When to go · Mauritania
Mauritania in May
Avoid month. 40 °C (104 °F)+ inland.Avoid month. 104 °F (40 °C)+ inland.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Avoid
- Crowds
- Low
- Mauritania
- Prices
- Low
- Mauritania
Verdict
40 °C (104 °F)+ inland.104 °F (40 °C)+ inland.
Is another month better than May?
May is rated avoid. These months rate higher:
Weather in May
- Atlantic coast · Nouakchott, Nouadhibou, Banc d'Arguinfine
Trade winds keep the coast tolerable; Nouadhibou is cool and windy; humid heat Jul–Sep.
- Adrar and the desert · Atar, Chinguetti, Ouadane, Terjithot
Cold nights (near 5 °C (41 °F)) and warm days Dec–Feb; 45 °C (113 °F) in summer; sandstorms Mar–Jun.Cold nights (near 41 °F (5 °C)) and warm days Dec–Feb; 113 °F (45 °C) in summer; sandstorms Mar–Jun.
- Senegal River valley · Rosso, Kaédihot
The only part with real rains (Jul–Sep); Harmattan dust early in the year.
- Saharan Mauritania: Saharan interior · Northern two‑thirds of Mauritaniahot
Diurnal swing 0 °C (32 °F) night to 38 °C (100 °F) day in Dec‑Jan; 16 °C (61 °F) to >49 °C (120 °F) in May‑Jul. Harmattan sandstorms common year‑round.Diurnal swing 32 °F (0 °C) night to 100 °F (38 °C) day in Dec‑Jan; 61 °F (16 °C) to >120 °F (49 °C) in May‑Jul. Harmattan sandstorms common year‑round.
- Nouakchott33 °C (91 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 0 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 0 rain days
- Atar42 °C (108 °F) / 26 °C (79 °F), 0 rain days108 °F (42 °C) / 79 °F (26 °C), 0 rain days
- Azougi41 °C (106 °F) / 26 °C (79 °F), 1 rain days106 °F (41 °C) / 79 °F (26 °C), 1 rain days
- Chinguetti36 °C (97 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 0 rain days97 °F (36 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 0 rain days
- Choum46 °C (115 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 0 rain days115 °F (46 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 0 rain days
- Nouadhibou27 °C (81 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 1 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 1 rain days
- Nouamghar33 °C (91 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 1 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 1 rain days
- Terjit42 °C (108 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 0 rain days108 °F (42 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 0 rain days
- Tichit41 °C (106 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 1 rain days106 °F (41 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 1 rain days
Festivals and holidays
Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.
Labour Day
1 May
Public holiday.
Africa Day
25 May
Public holiday.
Eid al-Adha (Tabaski) big impact
May 2026 (lunar — check)
Travel peak and closures.
Labour Day and Africa Day
1 and 25 May · Nouakchott
Public holidays; offices closed.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · Mauritania
- Low
- Prices · Mauritania
- Low
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Mauritania, side by side.
Verdict
May: Avoid
Jan: Great (better)
Crowds
May: Low
Jan: Medium
Prices
May: Low
Jan: Medium
Festivals listed
May: 4
Jan: 2
May: 40 °C+ inland.
January: Best desert month: cool nights, clear days; charters to Atar (check).
Mauritania: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and sunscreen