Travel to Mauritania — everything you need to know
When to go to Mauritania?
November – February — Ideal cool season : The best time to travel: pleasant temperatures (20–28°C), no rain, blue skies. Ideal for the desert, hikes in the Adrar and the Atlantic coast.
March – April — Early heat : Temperatures climbing to 30–35°C, occasional sandstorms (harmattan). Still possible but uncomfortable for extended hiking.
Weather in Mauritania
Check the weather city by city, starting with Nouakchott.
Nouakchott: daytime highs from 29 to 36 °C depending on the season, 9 mm of rain per month on average.
What to do in Mauritania?
Mauritania is a vast Saharan country between sea and desert, seldom visited but strikingly beautiful. The caravan towns of Chinguetti and Ouadane (UNESCO), the Adrar plateau with its dunes and gorges, and the Banc d'Arguin (UNESCO), a world sanctuary for migratory birds, form an unforgettable route for adventurers.
Chinguetti & the Adrar
Chinguetti, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the seven holy cities of Islam and a major hub of trans-Saharan caravan trade. Its libraries of ancient manuscripts and mud-brick houses are swallowed by the dunes of the Saharan erg.
The Banc d'Arguin is one of the world's most important bird sanctuaries, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Millions of migratory birds stop here between Europe and sub-Saharan Africa. Imraguen fishermen still use sailing canoes to fish within this unique lagoon.
Highlights : Imraguen fishermen in sailing canoes, The park's deserted beaches, Sunset over the lagoon.
Ouadane & the Eglab
Ouadane, another UNESCO-listed caravan town, overlooks a spectacular gorge in the heart of the Adrar plateau. Landscapes of red rock, palm groves and medieval ruins create a timeless atmosphere for lovers of Saharan adventure.
Highlights : Ouadane's old medieval town, Adrar rock paintings, Camel trek across the plateau.
Nouakchott & the coast
Nouakchott, a capital born from the desert in 1960, is a fascinating city of contrasts: dunes advancing toward the sea, the fish market at the Port de Pêche Artisanale where canoes unload tonnes of fish every morning, and caravan neighbourhoods.
Highlights : Port de Pêche Artisanale — fish market, National Museum of Mauritania, Marché Capitale — fabrics and crafts, Nouakchott beach at sunset.
Travel budget for Mauritania
Mauritania is an affordable destination, but tourist infrastructure is limited, especially in desert areas. Mid-range hotels exist mainly in the larger cities; in the Adrar, Saharan camps are the norm.