Just did a bit of Adrar driving - Guelb Richad and then south to Tidjikja via Chinguetti in the sand.

Some observations.

1. It is not recommended to head too far north in Mauritania for several reasons the main one being - zone rouge. We were told that the military do not look kindly on this.
2. Remoteness - once you head north there is very little of anything especially nomads.
3. To go in one car is highly discouraged. We even had an auberge owner from Bab Sahara call the Gendarmerie to discourage us from going solo from Chinguetti to Tadjikja - it is dangerous. In our case we persevered as we used a local guide who knew the route well and we were seriously foolhardy.
4. Petrol is not always guaranteed and with extended tanks your risk grounding one - as we did on our way to Choum - it is then easy to check which way you came there is a nice and expensive fuel stain behind you.
5.The northern border is getting militarised in anticipation of an imminent intervention and I would not expect the situation to calm down anytime soon.

From the routes we covered the most spectacular so far has been Chinguetti to Tadjikja. Amazing varied scenery and terrain. Some shortish hardcore dunes and rocky stretches but at least part of the way you get to see villages and nomads.

If you are going to go solo then atleast take a guide and have some people with you. It is hard pushing a car with 2.

Lastly, make sure that you know and trust your car because recovery is astronomical if at all possible. If all goes wrong .............start drinking

Dangerous because only one car or because of Aqmi?

RR.