Things to Do in Mauritania in February
February weather, activities, events & insider tips
February Weather in Mauritania
Is February Right for You?
Advantages
- Absolutely perfect desert weather - February sits in that sweet spot where daytime temperatures hit 28-32°C (82-90°F) instead of the brutal 45°C (113°F) you'd face in summer. You can actually explore the dunes and ancient caravan towns without melting.
- The Adrar date harvest season peaks in February, which means the oases around Chinguetti and Atar come alive with activity. You'll see traditional harvesting methods unchanged for centuries, and fresh dates are everywhere - vendors sell them for 200-400 MRU per kilogram (roughly 5-10 USD), and they're incomparably better than anything exported.
- Sandstorms are at their annual minimum in February. The harmattan winds that blast the country with Saharan dust typically calm down after January, giving you clear visibility for photography and making those long 4x4 journeys across the desert actually pleasant rather than miserable.
- This is peak season for the ancient libraries of Chinguetti and Ouadane - the cooler weather means the manuscript custodians are more willing to spend time showing visitors their collections. These aren't museums; they're family homes where medieval Islamic texts have been preserved for 800 years, and in February the families are around and hospitable rather than escaping the heat.
Considerations
- February is absolutely high season for the limited tourism Mauritania gets, which means the handful of decent guesthouses in places like Chinguetti and Atar book out 4-6 weeks ahead. There are maybe 15 genuinely comfortable places to stay in the entire Adrar region, and European tour groups lock them up early.
- Night temperatures in the desert drop to 12-16°C (54-61°F), and Mauritanian accommodation rarely has heating. Those romantic desert camps under the stars? You'll need a proper sleeping bag rated to at least 5°C (41°F), not the light sheet bag you might pack for a typical African trip. I've watched tourists shiver through nights because they assumed desert equals hot.
- The Atlantic coast around Nouadhibou gets surprisingly cool and windy in February - 18-22°C (64-72°F) with constant ocean breezes. If you're planning to combine desert and coast, you'll need layers. The famous Banc d'Arguin bird migrations are spectacular, but standing on a windswept beach watching flamingos is not the warm beach experience some travelers expect.
Best Activities in February
Chinguetti Desert Expeditions
February is THE month for multi-day 4x4 expeditions into the Sahara from Chinguetti. The temperatures are manageable enough that you can actually enjoy sleeping under the stars rather than suffering through it, and visibility is excellent for photography. The sand is firm enough after winter for vehicles to navigate routes that become impassable in hot months. Expect to see the massive Amogjar Pass dunes, abandoned caravan settlements, and if you're lucky, nomadic Moor families moving their herds. The experience is genuinely remote - you might not see another vehicle for days.
Banc d'Arguin National Park Birdwatching
February catches the tail end of the massive migratory bird season at Banc d'Arguin, a UNESCO World Heritage site where the Sahara meets the Atlantic. You'll see millions of shorebirds - flamingos, pelicans, terns, and waders - using the shallow coastal waters as a winter feeding ground. The cooler February weather actually makes the long boat trips more comfortable, though you'll need windproof layers. The park is genuinely pristine - no roads, minimal human presence, just endless tidal flats and birds. The light for photography in February is exceptional, with less heat haze than later months.
Atar Oasis Market and Date Harvest Experiences
February is date harvest season in the Adrar oases, and Atar's Saturday market becomes the trading hub for the entire region. You'll see Moor merchants in traditional blue robes negotiating over sacks of dates, nomadic families selling livestock, and craftspeople offering traditional leather goods and silver jewelry. This isn't a tourist market - it's the real economic center of the region. The surrounding palm groves are accessible for walking, and families are often willing to show visitors their date palms and traditional irrigation systems called foggara. The morning light in the oases is spectacular for photography.
Ancient Caravan Town Exploration
The medieval trading towns of Chinguetti, Ouadane, Tichitt, and Oualata are all UNESCO World Heritage sites and February's comfortable temperatures make exploring their crumbling stone architecture actually enjoyable. Chinguetti's ancient libraries house manuscripts dating to the 11th century, and the old mosque with its distinctive square minaret is one of the oldest in continuous use in the Muslim world. Ouadane is more ruined but less touristy, with spectacular views over the surrounding desert. These towns were major stops on the trans-Saharan trade routes, and walking their narrow alleys feels genuinely medieval. The manuscript families are more available in February to show their collections.
Nouakchott City and Cultural Immersion
Mauritania's capital gets overlooked by tourists rushing to the desert, but February is actually a great time to spend 2-3 days here. The weather is hot but not unbearable - 25-30°C (77-86°F) - and the city's fish market (Port de Peche) is one of the most photogenic working harbors in West Africa. Hundreds of colorful pirogues land their catch daily, and the chaotic auction scene is fascinating. The National Museum has decent ethnographic collections explaining Mauritania's complex ethnic makeup, and the carpet market (Marche Capitale) sells genuine nomadic textiles and leather goods at negotiable prices. The city also has the country's best restaurants serving thieboudienne and other Mauritanian-Senegalese fusion dishes.
Iron Ore Train Experience
The Nouadhibou to Choum iron ore train is one of the world's longest and heaviest trains - up to 3 km (1.9 miles) long carrying ore from interior mines to the coast. Adventurous travelers ride the ore cars or the single passenger carriage on this 12-14 hour overnight journey through absolute desert emptiness. February is the best month for this because temperatures are tolerable - summer heat makes the exposed ore cars dangerous. You'll cross landscapes that look like Mars, pass through the Adrar mountains, and experience genuine Saharan isolation. This is not a tourist train; it's working infrastructure that happens to accept passengers.
February Events & Festivals
Adrar Date Harvest Season
Not a single event but a regional phenomenon - February marks peak harvest time for dates in the Adrar oases. You'll see traditional harvesting methods where men climb the tall palms using rope loops, and families process and sort dates in courtyards throughout Chinguetti, Atar, and surrounding villages. The social atmosphere in the oases changes completely - it's the economic highlight of the year. Markets overflow with fresh dates of different varieties, and families are generally welcoming to visitors who show genuine interest. This is working culture, not performance, which makes it fascinating.
Nomadic Livestock Movements
February is when many nomadic Moor and Fulani families begin moving their herds toward better grazing areas as the brief cool season ends. In the regions between Atar and Chinguetti, and around Terjit oasis, you'll often encounter family groups with camels, goats, and distinctive nomadic tents. This isn't an organized event you can plan for, but if you're doing desert expeditions in February, your chances of authentic encounters are higher than other months. Most families are friendly to respectful visitors and will share tea if approached properly through a guide.