The Ride to Nouakchott Turned Wild | Locusts, Desert & Chaos 🇲🇷

Leaving Nouadhibou behind, I continued south toward Nouakchott, Mauritania’s capital. On the map, the route looked simple: one long road cutting through the desert. In reality, it became one of the strangest and most unpredictable rides of the journey so far. The landscape was vast and almost completely empty, with sand stretching toward the horizon and very little between the scattered settlements and checkpoints.

The ride quickly became more intense when I encountered huge numbers of locusts along the road. They filled the air, struck the motorcycle and covered sections of the route, turning an already exposed desert ride into something surreal. Combined with strong winds, heat and the constant movement of sand across the tarmac, the conditions demanded full concentration.

As I approached Nouakchott, the emptiness of the Sahara gradually gave way to heavier traffic, roadside activity and the disorder of the capital’s outskirts. After hours of riding through open desert, the sudden return to congestion, noise and unpredictable driving felt like entering a completely different world.

This stage of Mauritania captured the country’s contrasts perfectly. One moment I was alone on an endless desert road; the next, I was surrounded by locusts, traffic and urban chaos. It was uncomfortable, memorable and unlike any ride I had experienced before.

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!