Kornelijus
Affordable and reliable. Traveled to the US for a trip and used blikst. It was much more affordable than other companies and was very
Mauritania
Trust score 4.5
Features
- Coverage: Mauritania
- Network Provider: Mattel
- Speed: 2G / 3G
- Tethering / Hotspot: Yes
Plan Details
Device Compatibility: Most modern smartphones are fully compatible with Blikst eSIMs. However, a few exceptions exist. Check our detailed compatibility list to confirm your device works flawlessly with our service..
Activation Policy: Enjoy automatic activation by simply scanning the QR code provided after purchase. Your eSIM will instantly activate upon your arrival at Mauritania, ensuring immediate connectivity.
Delivery Time: Receive a confirmation email with your eSIM details right after completing your purchase. Quick and seamless delivery ensures you’re ready to go in minutes.
Description
Mauritania is mostly desert, and your connectivity story reflects that — strong signal around Nouakchott and the coast, a usable band along the rail line to Zouérat, and long, beautiful offline stretches in between. A Blikst Mauritania eSIM runs on Mattel, one of the country's licensed mobile operators, with 2G / 3G coverage across Nouakchott, Nouadhibou, Atar, Kiffa, and the main N1 and N2 highway corridors.
Where Mattel's signal holds up
Nouakchott and Nouadhibou have the most consistent 3G. Atar, the gateway to the Adrar Plateau and the caravan town of Chinguetti, has town-centre coverage that thins fast on the pistes out into the desert. Kiffa and Néma along the N1 get patchy 3G. The iron-ore train from Zouérat to Nouadhibou — one of the longest trains in the world and a bucket-list ride for overland travellers — has signal around each end and long offline stretches across the Sahara. Banc d'Arguin National Park on the coast has minimal coverage; treat it as an offline trip.
A realistic note on speeds
This plan delivers 2G / 3G. That's fine for WhatsApp messages, email, basic maps, and cached translations — it is not fine for Netflix, Zoom calls, or heavy photo uploads. Plan your media consumption around city Wi-Fi at hotels in Nouakchott or Atar. Mobile networks here are genuinely different from European or North American expectations; the eSIM gives you coverage, but the physics of the network are what they are.
Cost vs. roaming or a local SIM
Most non-African carriers charge aggressive per-megabyte rates for Mauritania roaming if they cover it at all. A Blikst eSIM removes the surprise bill. Local Mattel, Mauritel or Chinguitel SIMs are available in Nouakchott but require registration paperwork and an in-person visit to an office — a hassle on a short stopover and often closed outside weekday hours.
Activation and arrival
Install the eSIM while you have reliable Wi-Fi at home. When you land at Nouakchott–Oumtounsy International (NKC) or Nouadhibou (NDB) and turn airplane mode off, the Blikst profile registers on Mattel automatically. Turn off data roaming on your home line. Overland arrivals from Morocco (at the Guerguerat crossing) or Senegal (at Rosso) will see the plan activate once a Mauritanian cell picks up your phone — expect variable signal right at the borders.
What data actually gets used for here
- WhatsApp: Desert guides, drivers for the Adrar circuits, hotel owners in Chinguetti and Ouadane — everyone communicates here. It works fine on 2G / 3G.
- Maps.me or offline Google Maps: Download offline map tiles for Mauritania before you leave. Piste navigation in the desert cannot rely on live data — there often isn't any.
- Translation: Arabic and French are the working languages; Google Translate's offline packs are essential for smaller towns where French gets thinner.
- Currency and news: The ouguiya is cash-dominated; ATMs exist in Nouakchott and Nouadhibou but not reliably beyond. Keep your banking app live when you do have signal.
Plan sizing for typical trips
A week in Nouakchott with a side trip to Banc d'Arguin works on roughly 2–3 GB, most of it eaten by WhatsApp and maps. A two-week desert circuit — Atar, Chinguetti, Ouadane, Terjit — plus the capital fits within 5 GB if you're realistic about offline days. Overlanders crossing the country on the Morocco-to-Senegal route in three or four weeks should plan 10 GB, with the understanding that large chunks of that will sit unused during Sahara days. Don't oversize; coverage gaps, not your allowance, will be the limiter.
A few things worth knowing
Power in smaller towns can cut without warning, which takes masts down too. Cache everything you'll need — maps, offline translations, hotel confirmations — before you head into the Adrar. Photography permits are a thing in some areas; keep your guide in the loop and don't rely on asking Google mid-shoot. The reward for working around all this is one of the least-visited, most dramatic desert countries on earth.
Install at home, land in Nouakchott with your Blikst line already on Mattel, and treat data as a tool for coordination and coordination-adjacent tasks — not as a streaming service. It'll do what you need it to.
Important Information
- This eSIM plan is only compatible with iPhone, Samsung and Google devices.
- To activate this plan, you will need to provide your IMEI, EID/ICCID and preferred eSim Activation Date.
- On the specified date your eSim will be activated automatically in the USA no QR code needed.
- The plan must be purchased at least 2 days before the activation date to allow time for processing.
Our plans
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How to get your Bliskt eSIM data?
Check Device Compatibility
Confirm that your smartphone or device supports our Blikst eSIM functionality.
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Follow Installation Instructions
Use the provided step-by-step guide to set up and activate your eSIM in few minutes. Then enjoy your trip.
Learn MoreBlikst eSIM Reviews
Marius
Smooth, simple, just works. Use it again.
Elinga
Quick activation and stable connection. Super handy 🌟 Used it during my trip in Madeira.
James
Lovely support, got an esim for UK. Had no issues.
Capone
I used to have 3 mobile but the internet connection was not the best, that’s why I started to use Blikst and I find it very useful
eSIM FAQ
The Blikst Mauritania eSIM runs on Mattel, one of the country's licensed mobile operators. The plan delivers 2G and 3G speeds, with the most consistent 3G around Nouakchott and Nouadhibou. Be realistic about what that means: it's fine for WhatsApp messages, email, basic maps and cached translations, but not for Netflix, Zoom calls or heavy photo uploads. Mauritanian networks simply work differently from European or North American ones.
Coverage spans Nouakchott, Nouadhibou, Atar, Kiffa and the main N1 and N2 highway corridors. Nouakchott and Nouadhibou hold the most consistent 3G. Atar has town-centre coverage that thins fast on the desert pistes, while Kiffa and Nema get patchy 3G. The iron-ore train from Zouerat has signal at each end but long offline stretches across the Sahara, and Banc d'Arguin National Park has minimal coverage, so treat it as an offline trip.
Right after purchase you'll get a confirmation email with your eSIM details, then you scan the QR code to install it. Do this at home while you have reliable Wi-Fi. Activation is automatic: when you land at Nouakchott or Nouadhibou and switch airplane mode off, the Blikst profile registers on Mattel by itself. Overland arrivals from Morocco at Guerguerat or Senegal at Rosso activate once a Mauritanian cell picks up your phone, though expect variable signal right at the borders.
Most modern smartphones are fully compatible with Blikst eSIMs, though a few exceptions exist, so check our detailed compatibility list to confirm your device. To verify eSIM support yourself, look on an iPhone under Settings, General, About for an EID number, or check your Android network settings. Your phone must also be carrier-unlocked. If you're unsure, it's worth confirming before you travel rather than after you land in Nouakchott.
A week in Nouakchott with a side trip toward Banc d'Arguin works on roughly 2 to 3 GB, most of it eaten by WhatsApp and maps. A two-week desert circuit taking in Atar, Chinguetti, Ouadane and Terjit, plus the capital, fits within 5 GB if you're realistic about offline days. Overlanders crossing on the Morocco-to-Senegal route over three or four weeks should plan 10 GB. Don't oversize, though: coverage gaps, not your allowance, will be the real limiter.
Yes, tethering and hotspot use are supported, so you can share your connection with a laptop, tablet or a travel companion's phone. Bear in mind the plan runs on 2G and 3G, so a shared connection is best kept to messaging, email and light browsing rather than streaming or video calls. Plan heavier media around hotel Wi-Fi in Nouakchott or Atar, and cache what you'll need before heading into the Adrar.
This is a data-only plan, so it doesn't include a local phone number for traditional calls or SMS. Instead you call and message over the internet using apps like WhatsApp, FaceTime or similar, which work fine on Mauritania's 2G and 3G networks and are how guides, drivers and hotel owners communicate here anyway. Because the eSIM is a separate digital line, your physical home SIM and number can stay in the phone, just switch off data roaming on it.
Usually, yes. Most non-African carriers charge aggressive per-megabyte rates for Mauritania roaming, if they cover it at all, and a Blikst eSIM removes that surprise bill. Local Mattel, Mauritel or Chinguitel SIMs are sold in Nouakchott but require registration paperwork and an in-person office visit, which is a real hassle on a short stopover and often impossible outside weekday hours. The eSIM is installed and ready before you arrive.