Skip to content
wheretotravel.info
Camels resting in desert with saddles and shrubs

Mauritania travel guide

Desert roads, Atlantic towns and long empty distances for self-reliant travellers

Best: Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec

Photo: fj21 / Pixabay

Capital
Nouakchott
Language
Arabic
Currency
Mauritanian ouguiya
Time zone
UTC
Plugs
Type C · 220 V
Driving
On the right
Emergency
118 / 101 / 117

Why visit Mauritania

Mauritania suits patient, self-reliant travellers who want desert landscapes and long overland journeys. The best months are November to February. Most trips start in Nouakchott, the coastal capital, then head north to Nouadhibou or inland to Atar, a small desert town. The honest limitation: this is a very large country with only a few towns, so distances are long and services get thin once you leave the coast. Arabic is the main language.

  • Travel in the cooler months

    The best months to visit are November, December, January and February. Plan your trip inside this window. Outside it, travel is less comfortable, so most independent travellers should avoid the rest of the year.

  • Space and very few people

    Mauritania covers 1030700 km² but has only 4927532 people. That is a lot of land for a small population. Expect long distances between towns and far fewer visitors than in better-known countries in Western Africa.

  • An Atlantic coast capital

    Nouakchott, the capital, sits on the coast and has 1446761 people. It is by far the largest city and the natural place to start. You can base yourself here to sort out money in Mauritanian ouguiya and plan onward travel.

  • A second city by the sea

    Nouadhibou is another coastal city, with 173525 people. It offers a smaller, quieter alternative to the capital. It is a good choice if you want to see more of the Atlantic coast without the size of Nouakchott.

  • Inland life in Atar

    Atar is an inland town of 35170 people, away from the coast. It gives you a contrast to the two seaside cities. It is best visited in the cooler months from November to February.

Is Mauritania right for you?

Great for

  • Winter sun seekers: January highs are about 25°C, with 0 mm rain and 9.5 sun hours a day
  • Desert trips inland to Atar from November to February, when highs stay between 25°C and 30°C
  • Travellers who want wide, empty space: 4927532 people live across 1030700 km²
  • Anyone who hates rain: no month averages more than 1.3 rain days

Less ideal for

  • Summer trips: July highs reach 40°C and nights stay near 28°C
  • City breaks: the second city, Nouadhibou, has only 173525 people
  • Travellers who need English: Arabic is the only language listed
  • Travellers hoping for green scenery: even August, the wettest month, gets only 8 mm of rain

Mauritania right now: October

3.5/10
Avg high
36°C
Avg low
23°C
Rain days
1

Averages for Mauritania.

Weather by month

The climate data covers Mauritania as a whole, not one city, and the best time to go is November to March, when highs range from 25°C in January to 30°C in March and rain is close to zero. Avoid May to October, when highs reach 38–40°C, peaking at 40.1°C in July, and nights bring little relief at 23–28°C.

Average highs and lows in Mauritania by month January: high 25°C, low 12°C , 0 rain days . February: high 27°C, low 14°C , 0 rain days . March: high 30°C, low 16°C , 0 rain days . April: high 35°C, low 20°C , 1 rain days . May: high 38°C, low 24°C , 0 rain days . June: high 40°C, low 27°C , 0 rain days . July: high 40°C, low 28°C , 0 rain days . August: high 39°C, low 28°C , 1 rain days . September: high 38°C, low 27°C , 1 rain days . October: high 36°C, low 23°C , 1 rain days . November: high 30°C, low 17°C , 0 rain days . December: high 26°C, low 13°C , 0 rain days . 25°C 12°C JAN 0d 27°C 14°C FEB 0d 30°C 16°C MAR 0d 35°C 20°C APR 1d 38°C 24°C MAY 0d 40°C 27°C JUN 0d 40°C 28°C JUL 0d 39°C 28°C AUG 1d 38°C 27°C SEP 1d 36°C 23°C OCT 1d 30°C 17°C NOV 0d 26°C 13°C DEC 0d
Best months Other months (low–high) Nd = rain days

Mauritania (country average) · averages 2015–2024

Best time to visit Mauritania: month-by-month weather →

Sample itineraries

7 days

Capital and desert: Nouakchott and Atar

  1. Day 1–2

    Nouakchott

    Arrive in the coastal capital, home to about 1446761 people. Walk by the sea, get Mauritanian ouguiya and arrange onward transport before you head inland.

  2. Day 3–6

    Atar

    Atar is an inland town of about 35170 people and your base for the desert. Keep the pace slow and arrange any desert trips with a local guide rather than going alone.

  3. Day 7

    Nouakchott

    Return to the capital for your last day. Leave spare time in case transport runs late, and end with a final walk along the coast.

10 days

Coast and desert: three Mauritanian cities

  1. Day 1–2

    Nouakchott

    Start in the capital, home to about 1446761 people. Get Mauritanian ouguiya, rest after your flight and spend time on the coast before travelling north.

  2. Day 3–5

    Nouadhibou

    Head north to Nouadhibou, a coastal city of about 173525 people. It is far smaller than the capital, so expect a slower pace and spend your days by the sea.

  3. Day 6–9

    Atar

    Move inland to Atar, a town of about 35170 people and your base for the desert. Arrange desert trips with a local guide and allow rest days between them.

  4. Day 10

    Nouakchott

    Finish back in the capital. Keep this day free as a buffer in case transport runs late before your flight home.

Food to try in Mauritania

Mauritanian mint tea (atay)

Strong green tea brewed with mint and plenty of sugar, poured from a height to make foam. It is served in several rounds and offered to guests almost everywhere.

Thieboudienne

Rice cooked with fish and vegetables in a tomato sauce. You find it most often in Nouakchott and along the coast and the south, near Senegal.

Camel milk

Camel herding is common in the desert, so fresh or soured camel milk is a daily drink for many families. It is also sold in towns, including Nouakchott.

Zrig

A cool drink of milk mixed with water and sugar. It is popular on hot days and is often served to guests or when people break a fast.

Méchoui

A whole lamb or goat roasted slowly over coals. It is a dish for weddings, religious festivals and important guests, not an everyday meal.

Adrar dates

Dates grown in the oases of the Adrar region, around towns such as Atar. Families gather there during the date harvest, called the guetna.

Know before you go

  • Plugs and voltage: Mauritania uses type C plugs and a 220 V supply. Bring a travel adapter if your plugs are a different type. Check that your chargers and devices can handle 220 V before you plug them in.
  • Driving side: Traffic drives on the right. If you are used to driving on the left, take extra care at junctions and when overtaking, especially in your first days.
  • Emergency numbers: The emergency numbers are 118, 101 and 117. Save all of them in your phone before you arrive, so you do not need to search for them in a stressful moment.
  • Currency: The local currency is the Mauritanian ouguiya. Check the current exchange rate before you travel, so you know roughly what things cost when you pay.
  • Language: Arabic is the official language. Learning a few basic Arabic greetings and phrases, or having a translation app ready offline, will help in daily situations.
  • Time zone: Mauritania runs on UTC. Check the difference with your home time zone so you do not miss flights, bookings or calls home.
  • Phone calls: The country calling code is +222. Use it when giving your local number to people abroad, or when saving local contacts in your phone.

Mauritania: frequently asked questions

When is the best time to visit Mauritania?

Go between November and February, when January and December are the strongest months. January gets our top score of 10 and December scores 9.9. From December to February, highs sit around 25°C to 27°C and lows are 12°C to 14°C, with almost no rain. November and March also rate well, but daytime highs reach about 30°C.

Is Mauritania good to visit in August?

No, August is one of the worst months to go. It has the lowest score of the year, 3.2, and we rate it avoid. Average highs are 38.9°C and nights stay warm at 27.5°C. It is also the wettest month, but that still means only 8 mm of rain on about 1 day.

How hot does Mauritania get in summer?

Very hot. From May to October, average highs stay between 35.9°C and 40.1°C, peaking in July. Nights give little relief, with lows of 23°C to 28°C. We rate each of these months avoid. If long days near 40°C would stop you enjoying the trip, choose November to March instead.

Does it rain much in Mauritania?

Hardly at all. No month averages more than 8 mm of rain, and most months get between 0 and 5 mm. August has the most rain days, at 1.3. Heat will shape your plans far more than rain. Expect 9.5 to 11.6 hours of sun a day all year.

What plugs, currency and language does Mauritania use?

Mauritania uses type C plugs at 220 V, so bring an adapter if your devices use a different plug. The currency is the Mauritanian ouguiya and the listed language is Arabic. The country runs on UTC time, the calling code is +222, and traffic drives on the right.

What is the emergency number in Mauritania?

The emergency numbers are 118, 101 and 117. Save all of them in your phone before you arrive, together with the address of the place where you are staying.

Similar destinations

Countries with a year of weather much like Mauritania.