Tichitt Caravan Track
A desert city earned, never given.
Tichitt is one of the oldest towns in sub-Saharan Africa, a UNESCO World Heritage site built from stone that has sat in the middle of the Mauritanian desert since the 9th century. Getting there is the challenge — the track from Kiffa northeast across the Aoukar sand basin is unmarked, navigation is by GPS and dead reckoning across interdunal corridors, and the only checkpoints are the occasional nomad camp. The route climbs over the Tagant Plateau escarpment at a rocky ledge section locals call the ‘Falaise de Tichitt’ before dropping into the ancient stone-walled city. Temperatures regularly exceed 45°C in summer.
This is deep Sahara travel — not a trail to tick off casually. Dual-purpose vehicles with serious sand capability, satellite communication, and enough fuel for 900-plus km of no-resupply running are baseline requirements. Water is critical: carry a minimum of 20 liters per person beyond what you expect to need. The Mauritanian military requires route registration at Kiffa before departure, and checkpoints along the way will inspect your paperwork. Best window is November through February. There’s no dramatic finish line here — just the satisfaction of rolling into a medieval desert city that most of the world will never see.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Extreme |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, Overland Route, Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Mixed, Rock, Sand |
| Features | Camping, High Altitude, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 311 mi / 500 km |
| Duration | 6-8 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 1640 ft |
| Best season | November-February |
| Minimum vehicle | Expedition 4x4, sand plates, satellite communicator mandatory |
| Nearest town | Kiffa, Assaba, Mauritania |
| Land manager | Government of Mauritania / Ministère de l'Environnement |
| Permit required | Yes |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
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Frequently asked questions
What's the minimum vehicle setup to attempt the Tichitt Caravan Track?
A purpose-built expedition 4x4 with a locking differential, high-lift jack, sand plates, and at minimum 60 liters of reserve fuel capacity. A lifted stock SUV will not cut it — deep Saharan sand, washouts, and zero recovery infrastructure make an under-equipped rig a life-safety problem, not just a trip-ender.
When is the Tichitt Caravan Track passable, and what happens if you go outside that window?
November through February is the only realistic window — temperatures stay below 40°C and the harmattan winds are manageable. Outside those months, summer heat regularly exceeds 50°C in the Aoukar Basin, and the track can become impassable after rare but sudden rainstorms that turn sand depressions into mud traps with no drainage.
Do you need permits to drive the Tichitt Caravan Track, and how do you get them?
Yes. Foreign nationals require a travel authorization from the Government of Mauritania and must register with local authorities in Kiffa before departing into the interior. Carry printed copies of all documents — there are no digital systems in the field, and military checkpoints along the route do conduct vehicle checks.
What's the hardest section of the route and what makes it genuinely dangerous?
The mid-route crossing of the Aoukar Basin is the crux — roughly 150 km of navigation with no tracks, no landmarks, and soft sand that can swallow a vehicle to the axles within seconds of stopping. Getting stuck here without a second vehicle, a satellite communicator, and enough water for a multi-day wait is a situation people don't always walk away from.
How much fuel do you need to carry, and is there any resupply between Kiffa and Tichitt?
Plan for the full 500 km with zero resupply — there is no fuel between Kiffa and Tichitt, and Tichitt itself is a near-abandoned desert town with no reliable services. Most experienced teams carry 200+ liters of diesel in jerry cans to account for fuel burn in soft sand, which can run three to four times higher than on hard surface.
Trail track
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