 Once in Mauritania one drove across the sands to Nouadhibou where local guides were needed to travel the desert and beach piste to the capital, Nouakchott.In 1999 Trailblazer Guides published the original, 650-page edition of Sahara Overland which included several routes in Mauritania.Similar route guides were available in French and German, with many more books in French describing the geography of the country.