The Banc d'Arguin National Park stretches more than 200 kilometres along the Mauritanian coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site protecting one of the most important migratory bird habitats on Earth. Vast tidal mudflats, sandbanks, and shallow seagrass beds support flamingos, pelicans, terns, spoonbills, herons, and astonishing numbers of waders.
The Imragen villages, of which Nouamghar is the southern gateway, sit inside the park boundary and run small wooden lanche boats out into the lagoons. A boat trip from Nouamghar can take you across to Tidra Island, the largest in the park, and to bird colonies that are otherwise impossible to reach. Bring a hat — there is no shade anywhere — and plenty of water.