How to Prepare to Ride the Iron Ore Train in Mauritania

The main attraction for adventure seeking backpackers in Mauritania is to ride on the open air Iron Ore Train. It operates daily from the mine directly in Zouerat and runs all the way to the coast in Nouadhibou. In order to ride the train you need to know some general details and some information that may or may not change. Firstly, there are two starting points for boarding the train: Choum and Zouerat/Fderick. It is easier to get to Choum as there is a van that drops off directly in the town. There are hotels and rooms to rent easily in Choum. The risk there is that the train only stops there 6/7 days of the week. Every once in a while the train just rolls through this town. I met a guy who tried to board it there and it rolled right by him. This happened in the middle of the night, another issue with boarding in Choum; the train passes in the middle of the night. The final risk with Choum is that police wait there for tourists to board and they will throw you in the passenger car. The will not do this to locals who ride the train. I also met people to whom this happened. Lastly, the ride from Choum is only about 12 hours. If you board in Zouerat, you must first take the vans to the town of Zouerat. You can also take the empty train from Nouadhibou. I met people who did this but it sounded rough because the wind reverberates around the cars. I took the vans and make sure that you have multiple copies of your passport ready to go. There are many police checks, and once they see that you are foreign, they will stop you and request your documents, only yours. I found a place to stay, got some dinner, and slept. The next morning you can find the station office and get some very spotty information. The train typically leaves at 6 PM (18:00). Mine left at 2 PM (14:00), but another one left at 6. There were locals on the 6 oclock one, I know this because as our train was broken down for 6 hours in the middle of the desert, another train passed us. Usually it is just one train that leaves daily from Zouerat. Be sure to know that any information you receive from locals or employees is subject to be wrong or change. Take it all with a grain of salt but trust the locals, they know more than you. I went to the spot you see on the video and waited at the oasis for 3+ hours. You can also take a taxi down the road to Fderick and try to avoid the cops, as the wait for tourists to board there. I met people who did that and they had to hide in bushes and wait for the train to stop there, then literally jump on. Your food, water, and clothing preparations should be the following... Depending on the time of year, I did it in May, you need at least 10 liters of water. Do not bring any food, because all food, along with all of your clothes and belongings, will be covered in iron ore (black dust). Again, it depends on the time of year, but it was really hot by day when I went and not to chilly at night. I had on long sleeves at all time to protect from the sun. I also had a light jacket at night. My next video will be about the actual ride aboard the train. Enjoy. →Follow my adventures:   / kellnercrashes   →Check out my travel TikToks:   / kellnercrashes   More Mauritania videos: →During the Iron Ore Ride:    • Iron Ore Train in Mauritania (MOST DANGERO...   →Iron Ore Train Logistics:    • How to Prepare to Ride the Iron Ore Train ...   →No Mans Land:    • No Mans Land (BETWEEN WESTERN SAHARA 🇪🇭/MO...   →Mauritania Things to Do:    • Things to Do in Mauritania   →Things to Do in Nouakchott:    • Nouakchott Things to Do (MAURITANIA'S CAPI...   #mauritania #ironore #nouakchott #africa