Mauritania is not exactly a mecca of shopping or a paradise for handicrafts as most travelers would expect, but there are still a few great options for those who wish to take home some goodies to remember their stay. Most of the shopping here can be found at local markets in the large cities, with some of the more well known Marche Sixieme and Marche Capital in Nouakchott. We have dedicated this guide to help navigate your shopping plan with ease!
There’re certain handicrafts that cannot be missed, including leather goods, wooden instruments, crockery and utensils, silverware and jewelry, hand-woven carpets made from goat and camel hair, nomadic tents, pottery, and traditional arrowheads and other ancient tools. A favorite with foreigners are the poplar tie-dyed fabrics, which are prolific in the area of Kaedi. These fabrics are colored by hand and sold in veils of cloth called mulafa or constructed for use as a top and a bottom in something called a boubou. The fabrics are basically well-priced, but be sure to inspect the quality carefully as it tends to differ from trader to trader.
Bargaining is a necessary practice in the Mauritanian markets and is actually imperative as most quoted prices are unnecessarily inflated. Foreigners here should, however, keep in mind that most traders are not intent on scamming patrons and thus negotiating should be done with respect, in the spirit of fun, and one thing, smile!
Other markets offer traditional craft such as crafted wooden boxes, silver jewelry, leather products, baskets, tablecloths, purses, pillows, camel hair rugs, tents, fine straw mats and unique fabric for wearing. Products unique to the country include brass hand-washing pots, wooden boxes with expensive silver inlay, huge colorfully decorated nomadic tents, camel rugs, tea pots, silver, and colorfully painted leather cushions.
A variety of restaurants here offer diverse cuisines from Mauritanian, Senegalese, Lebanese, to Chinese, Italian, Cameroonian, Tunisian and Moroccan. There are alsoseveral big supermarkets, where each year their selection increases with some markets importing European and American products. The Moroccan Mosque in the capital, remains the best place to shop for fresh fruits and vegetables. A variety of cheap produce grown in Mauritania and Morocco is always available!
RocApply Tips:
- As with other facets of life in Mauritania, food, and grocery are also sold in their local currency, so ensure to make all the necessary conversions and move around with a little local cash on you. Many of the establishments only accept the US dollar.
- The market is a very popular and crowded place to, so it is important to watch your wallet.
- As a newcomer, some of the names of the items might confuse you, please use any online translator services to check the correct word for whatever you are searching for.
- Always ask for help or directions from fellow students and if you can't find any around you then ask even the locals they are always happy to assist foreigners and visitors.
"I enjoy shopping and I found it affordable but some of the clothes are definitely not of the highest quality." - Hassan from Turkey
