Hi jellybabies.
I leave for Cape Town in August (departing my home) & have researched this particular section quite closely.
Some of the towns are up to 100km apart so make allowance for 10 litre's of water, there are 'unmarked' watering points such as manned phone mast's & police check-points but don't rely on these.
I use these bottles as extras as they fold flat & take no space in panniers, then will tie them onto my front rack when required
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgu...tre+roll+up+bottle&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&tbs=isch:1
Visas into Mauritania are no longer issued at the border but only at the embassy in Rabat, Morocco, so you'll need to make allowance for this. Once issued you only get a few days 'grace' either side of the date to enter, this can mean a tight schedule, considering Mauritania is ~1000 miles from the Rabat. I'm planning to leave my bike at Dakhla in Western Sahara & bus / train back to Rabat & then back to the bike, this way I can explore the Atlas mountains without any concerns of time, a factor of which I've said this tour is
not to include.
Mark.
http://www.wallisonwheels.com