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Mauritania
Explore Mauritania, a sweeping sea of dunes guarding ancient nomadic secrets. Ride the iconic Iron Ore Train, wander through historic desert libraries, and lose yourself in the vast Sahara.
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Summary
Did you know?
Space Landmark – The massive "Eye of the Sahara" is a geological dome so huge that astronauts actually use it to navigate from space.
Overview
Months
April, August, December, February, January, July, June, March, May, November, October, September
Vacation type
Beach, Hiking, Desert
Expenses
0-50€, <100€, <150€, <200€, Over 200€
Temperature
25-30°C, Over 30°C
Rainfall
0-50mm, 50-100mm
Safety
Dangerous
Continent
Africa
Currency
Mauritanian Ouguiya
Languages
Arabic
Currency Converter
When to visit
The optimal travel period for Mauritania is strictly the winter dry season (December to February). Average daytime high temperatures range comfortably between 26°C and 31°C, with nighttime lows dropping significantly to 14°C to 16°C. Precipitation is virtually non-existent (0 mm monthly average), and relative humidity remains low (30-40%). These stable conditions are mandatory for safely undertaking deep-desert expeditions.
The wet and extreme heat season (May to October) brings hazardous operational conditions. By May, daily highs routinely exceed 40°C in the deep interior. The brief West African monsoon (July to September) brings localized storms to the south, averaging up to 60 mm of rain in August, triggering flash floods in desert wadis and rendering unpaved tracks impassable.
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Plan the whole vacation, including flights, transportation, hotels and tours with Expedia *
Climate Data
Peak Season (December to February)
Average Sunny Hours per Day: 9 to 11 hours.
Rain Frequency: 0 days per month.
Rainy Hours per Day: 0 hours.
Intensity: Completely dry.
Duration: Persistent, clear conditions, occasionally interrupted by low-visibility dust storms driven by the Harmattan winds.
Off-Peak Season (May to October)
Average Sunny Hours per Day: 7 to 9 hours.
Rain Frequency: 1 to 5 days per month (peaking in August in the south).
Rainy Hours per Day: 1 to 2 hours.
Intensity: Brief, torrential thunderstorms in the south; brutal, dry heat in the northern Sahara.
Duration: Quick-moving southern storms; oppressive, sustained heatwaves in the interior.
Climate Chart
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Data Source: Global Historical Climatology Network
ClimateCharts.net
Weather, Crowds and Costs
Per one person
Tourist Season: December-February
1. Budget Travel ($40-70/day)
Accommodation: $15-30/night (basic auberges, traditional desert tents/khaimas, or budget guesthouses).
Food: $10-15/day (local street food, rice and fish dishes at local markets).
Activities: $5-15/day (unguided town walks, local museum entries).
Transportation: $10-20/day (shared bush taxis or sept-places between major towns).
Other Costs: $5/day (bottled water, tea).
2. Mid-Range Travel ($120-200/day)
Accommodation: $60-100/night (standard hotels with air conditioning and reliable water in Nouakchott or Atar).
Food: $20-40/day (mid-range restaurants catering to expatriates or upscale hotel dining).
Activities: $20-40/day (group desert tours, short camel treks).
Transportation: $20-40/day (domestic flights or booking multiple seats in a shared taxi for comfort).
Other Costs: $10/day (incidentals).
3. Luxury / Expedition Travel ($350+/day)
Accommodation: $100-200+/night (premium business hotels in Nouakchott or fully catered private mobile desert camps).
Food: $50+/day (premium dining, imported goods).
Activities: $100+/day (privately guided multi-day Saharan expeditions, private access to ancient libraries).
Transportation: $150+/day (private, fully equipped 4x4 vehicle with a dedicated local driver/guide).
Other Costs: $20+/day (premium artifacts, high-end silver jewelry).
Off-Peak Season: May-October
Note: Desert tourism effectively shuts down due to lethal heat; costs reflect coastal or capital-based travel
1. Budget Travel ($30-50/day)
Accommodation: $15-25/night (basic lodgings with low-season rates).
Food: $10-15/day (local eateries).
Activities: $5/day (indoor sites).
Transportation: $5-10/day (shared urban transit).
Other Costs: $5/day (incidentals).
2. Mid-Range Travel ($90-150/day)
Accommodation: $50-80/night (standard hotels).
Food: $20-35/day (standard restaurants).
Activities: $10-20/day (accessible coastal tours).
Transportation: $15-30/day (private urban taxis).
Other Costs: $5-10/day (goods).
3. Luxury / Expedition Travel ($250+/day)
Accommodation: $120+/night (premium urban hotels).
Food: $50+/day (premium dining).
Activities: $50+/day (private coastal logistics).
Transportation: $120+/day (private air-conditioned transit).
Other Costs: $15+/day (premium goods).
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You can find accomendations that fit your trip and budget on Booking.com, Vrbo and Hotels.com
Best Regions to visit
Cities
1. Nouakchott
- The sprawling, dust-swept capital city situated on the Atlantic coast. It is defined by its massive, frenetic Port de Pêche (fishing port), large bustling markets, and modern mosques.
2. Nouadhibou
- The second-largest city, located on a peninsula in the far north. It serves as the commercial hub of the country, acting as the terminus for the massive iron ore trains and boasting a massive offshore ship graveyard.
3. Atar
- The administrative capital of the Adrar region and the primary logistical gateway for all deep-desert tourism, historic town visits, and oasis expeditions.
4. Chinguetti
- A historic, deeply atmospheric desert town founded in the 13th century. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site, famous for its ancient stone architecture and centuries-old Islamic libraries slowly being swallowed by the encroaching dunes.
Nouakchott
Photo By Александра Пугачевская https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Central_mosque_in_Nouakchott.jpg
Did you know?
Mega Train – It boasts one of the world's longest and heaviest trains, stretching up to 3 kilometers long just to carry iron ore across the desert.
Islands
1. Tidra Island
- The largest island located within the Banc d'Arguin National Park. It is a critical, protected breeding ground for pelicans, spoonbills, and flamingos, historically serving as the birthplace of the Almoravid dynasty.
2. Cap Blanc (Ras Nouadhibou)
- A rugged, narrow peninsula shared with Western Sahara. The surrounding waters provide a sanctuary for one of the world's last remaining colonies of the highly endangered Mediterranean monk seal.
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Find the perfect place to stay in any of these top cities and islands with Booking.com, Hotels.com and Vrbo – offering entire homes and apartments for a comfortable and private experience.
Things to see
Natural Attractions
1. Banc d'Arguin National Park
- A massive, UNESCO-protected coastal wetland featuring expansive sandbanks and shallow waters. It is one of the most important zones in the world for nesting migratory birds traveling between Europe and Africa.
2. Guelb er Richat (The Eye of the Sahara)
- A colossal, 40-kilometer-wide circular geologic formation in the Sahara near Ouadane. Initially thought to be a meteor impact crater, it is a deeply eroded geological dome best viewed from space or high-altitude overflights.
3. Ben Amera
- The largest monolith in Africa (and second-largest in the world after Uluru). This massive, sheer block of black granite rises dramatically out of the flat, empty Saharan sands near the Western Sahara border.
Historical and Cultural Sites
1. The Libraries of Chinguetti
- Private, family-owned repositories of ancient, hand-written Quranic manuscripts, scientific texts, and poetry. Local curators protect these fragile, centuries-old documents from the dry desert air and termites.
2. Ouadane
- Another spectacular UNESCO World Heritage site located on the edge of the Adrar plateau. It features extensive, crumbling stone ruins of a once-thriving trans-Saharan trading post and fortified settlement.
3. Oualata
- Located in the far southeast, this historic town is renowned for its highly distinctive, highly decorative vernacular architecture, featuring intricate red and white geometric patterns painted onto the mud-brick courtyard walls.
Unique Experiences
1. Riding the Iron Ore Train (Train des Mines)
- Embarking on an extreme, gritty 14-hour overnight transit from Zouérat to Nouadhibou. Travelers can ride for free by sleeping directly on top of the open-air wagons filled with heavily dusting iron ore, enduring freezing nighttime temperatures.
2. Exploring the Fish Market at Nouakchott
- Arriving at the Port de Pêche in the late afternoon to witness hundreds of brightly painted, traditional wooden pirogues crashing through the Atlantic surf to offload the day's catch in a chaotic, vibrant spectacle.
3. Camel Trekking the Adrar
- Executing a multi-day, traditional nomadic transit between the oases and ancient cities of the Adrar region, led by local Moorish guides and sleeping under some of the clearest, darkest night skies on Earth.
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The best way to explore major cities and must-see attractions is by booking guided tours.* They offer convenience, local insights, and often save time when visiting popular sights.
Tours to do
1. The Adrar Historic Circuit
- A terrestrial 4x4 operation launching from Atar, navigating dirt tracks and deep sand to visit the ancient cities of Chinguetti and Ouadane, before retreating to the thermal pools of the Terjit Oasis.
Best Time: December to February
Average Cost: $600 – $1,200 per person (vehicle charter and guides)
2. The Banc d'Arguin Coastal Survey
- A highly specialized maritime and coastal operation utilizing local Imraguen sailing boats (lanches) to navigate the shallow tidal flats and observe massive avian migrations.
Best Time: November to January
Average Cost: $500 – $900 per person
3. The Iron Route Expedition
- An extreme, high-endurance overland route following the railway tracks from Nouadhibou deep into the Sahara to view the Ben Amera monolith, culminating in a ride on the Iron Ore Train.
Best Time: January to February
Average Cost: $400 – $800 per person
How to get around
1. Private 4x4 Vehicles
- Securing a rugged, high-clearance 4x4 with an experienced local driver is the absolute, mandatory standard for any travel outside the main paved arteries. Desert navigation is highly complex and hazardous without local expertise.
2. Domestic Aviation
- Mauritania Airlines operates intermittent domestic routes connecting Nouakchott to Nouadhibou, and occasionally to Zouérat.
3. Shared Taxis (Sept-Places)
- Old, battered station wagons that serve as the primary intercity transit network on paved roads. They are heavily overloaded, uncomfortable, and depart only when all seats are sold.
4. The Iron Ore Train
- Aside from the extreme open-air ore cars, the train also hauls a single, highly crowded, dilapidated passenger carriage for those unwilling to brave the elements on top of the ore.
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You can find great car rental deals for your vacation on Expedia *
Did you know?
Sand Libraries – The ancient oasis town of Chinguetti hides centuries-old, incredibly rare manuscripts that are slowly being swallowed by the Sahara.
What to eat
1. Thieboudienne (Cheb)
- Heavily influenced by neighboring Senegal, this is the unofficial national dish. It consists of fish, heavily seasoned rice, and root vegetables simmered in a rich tomato and peanut oil base.
2. Zrig
- A ubiquitous, traditional nomadic beverage. It consists of freshly milked or slightly fermented camel's milk (or goat's milk), often mixed with water and sugar, served chilled in a communal bowl.
3. Mechoui
- A celebratory dish consisting of a whole lamb or goat, heavily rubbed with salt and spices, and slow-roasted for hours over open coals or buried in a sand-pit oven.
4. Dates
- Mauritania produces massive quantities of high-quality dates, particularly during the Guetna (date harvest festival) in the Adrar region during the hot summer months.
Flights
Flight prices are approximate and vary by departure city, airline, and booking time. Check airlines or travel platforms for the latest details.
* Please note: All prices are rough estimates for orientation purposes only and may vary by region.
Main Airport: Nouakchott–Oumtounsy International Airport (NKC)
Flight Prices and Seasons:
From Europe
- Average Round-Trip Cost: €500 to €900 (Air France flies direct from Paris; Binter Canarias from Gran Canaria; Royal Air Maroc via Casablanca).
- Cheapest Months: November and February.
- Peak Prices: July, August, and late December.
From North America
- Average Round-Trip Cost: $1,000 to $1,800 (Routed via Paris or Casablanca).
- Cheapest Months: October and November.
- Peak Prices: June, July, and December.
From Asia
- Average Round-Trip Cost: $1,300 to $2,400 (Routed via Istanbul, Paris, or Casablanca).
- Cheapest Months: March and May.
- Peak Prices: December and January.
From Australia
- Average Round-Trip Cost: $2,000 to $3,500.
- Cheapest Months: May and November.
- Peak Prices: December and January.
From Africa
- Average Round-Trip Cost: $300 to $700 (Connectivity via Royal Air Maroc, Air Sénégal, and Tunisair).
- Cheapest Months: September and October.
- Peak Prices: August and December.
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You can find the best flight deals with Skyscanner or plan the whole vacation, including flights, transportation, hotels and tours with Expedia *
Airport Location
Visa
1. Visa Requirement
- Visas are strictly required for almost all foreign nationals.
2. Consular Processing
- Mauritania operates a highly efficient Visa on Arrival (VoA) system at Nouakchott International Airport (NKC) and major land borders (such as the Rosso crossing from Senegal or PK55 from Western Sahara).
3. Required Documentation
- A passport valid for at least six months and cash (in EUR or USD) to pay for the VoA.
4. Health Requirements
- Proof of Yellow Fever vaccination is technically required, especially if arriving from an endemic zone. Malaria prophylaxis is heavily advised for travel in the southern regions during or after the wet season.
5. Travel Insurance
- Procuring premium medical insurance with explicit coverage for emergency medical evacuation is a strict operational necessity, as advanced trauma care is nearly non-existent in the deep desert.
Important things to know
1. Payments
- The official currency is the Mauritanian Ouguiya (MRU). The economy is aggressively cash-based. Credit cards are rarely accepted outside of premium hotels in Nouakchott. ATMs are available in major cities but are prone to network outages.
2. Tap Water
- Municipal tap water is biologically unsafe. Strict reliance on commercially sealed bottled water or heavy-duty filtration is absolute.
3. Electricity
- The standard voltage is 220V. Plug type C is standard. Power outages are frequent, especially outside the capital.
4. Tipping
- Tipping is generally modest. Leaving a 10% tip in mid-range restaurants and offering small bills to guides, drivers, and baggage handlers is appreciated.
5. SIM Cards
- Providers like Mauritel, Mattel, and Chinguitel offer prepaid SIM cards. Registration requires a passport. 4G connectivity is decent in Nouakchott and Nouadhibou but non-existent in the deep desert.
6. Driving Side
- Vehicles operate on the right side of the road.
Souveniers
1. Melahfa
- The traditional, highly vibrant, lightweight wrap worn by Moorish women. They are meticulously tie-dyed or block-printed with intricate patterns and provide excellent protection against the desert sun and sand.
2. Tuareg and Moorish Silver
- Highly intricate, hand-hammered silver jewelry, including rings, bracelets, and geometric compass pendants traditionally crafted by nomadic silversmiths using tools passed down through generations.
3. Nomadic Leatherwork
- Hand-tooled, dyed leather goods, particularly intricately decorated cushions, saddles, and small, highly durable tobacco or tea pouches designed to withstand the rigors of Saharan travel.
Melahfa
Location
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