Best Times to Visit
Weather
The weather in Mauritania is generally hot and dry, although the south sees some rainfall from July to September. Temperatures are slightly cooler on the coast, where they are tempered by trade winds. Deserts are cooler and windy in March and April. (For more information, see Climate in Mauritania).
Visitors are advised to bring lightweight linens and cottons, with a warm wrap for cool evenings. Waterproofs are necessary for the rainy season.
Festivals
Special events celebrated in Mauritania are generally Muslim holy days and feasts, the dates of which vary from year to year. Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, and Tabaski, the Feast of Sacrifice, are among the most important festivals. On 28 November, the country celebrates Independence Day, a public holiday nationwide.
Public Holidays
The following table shows the public holidays celebrated in Mauritania:
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| 1 January | New Year's Day |
| 1 May | Labour Day |
| 25 May | African Liberation Day |
| 10 July | Armed Forces' Day |
| 28 November | Independence Day |
| Variable* | Islamic New Year |
| Variable* | Mouloud (Prophet's Birthday) |
| Variable* | Korité (End of Ramadan) |
| Variable* | Tabaski (Feast of the Sacrifice) |
* Although Muslim holidays always fall on the same day of the Islamic calendar, the date they are celebrated on the Gregorian calendar varies from year to year, due to the fact that the Islamic calendar is lunar whilst the Gregorian calendar is solar. Because this lunar year is about 11 days shorter than the solar year, Islamic holy days usually shift 11 days earlier each successive solar year. The method used to determine when each Islamic month begins also varies from country to country.
