I Rode the World’s Longest Train Through Mauritania’s Sahara

In this video I travel across Mauritania and ride the longest train in the world — the legendary iron ore train that crosses the Sahara Desert. This is one of the most extreme and unforgettable travel experiences on the planet. From the capital city to the desert and coast, I take you deep into a country that few people ever visit. My journey begins in Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania, where I explore the city and prepare for the trip north. From there, I head across the country by road to reach the town of Atar, one of the main gateways to the Mauritanian Sahara. In Atar, I explore local life and show you what daily routines look like in one of the most remote regions in West Africa. I eat traditional Mauritanian food, meet with locals, and experience a proper Mauritanian tea ceremony, where tea is poured high and served strong and sweet. The culture here blends Arab, Berber, and West African traditions, and the hospitality is real. From Atar, I make my way to Choum, a dusty desert outpost where the iron ore train passes through. This is where I board the train and ride across the Sahara on top of an open wagon, loaded with iron ore. There are no passenger cars, no tickets, and no comfort — just 18 hours of wind, dust, and desert under the stars. The iron ore train in Mauritania is more than 2 kilometers long and is used to haul minerals from inland mines to the port city of Nouadhibou. Tourists ride it for the experience, but for locals it is a vital connection across the desert. The journey is tough. You get covered in black dust. The temperatures swing from boiling to freezing. But the views are unreal. The silence of the Sahara, the stars at night, and the sound of nothing but wheels grinding on tracks — it’s one of the wildest rides in the world. I end the trip in Nouadhibou, on the Atlantic coast of Mauritania. The contrast between the desert and the sea is something you have to see to believe. Along the way, I also show you how to get around Mauritania using local transport, what kind of food to expect, the currency, the languages spoken (Arabic, French, Hassaniya), and what kind of traveler this country is really for. This is not a typical destination. But if you love raw, remote, and real adventure, Mauritania will blow your mind. #Mauritania #IronOreTrain #waleedtravels