To properly prepare your trip to Mauritania and get a sense of what to pack in your backpack, here's some essential information about the climate in the Desert.

"Unpredictability is here, as elsewhere, the norm."

It's difficult to provide precise temperature forecasts for any given season in Mauritania, as they shift rapidly depending on a passing cloud, altitude, or wind patterns. Nevertheless, the coldest months are clearly December, January, and February. On the Adrar plateau and in the Tagant region, temperatures are influenced by altitude and are generally lower than elsewhere in the country. In winter, especially in the mountains, sharp cold characterizes nights and early mornings. The Tagant region enjoys a warm winter climate due to its low altitude and latitude. The air can occasionally be humid. The Adrar region has a cooler winter climate with a more pronounced arid Saharan character. That said, frost on the plateau is rare (0° was recorded in the Erg Warâne in January 2003). Days are sunny and winds, while not violent, are often present. Daytime temperatures are highly variable (ranging from 20° to 35° on average) depending on the season. The rainy season runs from July to October, but like elsewhere, rainfall can occur throughout the year. Sandstorms are most frequent and intense in March and April, though they can happen in any season.