OUALATA is 90 km from Nema, Tichitt is 400 km and Tidjikja is 700 km.

It is located north of Nema at less than a hundred kilometres. Oualata is and old city is famous for its libraries, its immutable architecture and its mural decorations. It is one of the most beautiful towns of Mauritania because of its environment; it is at the foot of the Dhar. The stone-built houses have an original architecture. Paintings with various motifs decorate the houses.

Oualata was an active city during the Middle Age. It was built on the sites of Birou, another old city. It is thought that Oualata was built at the beginning of the 11th century. It was a caravan city and a stop over city. Oualata knew moments of splendours. It was a great arts and religious centre, competitor to Tombouctou.

Recommended places to visit: the Koranic school, the fort of Oualata, the Library, the works of decoration at private individuals.

To discover is the local gastronomy which very appreciated by all the visitors.

LODGING

AUBERGE (INN) OUALATA, INN OF THE GOOD RECEPTION, TOWN HALL, INN EL WALATI.

TICHIT is 400 km from Tidjikja of Oualata and 490 km to Nema.

One day of travel from Tidjikja or 12 to 14 hours. It is the most isolated old city. Classified as Inheritance to Humanity, Tichitt is a very old city. But its history is best-known beginning in the middle of the 12th century.

Caravan city, Tichitt was a commercial metropolis in the Sahara. With its rich silos, its irrigated agriculture, Tichitt were visited caravans and merchants from Hodh, from Tagant but also of North Africa and Black Africa. The city was also famous for its libraries, its scholars and for its 7 century old mosque.

Tichitt is in fact less known because it was not visited as frequently as other old cities. It is however a city representative of the old architecture. On the road between Tichitt and Tidjikja, there are several canyons, cliffs and cave paintings.

Places recommended to visit: the Mosque, Chorfa and Massena districts and in July, there is the Guetna or curing of the dates .

32 km away there is Aghreijitt and there one can visit sites dating from the Neolithic era, burials sites as well as its ruins and Mosque. In the middle of the cliffs one finds the remainders of old villages: potteries, archaeological objects and dont forget the SALINES (EMERSAL), which are still exploited by the cameleers.