Western Sahara
Northern AfricaLevel of surfing
Evolved
Quality of surf
Very Good
Coastline
0 km
Climate
Hazards
Extreme Heat, Extreme Cold, Difficult Internal Travel
Best Months
-
Special Requirements
Non tourist Friendly, Personal Guide Recommended, Limited Surfing Supplies Available
surfing
NASA: North Western Saharan coastline; 2007
Storm cells descend from the North Atlantic from Oct to Jan on a regular basis and the NE/SW lie of the African coast here ensures that all of the points, reefs and beaches will be alive with energy throughout these periods. The further south you travel the more barren the coastline becomes. Travel around the Mauritania border can be a little sketchy and should be avoided at night.
Unfortunately the Canary Islands which lie offshore can filter out a lot of the swell energy which decends from Northern Europe but the favourable lie of the coastline maximises what potential there is. Make no mistake though, this is a real frontier, few people have ever surfed the Western Sahara. Could sustainable surf tourism be the saviour of this troubled land? what an achievement that would be.
what to pack
Fir0002: Slik Pro 700DX tripod; September 2006
Pack light, there's no
need to bring your expensive belongings. Going to a sunny country, which is near Ecvator, make sure you take a good sunscreen
(SPF 30+), sunglasses; a good insect repellent is a must. Comfortable walking shoes, sandals, hat and natural fabrics (such as cotton or linen) clothes will be useful as well.
Western Sahara is a muslinmin country, so pack accordingly. Women: cover your face (the way to gain more respect is even to cover your eyes). Male
travellers: don't wear shirts or avoid wearing shirts with the short sleeves.
Take your camera and all the equipment for it with the protection from the sand. Don't forget a backpack and rehydration sachets, that might be usefull if your planning to travel around or sail. And you won't regret swimming and snorkelling gear!