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Jeep Safari to Spot Wild Horses in Mongolia's Hustai National Park
Published on February 04, 2012 by Lydia Schrandt
Country: Mongolia 
The Experience
It's summertime in the Mongolian steppe, and at such a northern latitude, we must wake early to beat the sunrise. Even in mid-July, the predawn air is crisp and cool in Mongolia's Hustai National Park, home of the last surviving wild ancestor to the domestic horse. We begin emerging from out traditional Mongolian gers, bleary eyed with cups of steaming milk tea in hand. As the horizon begins to brighten, we caravan out of camp on a jeep safari to spot the world's last wild horses.
The takhi horse, native to the rolling green steppe of central Mongolia, went extinct in the wild in the 1960s. In 1992, the Mongolian Association for Conservation of Nature and the Environment and the Foundation Reserves for the Przewalski Horse, a private Dutch organization, reintroduced 16 takhi horses to the wild, and in 2005, the species' classification changed from extinct to endangered. Today, almost 20 years after their first reintroduction, the second generation of takhi horses born in the wild is reproducing.
The dirt paths winding through the park make for a bumpy ride, and a blue sky can fill with ominous storm clouds in a matter of minutes, but all this just adds to the charged excitement in the air. The first driver spots the first pack of the dun-colored, black-maned horses grazing at the top of a nearby hill. As we climb out, the horses begin running down the hill and across the road, passing within 30 feet of where we stand, cameras poised and ready to capture these majestic animals.
A visit to Hustai National Park mid-summer gives visitors the opportunity to catch glimpses of the adult horses along with their young born earlier in the year. While the horses are wild, they don't fear humans and sometimes run past the park's camp. While the best way to spot the horses is via jeep, the area's gentle hills are perfect for hiking or horseback riding.
As the sun goes down and the temperature drops, the Hustai National Park camp plays host to a traditional Mongolian musical performance featuring a horse hair guitar and throat singing. Smoke billows from the pipes emerging from each white ger as we light up the wood stoves to fend of the cold. After a long day, sleep comes quickly as we anxiously await another trip into the wild tomorrow.
The takhi horse, native to the rolling green steppe of central Mongolia, went extinct in the wild in the 1960s. In 1992, the Mongolian Association for Conservation of Nature and the Environment and the Foundation Reserves for the Przewalski Horse, a private Dutch organization, reintroduced 16 takhi horses to the wild, and in 2005, the species' classification changed from extinct to endangered. Today, almost 20 years after their first reintroduction, the second generation of takhi horses born in the wild is reproducing.
The dirt paths winding through the park make for a bumpy ride, and a blue sky can fill with ominous storm clouds in a matter of minutes, but all this just adds to the charged excitement in the air. The first driver spots the first pack of the dun-colored, black-maned horses grazing at the top of a nearby hill. As we climb out, the horses begin running down the hill and across the road, passing within 30 feet of where we stand, cameras poised and ready to capture these majestic animals.
A visit to Hustai National Park mid-summer gives visitors the opportunity to catch glimpses of the adult horses along with their young born earlier in the year. While the horses are wild, they don't fear humans and sometimes run past the park's camp. While the best way to spot the horses is via jeep, the area's gentle hills are perfect for hiking or horseback riding.
As the sun goes down and the temperature drops, the Hustai National Park camp plays host to a traditional Mongolian musical performance featuring a horse hair guitar and throat singing. Smoke billows from the pipes emerging from each white ger as we light up the wood stoves to fend of the cold. After a long day, sleep comes quickly as we anxiously await another trip into the wild tomorrow.
When to Go to Hustai National Park Horses
The best time of year to see the wild horses in Hustai Natianal Park is from early summer to early fall. From May to September, the weather on the steppe is warmer, and even during the rainy months of July and August, you'll have plenty of sunshine. If you plan to combine Hustai National Park with a tour of the Gobi desert, June or September are the best months. Mongolia's traditional summer festival, Naadam, falls in early July, with festivities occurring in the smaller towns in the week leading up to the official celebration in the capital city.
Hustai National Park is fairly close to Ulan Baatar, so you can easily book a tour from your hostel in the city. You'll probably get a better price if you can find a few other travelers to join you on the tour.
Hustai National Park is fairly close to Ulan Baatar, so you can easily book a tour from your hostel in the city. You'll probably get a better price if you can find a few other travelers to join you on the tour.
Odds n' Ends
Trip prices vary widely based on the time of year, type of vehicle, and number of people. The July is the peak season when prices will be highest.
Plan to dress in layers when visiting central Mongolia in the summer. Mornings and evenings can be quite cold, while afternoons may get warm enough for t-shirts and shorts. The Hustai National Park tourist camp is equipped with public warm water showers, so bring your own shower shoes. The cold nights will drain batteries quickly, so make sure to pack backups for your camera or cell phone.
Due to the endangered status of the wild takhi horses, the park asks that visitors view the horses from a distance and not attempt to approach or touch them. Camping is not permitted in the park.
Plan to dress in layers when visiting central Mongolia in the summer. Mornings and evenings can be quite cold, while afternoons may get warm enough for t-shirts and shorts. The Hustai National Park tourist camp is equipped with public warm water showers, so bring your own shower shoes. The cold nights will drain batteries quickly, so make sure to pack backups for your camera or cell phone.
Due to the endangered status of the wild takhi horses, the park asks that visitors view the horses from a distance and not attempt to approach or touch them. Camping is not permitted in the park.
Want a Guide?
- Khongor Expedition
- The company established in 1999 and running successfully over 10 years and one of the leading and the most experienced guesthouse & tours in Mongolia with the official permission of Ministry of Nature, Environment and Tourism of Mongolia, a trusted member of Mongolian Tourism Association.
More Experiences Nearby
- Join Zasuul's in Encouraging Wrestlers at Mongolia's Naadam Festival
- One strong personality comes to mind when thinking of Mongolia, Genghis Khan. The rule of Khan was legendary. He conquered almost half the globe and united the then fighting Mongols into a powerful army. On a softer side, Mongolia is a wonderful mixture of cultures from all over Asia, particularly China. Its vast regions team with Buddhist temples, and its snow capped mountains seem to graze the sky with splashes of green. Still maintaining its legendary power and culture, Mongolia's wild mixture of life old and new, is nowhere better embodied then at the Naadam Festival. Mongolia is a country ...49 miles away.
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