Mauritania

Referred to as “Le Grand Vide” or “The Big Nothing” by French colonialists, Mauritania is dominated by the Sahara, which covers over 80% of the country. It has one of the lowest population densities in the world, ranking just ahead of Iceland. Mauritania does not attract many travelers, but the laid-back atmosphere and desert scenery often pleasantly surprises those who visit. You can lie on the beaches of the sand-swept capital of Nouakchott, or hire a guide and head out to visit the old caravan towns of Tichit, Chinguetti, and Ouadane. These UNESCO world heritage towns were founded in the 11^th and 12^th centuries.  They include beautiful old mosques and ancient buildings that look like they are about fall into ruins. The main attraction is perhaps not the towns themselves, but the journey through the desert landscape amongst thoughts of the old caravans. For a change of pace, the Banc d’Arguin National Park is a major bird stopover and breeding site, where you can see millions of birds (including pelicans, flamingos and cormorants)