Things to Do in Adrar

Adrar sits in the heart of Mauritania's vast Saharan landscape, serving as the gateway to some of the country's most spectacular desert scenery and ancient trading routes. This regional capital, with its dusty streets and traditional architecture, feels like a place where time moves differently - you'll find yourself slowing down to match the rhythm of desert life, where the call to prayer echoes across sandy courtyards and merchants still conduct business much as their ancestors did centuries ago. The town itself might seem unremarkable at first glance, but Adrar is actually your launching point for some genuinely extraordinary experiences: towering sand dunes that shift color with the light, ancient caravan towns that once controlled trans-Saharan trade, and night skies so clear they'll make you question why you ever thought city stars were impressive. It's the kind of place that rewards patience and curiosity, where the real magic happens in the conversations with locals and the moments of silence in the vast desert that surrounds this small outpost of civilization.

The dining scene in Adrar revolves around a handful of simple restaurants serving traditional Mauritanian cuisine - you'll find lots of rice and meat dishes, often flavored with dates and served with sweet tea that's practically a ritual in itself. The local specialty is mechoui (roasted lamb or goat), though it's typically only available for lunch and tends to sell out by mid-afternoon. Street food consists mainly of bread, dates, and grilled meat, plus the occasional vegetable stew during market days. Most guesthouses can prepare meals with advance notice, and this is often your best bet for reliable, clean food that won't upset your stomach before a day of desert travel. Worth noting that alcohol is not available anywhere in the region, and meal times follow Islamic customs, so restaurants may be closed during prayer times.

The cooler months from November through February offer the most comfortable conditions for desert travel, with daytime temperatures that won't leave you completely drained and nights that are actually pleasant rather than stifling. March and April can still be manageable, though you'll notice the heat building and the harmattan winds picking up, which can create dusty conditions that reduce visibility for photography. Summer months from May through September are genuinely brutal - temperatures regularly exceed 45°C (113°F) and the combination of heat and dust makes outdoor activities during daylight hours almost unbearable. If you do visit during summer, plan for very early morning departures and long afternoon breaks, and budget extra for accommodation with reliable air conditioning or at least good ventilation.