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Mauritania - Things to Do in Mauritania in March

Things to Do in Mauritania in March

March weather, activities, events & insider tips

March Weather in Mauritania

35°C (95°F) High Temp
20°C (68°F) Low Temp
0 mm (0 inches) Rainfall
35% Humidity

Is March Right for You?

Advantages

  • Peak desert season with minimal sandstorm risk - March sits in that sweet spot after the worst of winter winds but before the brutal April-May heat arrives. You'll get classic Saharan conditions without the extreme discomfort that comes later.
  • Iron Festival in Atar (early March) - This is genuinely one of West Africa's most unusual cultural events, where nomadic metalworkers gather to showcase traditional blacksmithing. You won't find this in guidebooks because most travel writers skip Mauritania entirely.
  • Optimal temperatures for desert trekking and dune exploration - Those 20°C (68°F) mornings are actually perfect for hiking around Chinguetti or climbing the Adrar dunes. By 11am you'll want shade, but you've got solid 4-5 hour windows for outdoor activities.
  • Migratory birds still present in Banc d'Arguin - March catches the tail end of the European winter migration. The flamingos, pelicans, and terns are still concentrated in massive numbers before dispersing north, making it legitimately world-class for birding if that's your thing.

Considerations

  • Daytime heat becomes punishing by midday - That 35°C (95°F) doesn't sound extreme until you factor in the desert sun and complete lack of shade outside towns. Between noon and 4pm, you're basically confined to wherever has air conditioning or thick walls.
  • Harmattan winds bring dust and reduced visibility - March still gets occasional dust storms blowing down from the Sahara. When they hit, visibility drops to maybe 100 m (330 ft), photography becomes pointless, and you'll be finding sand in your gear for weeks afterward.
  • Limited tourist infrastructure means advance planning is critical - Mauritania isn't set up for drop-in travelers. The handful of decent guesthouses in places like Chinguetti and Ouadane fill up during March's relative peak season, and you can't just show up hoping to find a 4x4 with driver the next morning.

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Best Activities in March

Sahara Desert Multi-Day Expeditions

March offers the most comfortable conditions for overnight desert camping and camel trekking through the Adrar region. The temperature swing from 35°C (95°F) days to 20°C (68°F) nights means you'll actually sleep well under the stars, unlike the suffocating summer months. The sand is firm enough for 4x4 travel, and the occasional acacia trees still have some green from winter rains. Most expeditions run 3-5 days, departing from Atar and looping through the ancient ksour (fortified villages).

Booking Tip: Book at least 4-6 weeks ahead through agencies in Nouakchott or Atar - expect to pay 45,000-65,000 MRU per person for a 3-day expedition including vehicle, driver-guide, camping equipment, and meals. Verify that water supplies are included (you'll need 4-5 liters per person daily in March heat). See current desert expedition options in the booking section below.

Ancient Caravan Town Exploration

Chinguetti and Ouadane are UNESCO sites that most people have never heard of, and March weather makes them actually pleasant to explore on foot. These medieval trading posts have stone-and-mud architecture that's slowly being reclaimed by dunes, plus manuscript libraries dating back centuries. The morning hours (7am-11am) are perfect for wandering the narrow streets and climbing to viewpoints. The light is spectacular for photography, and local guides can access private libraries that tourists rarely see.

Booking Tip: Arrange local guides through your guesthouse the night before - typically 3,000-5,000 MRU for a half-day tour. The manuscript libraries require permission and usually a small fee (1,000-2,000 MRU) paid directly to families who've maintained them for generations. March is busy enough that showing up without accommodation booked is risky.

Banc d'Arguin National Park Birding Expeditions

This is one of the planet's most important wetland sites, and March catches the overlap between wintering European birds and early northbound migrants. You'll see absurd concentrations of flamingos, pelicans, and waders - we're talking tens of thousands in single viewing areas. The park is completely undeveloped (no roads, no facilities), so you're looking at boat-based expeditions from Nouadhibou or Nouamghar. The conditions are calm in March, before spring winds pick up.

Booking Tip: Book through Nouadhibou operators at least 3-4 weeks ahead - expect 50,000-80,000 MRU per person for 2-day expeditions including boat, camping on islands, and meals. Bring serious binoculars and be prepared for very basic conditions (you're camping on sand islands with zero infrastructure). See current Banc d'Arguin tour options in the booking section below.

Iron Ore Train Experience

The Nouadhibou-to-Choum iron ore train is legitimately one of the world's most unusual rail journeys - a 700 km (435 mile) freight train that occasionally allows passengers in one decrepit carriage, or more commonly, riding in the open ore cars. March weather makes the overnight journey tolerable (you'll freeze at night, roast by day, and get covered in iron dust regardless). It's deeply uncomfortable but genuinely memorable, passing through absolute emptiness for 12-18 hours.

Booking Tip: No advance booking possible - you show up at Nouadhibou station in the evening and negotiate with the train staff (typically 2,000-4,000 MRU). Bring sleeping bag, warm layers for night, face covering for dust, and enough food and water for 24 hours. The schedule is theoretical at best. Trains run most days but delays of 6-12 hours are standard.

Nouakchott Fish Market and Coastal Exploration

The capital's fishing port is chaotic and fascinating - hundreds of colorful pirogues (traditional fishing boats) land catches twice daily, and the beach market is a frenzy of activity. March seas are calm enough that the boats go out consistently, unlike winter months when Atlantic swells keep them ashore. Go at dawn (6am-8am) or late afternoon (4pm-6pm) to see the landings. The nearby Port de Pêche area has grilled fish stalls where you pick your fish and they cook it while you wait.

Booking Tip: No booking needed - just show up early or late to avoid midday heat. Grilled fish meals run 1,500-3,000 MRU depending on size and type. Bring cash (cards are useless), and be prepared for intense sensory overload. Photography is sensitive - always ask permission, and expect some people to decline or request payment.

Terjit Oasis Palm Grove Visits

This canyon oasis near Atar offers the rare luxury of shade and flowing water in the desert. March is ideal because the water level is still decent from winter rains, and the date palms provide genuine relief from the heat. There's a natural pool where you can swim (bring modest swimwear - Mauritania is conservative), and the surrounding canyon walls are dramatic. It's become relatively popular by Mauritanian standards, meaning you might encounter a dozen other visitors on busy days.

Booking Tip: Arrange transport from Atar (typically 8,000-12,000 MRU round trip for a vehicle, 45-minute drive each way). Entry fee is around 1,000 MRU. Go early morning or late afternoon - midday in the canyon can be stifling despite the shade. Bring picnic supplies as there are no facilities beyond basic toilets.

March Events & Festivals

Early March

Festival International des Villes Anciennes (Iron Festival)

Held in Atar in early March, this festival celebrates traditional nomadic metalworking and blacksmithing. You'll see demonstrations of sword-making, jewelry crafting, and tool forging using centuries-old techniques. There are also camel races, traditional music performances, and exhibitions of Moorish crafts. It's genuinely authentic rather than tourist-oriented, since Mauritania gets so few visitors that they're not staging things for cameras.

Essential Tips

What to Pack

High-SPF mineral sunscreen and zinc stick for face - UV index hits 10 in March and there's zero atmospheric filtering in the desert. Reapply every 90 minutes when outdoors, and the zinc stick prevents the painful nose-and-cheekbone burns that ruin day three of everyone's first desert trip.
Lightweight cotton or linen long pants and long-sleeve shirts - Sounds counterintuitive in 35°C (95°F) heat, but exposed skin burns and dehydrates faster than covered skin. Locals wear full coverage for good reason. Skip synthetic fabrics entirely - they're miserable in dry heat.
Shemagh or large cotton scarf for dust protection - When harmattan winds kick up, you'll need to wrap your face completely. Also essential for the iron ore train if you're attempting that. Get one in Nouakchott markets for 1,000-2,000 MRU rather than bringing a western version.
Sleeping bag rated to 10°C (50°F) for desert camping - Those 20°C (68°F) overnight lows are ambient temperature; actual desert sand gets considerably colder, and there's often wind. Most tour operators provide blankets but they're usually insufficient.
Headlamp with red light mode - Essential for desert camping, and the red mode preserves night vision for stargazing (which is genuinely spectacular in March with dry, clear skies). Bring extra batteries - they drain faster in temperature extremes.
Dry bags or ziplock bags for all electronics - Desert dust is incredibly fine and infiltrates everything. Your phone, camera, and power banks need double protection. Even in sealed bags, expect to find dust inside by trip's end.
Oral rehydration salts (ORS packets) - You'll lose electrolytes faster than water alone can replace in March heat. Mix one packet per liter every few hours during outdoor activities. Available in Nouakchott pharmacies but bring some from home as backup.
Modest clothing for cultural respect - Mauritania is conservative Islamic society. Women should bring loose, opaque clothing covering to wrists and ankles, plus headscarves for visiting religious sites. Men should avoid shorts in towns (fine for desert camping).
Cash in local ouguiya (MRU) - ATMs exist in Nouakchott and Nouadhibou but are unreliable elsewhere. Bring euros or US dollars to exchange, and carry enough cash for your entire trip outside the capital. Cards are essentially useless beyond major hotels.
Portable phone charger (20,000+ mAh capacity) - Power cuts are common, and desert expeditions obviously have no electricity. You'll want backup for phone, camera, and headlamp charging. Solar chargers are theoretically useful but dust makes them impractical.

Insider Knowledge

The 11am-4pm heat window is when locals completely shut down - shops close, streets empty, and everyone retreats indoors. Fighting this rhythm as a tourist is miserable and potentially dangerous. Plan your days around early morning (6am-11am) and late afternoon (4pm-sunset) activity windows, with midday for rest, eating, and planning.
Mauritanian time operates differently than western schedules - when someone says a car will leave 'tomorrow morning,' that might mean 6am or might mean 1pm. Build massive buffer time into any connections, especially if you have international flights. The iron ore train schedule is particularly fictional.
Bring photos of home on your phone - Mauritanians are genuinely curious about foreign visitors (you're exotic to them), and showing photos of your family, home, or country is the easiest conversation starter. It transforms interactions from transactional to personal, which matters in a place where hospitality is culturally central.
The best meals come from asking guesthouse owners to cook rather than seeking restaurants - most towns have one or two mediocre restaurants serving the same rice-and-meat plate. But if you arrange with your accommodation the night before, you'll get home-cooked thieboudienne (fish and rice), méchoui (roasted lamb), or camel meat dishes that are genuinely excellent for 2,000-3,000 MRU.

Avoid These Mistakes

Underestimating water needs in dry heat - the 35 percent humidity means sweat evaporates instantly, so you don't feel how much fluid you're losing. Tourists consistently drink half what they should and end up with splitting headaches by afternoon. You need 4-5 liters daily minimum in March, more if doing physical activity.
Expecting western standards of punctuality and planning - Mauritania operates on flexible time, and getting frustrated about delays just makes you miserable. That 3-hour drive might take 6 hours because the driver stops to visit his cousin, or the car breaks down, or you get stuck in sand. Accept this going in.
Skipping travel insurance with desert evacuation coverage - if something goes wrong in remote areas (vehicle breakdown, medical emergency, political instability), extraction is complicated and expensive. Standard travel insurance often excludes Saharan regions. Verify your policy explicitly covers Mauritania including desert areas, or don't go.

Explore Activities in Mauritania

Continue Planning Your Trip

February

Travel guide for February

April

Travel guide for April

Climate Guide

Weather and seasonal patterns for Mauritania

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Plan Your March Trip to Mauritania

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