Mauritania has an international airport in the country's capital, Nouakchott. Air routes lead there from the different cities of Europe and Africa. We could therefore opt to travel via Las Palmas de Gran Canaria or Bamako with Air Mauritanie. And without leaving Europe, Air France also connects Paris with the Mauritanian capital. In addition, Royal Maroc flies to Nouakchott from Casablanca and Tunis, although Tunis Air and Air Mauritanie also operate from the latter. Air Mauritanie covers the route Dakar – Nouakchott along with Air Senegal.

In Nouakchott we are on Mauritanian soil, but we still have a long way to go before we get to Walata. When the airport at Nema opens it will be possible to fly there directly, but the other possibility is to make the trip by road, which involves about two days' travelling and gives us the chance to enjoy the changing countryside along the way. One possibility for travellers is to leave the Mauritanian capital and stop at the town of Aleg to eat and then spend the night in Kiffa. From there we set out to Ayoun and take advantage to visit the city and surrounding area until we make up our minds to get on the road to Nema. On arrival in this city we can stop over another night, go shopping in the colourful, traditional market and set out for Walata next day at noon. In this way we reach the city just in time to receive a warm welcome from its inhabitants and enjoy the spectacular sunset reflected in the red adobe houses.