Epic Ride to the Iron Ore Train in Mauritania 🇲🇷

From Nouakchott, I headed inland and deeper into the Mauritanian Sahara, leaving the Atlantic coast behind for one of the country’s most remote and extraordinary sights: the famous iron ore railway. The journey took me across long desert roads, through small settlements and into landscapes where sand, rock and open sky seemed to continue without end.

Riding through this part of Mauritania was an experience in itself. The distances were considerable, services were limited and the environment became increasingly isolated. Heat, dust and strong winds were constant companions, while military and police checkpoints broke up the long stretches of otherwise empty road. On my fully loaded 2023 Honda Africa Twin DCT, every fuel stop and route decision mattered.

Eventually, I reached the railway and saw the enormous iron ore train cutting through the desert. Stretching for kilometres and made up of hundreds of heavy freight wagons, it transports ore from the mines near Zouérat toward the port at Nouadhibou. Watching it approach was unlike seeing an ordinary train—the noise, weight and sheer length of it made the entire landscape seem to shake.

For many Mauritanians, the railway is more than an industrial route. People use the wagons to travel enormous distances across the country, often sitting directly on top of the iron ore and enduring hours of dust, cold and exposure. Seeing it in person revealed both the scale of Mauritania’s mining industry and the resilience of the people who depend on the train.

The iron ore railway had been one of the places I most wanted to experience in Mauritania. Reaching it by motorcycle made the moment even more rewarding. It was not simply a destination, but the culmination of another demanding ride through one of the most remote landscapes I had encountered so far.

I’ll be documenting this adventure along the way — the good, the bad, and everything in between. If you want to ride with me through Africa’s deserts, mountains, chaos, and calm, you can follow the journey on Instagram, and TikTok. I’ll be sharing stories from the road, raw moments, and the reality behind chasing freedom on two wheels.

So, come along for the ride — the long way through Africa.

Peace!