sept. 11-14
California: September 18-21
France: September 19-21
New York: October 9-12 NEW!
Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2

2026 Confirmed Dates:
(get your holidays booked!)

Virginia: April 23-26
Queensland: May 1-4
CanWest: July 9-12

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes.
(ONLY US RESIDENTS and currently has a limit of 60 days.)

Ripcord Evacuation Insurance is available for ALL nationalities.


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Every book a diary
Every chapter a day
Every day a journey
Refreshingly honest and compelling tales: the hights and lows of a life on the road. Solo, unsupported, budget journeys of discovery.
Authentic, engaging and evocative travel memoirs, overland, around the world and through life.
All 8 books available from the author or as eBooks and audio books



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

Your ad could be here, on EVERY page of the HUBB, or the whole website, or as many as you like!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 02:10.

Contact Us - Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers Website - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top