Ouadane Travel Guide
Caravan Crossroads of Sahara
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Ouadane is a small town in northern Mauritania, lying on the Adrar Plateau, north east of Chinguetti. The old town is part of the Ancient Ksour of Ouadane, Chinguetti, Tichitt and Oualata - a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Though largely in ruins, with pile upon pile of stones, the ancient centre is still substantially intact, while a small modern settlement lies outside its gate.
Ouadane was founded in 1147 by the Berber tribe - Idalwa el Hadji and soon became an important trading centre serving the caravans that crossed the Sahara.
A Portuguese trading post was established in 1487, but the town declined from the sixteenth century. The town illustrates a traditional way of life centred on the nomadic culture of the people of the western Sahara.
Attractions in Ouadane
7 km northwest of Ouadane lies the semi-troglodyte village of Tin Labbe. The huge crater mountain of Guelb er Richat is also close by.
Activities in Ouadane
Take a guided tour of the ruins of the ancient town.
Relaxing
Camp wild near Ouadane and chill out under a starlit African night sky.
Getting Around
Private transport in a 4x4 vehicle with driver and knowledgeable local guide is essential for visiting Chinguetti due to the ever-changing nature of sand tracks and desert trails.
Ouadane Reviews
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Posted on:
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Monday, 17th December 2007
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Magically, just at the right time, as the day was losing its heat but the light was becoming warm and deep, we arrived at the ancient ruined city of Ouadane. Oudane is in an even more ruined state than Chinguetti but is even more magical. The young guide we had did his best to tell us about the history, and explain what each room was (in a strongly-accented French). But I’m afraid the David Baileys among us were captivated by the wonderful light playing across the impossibly photogenic ruins. So I’m afraid most of the history lesson fell on deaf ears.
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Posted by:
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Mike Fox
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Posted at:
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13:42
