Visit Mauritania
Watch Atlantic water meet Saharan sand, then follow old caravan routes inland towards Chinguetti and Ouadane. Mauritania's scale is the first lesson: Nouakchott, desert towns, the Banc d'Arguin coast and the iron-ore railway sit across distances that turn a simple line on a map into serious logistics. Ancient ksour preserve libraries, stone streets and the history of trans-Saharan trade. Banc d'Arguin supports major concentrations of migratory birds, while desert travel exposes geology and settlement patterns rarely visible from a paved road. These places are fragile and remote, and local expertise is essential. Check the current FCDO map because it advises against all travel to parts of the country. Use a specialist operator, arrange the e-visa and desert transport, carry emergency water and communications, and never improvise into restricted regions. Add this to your list if you are willing to treat preparation as part of the journey.