mauritania route & other questions
 

looking for a recommended tried and tested route around mauritania; entering from ws and back through ws. Any places i have to see? If you can point me in the right direction or share any info; thanks in advance!

Getting to the richat structure
 

I'll be crossing over into mauritania from WS and staying there for two weeks before making my way back up North. I'm interested in driving to and back the richat structure. I plan on driving to ouadane, staying there for the night and make an arrangement with a local to guide me the rest of the way. If you've done this, feel free to share your experience or if you're in the know i would appreciate your info too.

I've not done it, but I understand there's little evidence on the ground to reflect what it looks like from great altitude.

That's what i concluded watching itchyboots videos. However, ticking off this area would be a memorable part of the adventure.

As Tim correctly says- what you will see is.....sand, rocks, sand and more sand.
Unless your moto can fly...
Locals love tourists as they take you NE of Ouadane to and say ' c'est ici'...:innocent: and take your money!
Then you are left looking at your satnav confused!
A great way to ride in sand and cr+p damaging your travel bike for some 559 kms (could you even ride it...? plus food, water, fuel etc logistics) to see...not a lot!doh:Beach: Still, a chacun son truc!
I've linked up the 6 tracks for a clockwise single one to give you a better idea.

Tons
 

but in which direction?

Here is a taster...
The best moto for this stuff is ... not a ktm or a beemer nor a honda but a camel first or if it's too expensive then a donkey.

Two cities, Nouadibou and Nouakchott.
You can ride on the beach between the two.
Visit Bank d'Argain national park en route.
Stay in Atar, make day trips to see waterfalls.
The rain cave in Terjit.
Chinguetti the ancient city.
Make an oasis tour, Ouadane with the date festival, Rachid, Tidjidja, Tidjit, Kiffa.
Oualata probably out of reach.
If you have the time, go to see the crashed Avro plane on Polisario territory.
SAAF Avro Shackleton 1716 "Pelican 16"
If you like the desert you could spend a lifetime.

Pelican 16 is often limits now afaik, it certainly way at the beginning of the year and I haven't heard the situation has improved

off limits?

Oualata out of reach in terms of time and distance or security concerns?

What areas are a NO GO in western sahara and Mauritania.
 

We're not talking about mali or algeria here so i don't expect too many no go areas, however, to those of you in the know what areas are really a no go, safety wise?

Anywhere within 30km of the berm for the WS. But if you get too close the military will gently escort you away. Otherwise it’s mostly ok with the normal caveats about mines etc.

It’s in the PFZ and not safe anymore with the current friction between Morocco and the Polisario.

Noted. What about east Mauritania, near Nema and the lot? And for the ieds? Where do they tend to be located?