In one of the world's least visited countries, Mauritania. Safari Junkie is dynamic travel blog focused solely on Africa. Today, the older I get, the more exotic my destinations become.@cookiesound. We ran in the sand toward another train and climbed into a cart with goods, people, and chickens that took us to Nouadhibou. Then back to our tented accommodation for the night. Waiting for the noise of the train approaching. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. The longest train in the world runs through Mauritania, through the depths of the Sahara desert. We have many more travel stories available, so just start exploring them right away. Best way to exchange currency in Mauritania Oct 21, 2022; Border entry in Diama / Birette Oct 20, 2022 . It wasnt until I returned back home that I had time to reflect that I realised it would be difficult to match the experience of riding on the Ore Train. I had some problems explaining them, that I am staying with a CouchSurfer, just because I was foolish and did not look up for a name of a hotel in Nouadhibou before. Preview. This is where Iron Ore Train ends, one of the longest trains in the world, which makes Nouadhibou the most important areain poor Mauritania. Check departure times on arrival. Be sure you know where you are staying the following night beforehand to avoid any problems. Read More The Country With No Capital CityContinue. The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) notes that the mining sector - which is a core component of the Mauritanian economy - contributes 59% to exports, 9.6% to GDP, and 10.4% to the Mauritanian government's revenue. It didnt take long and my platform was towed up and down the tracks to bring me to the unloading section. In this article I will focus mainly on riding Iron Ore Train in Mauritania from Choum to Nouadhibou, because I did it that way. This is the longest and heaviest train in the world. Ride the infamous Iron Ore Train across the Mauritanian desert with 15 other daredevil adventure travelers.One of the best trips Ive ever been on, this is the type ofraw adventure travelthat youll remember for the rest of your life. Lying outstretched in the back of my station wagon, the night was almost comfortable well not really, but better than expected. Its a beautiful, winding, loud, and epic journey through the Sahara. The Iron Ore: From Nouadhibou to Choum the train is empty. Opened in 1963, Mauritania's Train du Desert operates a daily service from the port at Nouadhibou on the Atlantic coast to the iron ore mines in Zouerat in the country's north-west. About the trip Now, this is all still up for debate. Nov 23 - Dec 3, 2023 Group size: 10 - 18 About this trip Come and experience the most EPIC TRAVEL ADVENTURE on the planet, hitching a ride on the Iron Ore train through the Sahara. Ask a question Recent Conversations. 22,000 tons of iron ore mined in one of the world's largest iron ore mines in the Sahara desert town of Zouerat daily to the coastal town of Nouadhibou. Keep in mind that there is a lot of dust, so take with you special clothes and shoes, you dont mind getting dirty, which you will wear only on the train, because there is very little chance that you will find a washing machine in Mauritania and I can imagine, that removing dust off the clothes by hand can be pretty hard. To allow for two-way traffic, nine sidings are distributed along the line to allow trains to pass. It is my dream to do this as well and I think it may actually happen in a few weeks. My name is Jordan Simons and over the past few years I've learned how to travel the world continuously. We'll hop on the back of the iron ore, and ride it through the night to the Atlantic coast. That visceral experience was exactly what we got as we slithered night and day through the vast uninhabited desert, sleeping on top of Mauritania's infamous iron ore train. Do you think that would be ok for a woman going alone, if I dont have my own car? I believe it was about 340km and there are markers on the way to Choum. The car was unlocked from the platform, I drove down and followed the station masters car until I was on the right road back to Choum where I actually had planned to get off. Hes the owner ofDr Jam Travels. A simplified look on the 700-km long iron ore train route and Mauritania But hidden away underneath the sand, away from the public in a remote corner and military zone, lay crazy amounts of precious iron ore deposits. Watch this space! Take care & all the best for your trip! You might also want a hat if you feel the cold easily. It took a whileuntil one of the men started to move to show me the way to his office. Get notified by e-mail when a reply is posted. What more can I say? (2022), 1000 True Fans Theory Explained: Monetise Your Online Following, 12 Tips to Start a YouTube Channel (The RIGHT Way), How to Start a Travel YouTube Channel (Do THIS First). The prices in the article are still in old Mauritanian currency Ougiyas. Take clothes that will keep you warm in the cold desert night. Digital Nomads Required fields are marked *. If you have photos/stories, please let us know. Politeness is very helpful and Idemanded politely toseethe station master. Every country in the world (yaay! Did You Know This means that e.g. . The iron ore train that connects the iron ore mines in the town of Zourat to the port town of Nouadhibou in Mauritania. The officers stared at me and my crying, not sure whether to be astonished or shocked and immediately started talking in their local language. A 200-carriage, iron ore freighter in sub-Saharan Africa is no place for a white wedding dress. You should be able to find some locals that would gladly help you for a fraction of the cost that the big tour agencies charge. And then you have the Iron Ore Train, the longest train in the world, which we will ride for more than 700km of epicness. + $25.05 shipping. Irish blogger @ onestep4ward.com. This material may not be published without permission, rewritten or redistributed. Since 1963, the Mauritania Railway has been transporting iron ore from the mining town of Zouerat to the fishing port of Nouadhibou. If you have a fun country fact to contribute, please drop it in the comments below. The Iron Ore train goes across the Sahara desert, connecting from the iron mines in the north of Mauritania to the city of Nouadhibou It is a 2.5km long train that is filled with iron ore every single day, and has been running for the past 50 years. Mauritania is a leading producer of iron ore, as well as copper, gold and silver. A SNIM train carrying iron ore arrives in Nouadhibou, Mauritania, June 26, 2014. The Iron Ore Express shuttles people and ore from the desert to the coast on a single-track railway line of 419 miles (674 km). I've been travelling since the early 70s. How Many Websites Are There in North Korea? For the intrepid, youll overland north to Western Sahara. Once the train pulls in, well be hopping up the carriage, 4 to a carriage, to claim our spot for the night. You can also hitchhike it and travel across the Sahara desert in style just make sure you dont fall off. After the second time it broke, another vehicle took us to our destination where we waited a few hours in the shade. On our return to Mauritania, Bostjan suggested this special experience, to ride the famous Iron Ore Train. The next day we were walking around town, ate lunch, bought some supplies for the day, and were ready to move on. The train is said to be the longest one in the world, having over 220 cars and being over 2 kilometers long. 9 Facts About North Korea (That You Havent Heard Before). Before you go on the train, get yourself a turban or scarf to cover your mouth and nose. First, a little-known secret of Mauritania, the Rupestrian Paintings in Agrour Cave dating back THOUSANDS of years. Mauritanians are generally very polite people but are definitely not used to talking to Western (female) tourists. Read More The Worlds Highest Road Karakoram Highway, PakistanContinue. Would be great to read about your experience. A 200-carriage, iron ore freighter in sub-Saharan Africa is no place for a white wedding dress. Suddenly, we can see bright lights approaching in the distance, people start rushing, Josh and I pick up our backpacks and then just admire the train while its stopping. It is a 2.5km long train that is filled with iron ore every single day, and has been running for the past 50 years. 31 Oct 2022 15:23:41 . document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); My name is Jordan Simons and over the past few years I've learned how to travel the world continuously.Now I want to show you how to do the same. Want to go overland eventually to Chad. Check, check, double check. FULL DETAILS. Photo time, earphone time, goggle time. Well check out the city, a museum, the administrative center. In Africa, in a while can mean one hour, five hours, 12 hours or more than 24 hours. Flickr, In our case it was said that the train would arrive between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., but it actually arrived at 9 p.m. Once the train is there you simply just hop on one of the cars. Your Stories It normally consist of 3 or 4 diesel-electric EMD locomotives, around 200 cars each carrying up to 84 tons of iron ore, and 2-3 service cars. The train itself reaches up to 2.5km in length and traverses 704km on one track. Read More Mauritania Iron Ore Train Tour (January 2023)Continue. Big smiles, offers of local tea, wide-eyed smiles and genuine interest in where youre from. So, after waiting another three hours in the soaring heat, with someone occasionally walking by, noticing my impatience yet not doing anything, my nerves went rock bottom. The cars are equipped with ladder so it is easy to get in and out. At this point, well hustle. Written by: an Monik: As a kid, he was always impressed by distant and exotic places. The goal; to bring you the very best things that our fabulous planet has to offer. We love exploring off beaten places in Africa as well we love pay a visit to classic African destinations and reveal what is invisible to average travellers eyes! Reaching the Oasis of Toungad, where well stop for lunch. Anyone obtained Mali visa recently in Nouakchott. I arrived in Choum at 4am. Here is a map of the Iron Ore train's route: Where is Mauritania? This evening I stopped near a military checkpoint along the road and asked for permission to sleep nearby, since there was no hotel to be found anywhere. After years of talking about it, last year we finally did a Mauritania Tour featur. Mauritania!" The climax of their trip was a daring photoshoot on top of the iron ore-laden train as it rumbled across the desert on its 700-kilometer (435-mile) journey from the mining town. There is one more thing I would like to point out about the train ride. Foreigners mostly ride between Nouadhibou and Choum, since Zouerate is pretty far from everything and the only convenient way to get back from that town is by train. This train is over 2km long and runs for over 700km from deep in the desert to the Atlantic Ocean. After checking our surroundings, the other passengers on carts, and watching the stars we calmed down and fell asleep. Continue with Recommended Cookies. The Iron Ore train goes across the Sahara desert, connecting from the iron mines in the north of Mauritania to the city of Nouadhibou. Those ores are so important for the poor country that they are mined around the clock. Copyright 2021 Safari Junkie | All Rights Reserved |, Crossing Border from Senegal to Mauritania, 20 Instagram Accounts Capturing Everyday Africa, 50 Movies Where the Action Happens in Africa, African Proverbs 300 Inspirational Proverbs and Quotes, How to Travel In Africa on a Tight Budget, How Safe is Zanzibar for Solo Female Traveller, Sacred Women Travel Womens Journey to Kenya. I wanted to get an overview of one of the most dilapidated cities I had ever seen. All rights reserved. Now I want to show you how to do the same. Free shipping. Just epic. The ore is the bedrock of the Mauritanian economy, but the train is just as important to the people, providing a means of transport out of remote communities and access to the outside world. On March 26 1974, two trains were used to clear the bunkers at Tyne Dock, the first, at 10:45 was pulled by 24106 & 24110 whilst the second, due to run at 12:00 but delayed until 14:00 was pulled by 24109 & 24103. The last car in the train is actually for passengers. My ticket said no passengers in the car, but nobody obliged when I asked if I could spend the journey in or on the car. We mimicked other passengers and started to run towards the train and chose a cart that was not occupied yet and climbed onto the top. We arrived late, so had to sleep over in a hostel owned by a dutch couple. Twice daily over two hundred connected cars - a distance of nearly three kilometers - rumble along the tracks between the port city of Nouadhibou and the inland iron ore mines of Zouerate. my tripsacross the Sahara Desert in the 70s & 80s. Its just south of Morocco and north of Senegal. He set off on his first completely solo trip by the age of 18 and since then he always seeks for unusual places, daring adventures and challenging experiences all around the world. A short answer would be because is EPIC, it cant be done anywhere else inthe world and you will remember it for the rest of your life. The Iron Ore train journey goes within Western Sahara territory Safety tips for traveling to Mauritania. However, if you want the real experience of Mauritania's iron ore train, skip the passenger car. Its dusty, its cold, its windy, its uncomfortable, but it is the most amazing thing I have done so far! Youtube. Today we make our way towards the depths of the Sahara, to Choum, and the train tracks that mark our pick-up spot. If you have any questions, Id love to hear from you in the comments below. Passengers fill a car carrying iron ore for the 20-hour journey to Nouadhibou. The History of the Iron Ore Train in Mauritania. Its our first full day in Mauritanias capital. All Rights Reserved. So here I was, walking into the shed of the Mauritanian Railway Authorities to enquire about the possibility to transport my car and myself to Choum, approximately 500 km east of Nouadhibou. Read More How Many Websites Are There in North Korea?Continue, Your email address will not be published. Two kids selling cold water and Bisap just passed by a sign that warns about the dangers of crossing the nearby railway and seven other kids accompanied Josh, an Englishman I just met earlier this day in Atar, and me while we all wait for the longest train in the world to arrive. What can I say? I have a ton of travel experience, but I guess I am just wondering about when it gets dark and if anyone will hassle me. Construction of the line began in 1960, with it opening in 1963. Take a ride on board Mauritania's Iron Ore Train, deemed by many to be the most dangerous railway in the world. A mining center was constructed at Zouerate together with port facilities at Nouadhibou on the Atlantic coast, and both centers were linked by a railway line 700 km long. Remote Work So it is dangerous, dusty, a bit uncomfortable, noise, either partly freezing or partly hellish hot. Read our community guidelines. Two newlyweds looking for a honeymoon with a Two newlyweds looking for a honeymoon with a Read more on nzherald.co.nz HO Lot of 6 Accurail Duluth Missabe & Iron Range ACF 3-Bay Covered Hoppers DMIR. Here we'll visit one of the ancient cities of Islam, Chinguetti. All photos in this post are copyright of an. You'll ride with us from Choum close to the border of . I love anything to do with off-beat travel, abandoned places, temples & ruins, street art, wildlife in its natural habitat, adventure sport..basically anything but the 9-5! The journey from the coast into the heart of the Mauritanian Sahara is as much of an adventure as one could possible have, and will certainly leave you full of stories to tell. Were available for editorial and commercial travel photo assignments worldwide. The only iron ore that remains is the dust which is bad but not nearly as horrible as you might think. Locals use it as means of transport while for foreign travellers iron ore ride is the the adventure of a lifetime. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Even though the ride is bumpy you can still enjoy watching the night sky, because I can guarantee you that you will not get any sleep at all. Instagram, Mauritania is an epic, raw and off the beaten track country, home to a vast, jaw-dropping desert, occasionally dotted with ancient caravan cities, which once were important trading routes. The toilet situation was a bit of a hassle. Video Player is loading. Find the perfect iron ore train from zouerat stock photo. One last dinner & sleep in civilization before we head off to the desert. After a minute of discussion, the station master said I should stop crying, they will immediately start the Diesellocomotive and will unload my car within 10 minutes. For locals, the iron ore train is a commuter rail; for foreigners, it's the ride of a lifetime. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. This railway was built back in 1963 to connect the port to the iron mines which were 700 kilometers east into the desert. With one place still available, I could put my car on the train. Here well bed down in our tented accommodation, have dinner under the stars and soak up just where we are in the world. . For those with return flights from Nouakchott, we have a bus transfer back to the Capital City, it takes about 6 hours or so. And maybe another secret bar to celebrate. Amongst other things Mauritania is home to the longest train in the world, a Goliath chain of massive heavy bread tins on wheels, lined up for miles on a single track that pokes up through the sand.

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