Travel Guide Tidjikdja

As in Oualata and Tichit, you must report to the gendarmerie, both on departure and arrival in Tidjikdja, capital of the Tagant region. In reality, it is they who will come to meet you, the various gendarmerie checkpoints having relayed the information well before your arrival. Tidjikdja is 250 km east of Tichit, and 375 km northwest of Atar.The track to Atar is now paved, but the track to Tichit is not yet paved and it is necessary to be accompanied by someone who knows the area well. Moudjéria is much easier to access, 140 km of good tar separating it from Tidjikdja. It is a recent city, since it was created in 1680 by inhabitants of Chinguetti whose first concern was to plant date palms.It was a prosperous city thanks to the caravan trade, but also thanks to its livestock and its important production of dates. Xavier Coppolani, who tried to conquer southern Mauritania by the Pacific route, entered Tidjikdja in 1905. He was assassinated shortly afterwards and the town was then called Fort Coppolani for some time. He is buried in Tidjikdja. His tomb, surmounted by an obelisk, is empty of any inscription and is located along a small path that runs alongside the wadi and its gardens on the one hand and the post office on the other, at the level of the antenna towers.