Mongolian horses

Mongolia may only be home to 1.7 people per km², but this vast and untouched landscape boasts an abundance of wildlife. There are a number of hotspots that allow visitors to go wildlife watching, whether you stay close to the city after arriving in Ulaanbaatar by train, or wish to explore the outer reaches of this immense country.

In this blog post, we reveal the best places for wildlife watching so you can view a variety of species native to Mongolia in their natural habitats.

Ikh Nartiin Chuluu Nature Reserve

Ikh Nartiin Chuluu is located in the East Gobi province, four hours’ drive away from Ulaanbaatar. The area is a relatively new nature reserve – the site was established in 1996 – but its 66,000 hectares provides the perfect place for wildlife to thrive. A mixture of grassland and semi-desert, Ikh Nartiin Chuluu Nature Reserve is home to hundreds of mountain goats, the globally threatened argali sheep, gazelles, black vultures and wolves, as well as 10 nomadic herder families.

In addition to spotting a long list of species, don’t forget to visit one of the park’s three natural springs. The spring located close to the aptly named Bald Mountain is well-known locally for its health benefits.

Khustain National Park

Mongolian landscape Based around one hour’s drive away from Ulaanbaatar, Khustain National Park is a popular destination for wildlife lovers. As well as being home to Asiatic red deer, gazelle, deer, boar, Pallas’s cats, marmots, wolves, lynx and approximately 223 species of bird, Khustain National Park is also famous for its population of wild horses, named the takhi, which were thought to be extinct until recently.

The Crazy Tourist offers an insight into their recent trip to Khustain National Park and provides some useful advice in their latest blog post:

“If you’re lucky, you should just be able to spot some of the uber-rare Dzungarian horses galloping over the grassy knolls and rock-ribbed ridges of the Khustain Nuruu National Park. These are one of the most iconic creatures of the steppe, and are only known to reside below the rising peaks close to Ulaanbaatar (even if they have had to be reintroduced to the area by conservationists). Once you’ve paid the meagre entrance fee, be sure to hit the managed walking routes, or opt for a heart-thumping 4X4 ride over the hilly peaks and troughs.”

The best time to spot wildlife at Khustain is at dawn or dusk so why not consider staying the night in one of the national park’s traditional yurts?

Dornod

Based in Eastern Mongolia, the Dornod province isn’t known as the sea of grass for nothing. The completely flat grasslands of this region are a far cry from the rugged hills and steep elevations Mongolia is known for. Whilst Dornod is an inhospitable place for humans, with limited water available throughout the vast area, it is paradise for the millions of gazelle that call it home.

Want to enjoy Mongolia in luxury? We provide classic and luxury rail cruises through Mongolia, Russia and China. To find out more about our Trans-Siberian packages, please contact us today.