What is the best time to visit Mauritania?

Best Time to Visit Mauritania

The best time to travel to Mauritania is during the winter season (November to February) and the summer season (June to August).

Winter in Mauritania

Winter in Mauritania is mild and dry, with temperatures ranging from 15°C to 25°C. It is the most popular time of year to visit the country as the weather is pleasant and the days are sunny. During this time, travelers can take part in the Annual Festival of the Desert, which is held in the Sahara Desert in January. The festival celebrates the culture and traditions of the local people, with music, dance, and art performances.

Summer in Mauritania

Summer in Mauritania is hot and humid, with temperatures ranging from 25°C to 40°C. Despite the heat, this is a great time to visit the country as many of the attractions are open and the beaches are beautiful. Travelers can explore the beaches of Nouakchott or take a camel ride through the Sahara Desert. Additionally, the Festival of the Camel is held in June, which is a great opportunity to experience the culture and traditions of the country.

Month-by-month guide for traveling in Mauritania

Mauritania in January

Weather

In January, Mauritania experiences a hot and dry climate with temperatures ranging from 18-30°C (64-86°F). The northern regions of the country are cooler than the southern regions. The average rainfall is low, with some areas receiving no rain at all.

Events

• The Festival of the Camel is held in January in the city of Choum. This festival celebrates the importance of camels in the culture of Mauritania, and includes camel races, music, and traditional dancing.
• The Festival of the Dunes is held in January in the city of Atar. This festival celebrates the culture of the Sahara Desert, and includes traditional music, dancing, and camel races.
• The International Film Festival of Nouakchott is held in January in the city of Nouakchott. This festival celebrates the culture of Mauritania through film, and includes screenings of local and international films.
• The Festival of the Oasis is held in January in the city of Ouadane. This festival celebrates the culture of the desert oases, and includes traditional music, dancing, and camel races.
• The International Festival of Music and Dance is held in January in the city of Nouadhibou. This festival celebrates the culture of Mauritania through music and dance, and includes performances from local and international artists.

Mauritania in January

Weather

January is the coldest month of the year in Mauritania, with temperatures ranging from 19°C (66°F) to 25°C (77°F). The days are usually sunny, but there is some occasional rainfall.

Events

• The International Festival of Nouakchott is held in January, with traditional music, dance, and art performances.
• The Festival of the Camel is held in January, celebrating the importance of camels in Mauritanian culture.
• The Festival of the Rose is held in January in the city of Atar, celebrating the beauty of roses and their importance to the local economy.
• The Festival of the Dromedary is held in January in the city of Nouadhibou, celebrating the importance of dromedaries in Mauritanian culture.
• The Festival of the Sea is held in January in the city of Nouadhibou, celebrating the importance of the sea to Mauritanian culture.

Mauritania in March

Weather

March is the beginning of spring in Mauritania and the weather is quite pleasant. Average temperatures range between 16°C and 25°C with occasional rain showers.

Events

• The International Music Festival of Mauritania is held in March. It is a two-day festival of traditional music and dance from the region.
• The International Festival of the Sahara is held in March and is a celebration of the culture, music, and dance of the region.
• The International Festival of the Oasis is held in March and is a celebration of the culture, music, and dance of the region.
• The International Festival of the Desert is held in March and is a celebration of the culture, music, and dance of the region.
• The International Festival of the Dunes is held in March and is a celebration of the culture, music, and dance of the region.

Mauritania in April

Weather

April is the hottest month of the year in Mauritania, with temperatures reaching up to 40°C (104°F) during the day. The nights are still relatively warm, with temperatures dropping to around 25°C (77°F). The humidity is also high, with average relative humidity levels of around 70%.

Events

• The International Festival of Oualata is held in April, and is a celebration of Mauritanian culture and heritage. The festival includes traditional music and dance performances, art exhibitions, and cultural workshops.
• April marks the start of the fishing season in Mauritania, and many fishermen take to the seas to catch fish for both local consumption and export.
• April is the month of Ramadan in Mauritania, and many Muslims observe this month-long fast.
• The International Festival of Nouakchott is held in April, and is a celebration of Mauritanian culture and heritage. The festival includes traditional music and dance performances, art exhibitions, and cultural workshops.
• April marks the start of the rainy season in Mauritania, with the first rains usually arriving in late April or early May.

Mauritania in May

Weather

May is the hottest month of the year in Mauritania, with temperatures ranging from the low 30s to the high 40s Celsius (mid-80s to mid-100s Fahrenheit). The humidity is also high, making the heat more oppressive. The desert is dry and dusty, and sandstorms are common.

Events

• The Islamic holiday of Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan. It is celebrated with feasts and family gatherings.
• The Mauritanian National Day is celebrated on 28 May. It marks the anniversary of the nation’s independence from France in 1960.
• The International Festival of Nouakchott is a celebration of Mauritanian culture, featuring music, art, and dance performances.
• The Mauritanian Festival of the Desert is a celebration of traditional nomadic culture. It includes camel races, traditional music, and storytelling.
• The Mauritanian Marathon is a long-distance running event that takes place in the capital city of Nouakchott. It is open to both professional and amateur runners.

Mauritania in June

Weather

June is the beginning of the hot season in Mauritania. Temperatures in the capital city of Nouakchott can reach highs of 38°C (100°F) with lows of 24°C (75°F). Humidity levels are typically high, and rainfall is rare.

Events

• The Festival National de la Chanson Mauritanienne is an annual music festival that takes place in June in Nouakchott. The festival showcases the best of Mauritanian music, including traditional music, rap, and hip-hop.
• The Festival International de la Culture Mauritanienne is held annually in June in Nouakchott. The festival celebrates Mauritanian culture and heritage, and includes traditional dancing, music, and art.
• The Festival International de la Nature et des Sciences is held each June in Nouakchott. The festival is a celebration of nature and science, with lectures and workshops on various topics.
• The Festival International du Film de Nouakchott is an annual film festival held in June in Nouakchott. The festival showcases films from around the world, with an emphasis on African and Arab films.
• The Festival International de la Musique de Nouakchott is an annual music festival held in June in Nouakchott. The festival showcases the best of Mauritanian music, including traditional music, rap, and hip-hop.

Mauritania in July

Weather

July is the hottest month of the year in Mauritania, with temperatures averaging around 38°C (100°F). The humidity is high and rainfall is minimal, with an average of just 0.5 inches (13mm) of precipitation throughout the month.

Events

• The Festival of the Great Dune is an annual event held in the Sahara Desert in July. It includes camel races, traditional music and dance performances, and a variety of other activities.
• The Festival of the Camel is held in the city of Atar in July. It features camel races, traditional music and dance performances, and a variety of other activities.
• The Festival of the Oasis is an annual event held in the city of Nouakchott in July. It includes traditional music and dance performances, camel races, and a variety of other activities.
• The Festival of the Oasis is an annual event held in the city of Chinguetti in July. It includes traditional music and dance performances, camel races, and a variety of other activities.
• The Festival of the Sea is an annual event held in the city of Nouadhibou in July. It includes traditional music and dance performances, boat races, and a variety of other activities.

Mauritania in August

Weather

August is the hottest month in Mauritania with temperatures reaching over 100°F (38°C). The days are long and sunny, and the nights are warm. Rainfall is rare in August, with an average of 0.2 inches (5 mm).

Events

• The Festival of the Camel is held in August in Mauritania. This festival celebrates the importance of camels in Mauritanian culture and includes camel races, traditional music, and performances.
• The Festival of the Dunes is also held in August in Mauritania. This festival celebrates the traditional nomadic lifestyle of the Mauritanian people, and includes traditional music, performances, and camel rides.
• The Festival of the Oasis is held in August in Mauritania. This festival celebrates the importance of oases in Mauritanian culture and includes traditional music, performances, and camel rides.
• The Festival of the Desert is held in August in Mauritania. This festival celebrates the beauty of the Mauritanian desert and includes traditional music, performances, and camel rides.
• The Festival of the Sun is held in August in Mauritania. This festival celebrates the importance of the sun in Mauritanian culture and includes traditional music, performances, and camel rides.

Mauritania in September

Weather

September in Mauritania is hot and dry. Temperatures range from the high-20s to the mid-30s Celsius (high-80s to mid-90s Fahrenheit). Rainfall is very rare during this time of year.

Events

• The National Festival of the Desert is held in September in Mauritania. This festival celebrates the country’s nomadic culture and features camel races, traditional music, and more.
• The Festival of the Sea is held in Nouadhibou in September. This festival celebrates the country’s fishing industry with live music, traditional dancing, and more.
• The National Festival of the Arts is held in September in Nouakchott. This festival celebrates Mauritania’s culture and features traditional music, dance, and art.
• The International Film Festival of Mauritania is held in September in Nouakchott. This festival showcases films from around the world and provides a platform for local filmmakers to showcase their work.
• The International Festival of Music and Dance is held in September in Nouakchott. This festival celebrates the country’s musical heritage with performances from local and international artists.

Mauritania in October

Weather

October in Mauritania is generally warm and dry. Temperatures range from an average low of 22°C (72°F) to an average high of 32°C (90°F). Rainfall is minimal, with an average of only 2mm (0.08in) of precipitation throughout the month.

Events

• The Festival of the Sacrifice (Eid al-Adha) is celebrated in October. This is a four-day festival that commemorates the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son Ishmael as an act of obedience to God.
• The International Festival of Oualata is held in October. This festival celebrates the culture and heritage of the Oualata region of Mauritania, featuring traditional music, dance, and art.
• The Mauritanian Marathon is held in October. This is a 42km (26mi) race that starts and finishes in the capital city of Nouakchott.
• October marks the start of the fishing season in Mauritania. This is an important time for the local economy as fishermen set out to sea to catch a variety of fish, including sardines, tuna, and mackerel.
• The Nouakchott International Film Festival takes place in October. This festival is dedicated to showcasing the best of Mauritanian and African cinema.

Mauritania in November

Weather

November in Mauritania is generally hot and dry, with temperatures ranging from the mid-70s to the mid-90s Fahrenheit. The northern region of the country is particularly dry and arid, with little to no rainfall.

Events

• The Festival of the Camel, held in the city of Nouakchott, is a month-long celebration of the importance of camels in Mauritanian culture. It includes camel races, traditional music and dance performances, and a camel beauty pageant.
• The Festival of the Oasis takes place in the town of Chinguetti, located in the Sahara Desert. The festival celebrates the traditional music and culture of the region, and includes camel races, traditional singing and dancing, and a camel beauty pageant.
• The Festival of the Arts is a month-long celebration of traditional Mauritanian art and culture. It includes performances of traditional music, dance, and theater, as well as exhibitions of traditional art.
• The Festival of the Desert is a month-long celebration of the traditional culture and lifestyle of the nomadic tribes of Mauritania. It includes traditional music and dance performances, camel races, and a camel beauty pageant.
• The Festival of the Dunes is a month-long celebration of the nomadic lifestyle of the Mauritanian desert. It includes traditional music and dance performances, camel races, and a camel beauty pageant.

Mauritania in December

Weather

December in Mauritania is generally warm and dry. The average temperature is around 24°C (75°F) with an average high of 28°C (82°F) and an average low of 19°C (66°F). The amount of precipitation is very low, with an average of 0.4 inches (10 mm).

Events

• The International Festival of Oualata takes place in December. This festival celebrates the rich culture and traditions of Mauritania, with music and dance performances, as well as traditional crafts and food.
• The Festival of the Prophet’s Birthday is celebrated in December. This is a religious holiday that honors the birth of the Prophet Muhammad.
• The Festival of the Sun is celebrated in December. This is a traditional festival that celebrates the winter solstice. It includes traditional music and dance performances, as well as traditional food.
• The Festival of the Camel is celebrated in December. This is a traditional festival that celebrates the importance of the camel in Mauritanian culture. It includes camel races, music and dance performances, as well as traditional crafts and food.
• The Festival of the Desert is celebrated in December. This is a traditional festival that celebrates the beauty of the desert. It includes traditional music and dance performances, as well as traditional crafts and food.