When to go
The best time to visit Mauritania is
winter, from December to mid-February: temperatures are hot in the south and mild in the north, the sun shines and it almost never rains. At night, it can get a bit cold everywhere, quite often in the inland areas of the north and rarely in the south, while in the south, it can sometimes be hot even in this season, but more rarely than in the rest of the year.
In winter, it is possible to swim, even though the
sea is a bit cool, and sometimes, the air can be cold, at least at night and in the early hours of the morning.
What to pack
In
winter: for the inland areas, bring light clothing, long and loose-fitting shirts and pants, a scarf for the sand and dust, sunglasses (even graduated instead of contact lenses), a jacket and a sweater for the evening, especially in the north, and desert boots or sandals; for Nouakchott and the coast, light clothes for the day, a sweatshirt and a jacket for the evening, and a scarf for the sand.
In
summer: bring lightweight clothes, long and made of natural fabric (cotton or linen), a desert turban, a sweatshirt for the night, a sleeping bag for night outdoors. On the coast north of Nouakchott, a light sweatshirt; for the south, a light raincoat for the rain showers. It's better for women to avoid shorts and miniskirts.
Back to the climate of
Mauritania