Iwik

Iwik is one of the Imraguen villages inside Banc d'Arguin, communities allowed to keep fishing within the park because their methods predate it, and their best known practice is fishing with dolphins: the men wade out and beat the water, wild bottlenose dolphins drive mullet toward the shore, and both take from the same run. Lateen-rigged wooden boats are still used. Simple guesthouses take visitors.

Highlights

• The dolphin fishing - wild dolphins driving mullet toward waiting fishermen.
• The lateen boats - the wooden craft the Imraguen still work under sail.
• The village - one of the few settlements permitted inside the park.
• The mudflats - the shallow feeding ground the whole park rests on.

When to go

November to March is the cool season and best for birds. The mullet run and the dolphin fishing are seasonal and unpredictable. Summer heat is severe.

Practical notes

The dolphin fishing is seasonal and cannot be arranged on demand; many visitors do not see it. Accommodation is very basic and supplies must be brought. A park permit and a guide arranged in advance are required.

Nearby

Banc d'Arguin surrounds it, and Nouadhibou is north.

Key facts