Border Crossings Between Mauritania and Western Sahara

The 1,564-kilometer border between Mauritania and Western Sahara, formalized in 1900, slices through desert and disputed lands, marked by the 1976 partition and ongoing Polisario-Morocco tensions. You can cross at nine points: Guerguerat, Amgala, Tmeimichatt, Al Kalb, Fderîck, Cheggât, Touâjîl, Aïn Ben Tili, and Bir Moghrein. Guerguerat, a four-hour drive from Dakhla, is the main crossing, with a 1-km No Man’s Land strip to Mauritania. A unique fact: this strip, littered with car wrecks, feels post-apocalyptic but is safe if you stick to the road.
Rainy seasons (July-September) are minimal but can muddy tracks; dry months are busier. Mauritania requires e-visas since 2025, and Western Sahara uses Moroccan visa rules. Carry passports and yellow fever certificates.
Explore Nouadhibou’s fishing ports or Dakhla’s beaches. Guerguerat closes at 6 p.m., so start early to avoid delays. Carry ouguiya or dirhams, as cards don’t work. Monitor security, as tensions can disrupt crossings.