Khustain Nuruu — The last wild horses
The Khustain Nuruu National Park, just 100 km west of Ulaanbaatar, is home to one of the world's most successful conservation projects: the reintroduction of the Przewalski's horses (Mongolian: Takhi). These sturdy, shaggy horses with their upright manes are the last true wild horses on earth — genetically never domesticated, unlike all other "wild" horses, which are feral domestic horses.
The Przewalski's horses were extinct in the wild. The last wild specimen was seen in 1969. Starting in 1992, horses from zoos and breeding programs (Prague, Munich, Rotterdam) were reintroduced into the Mongolian steppe. Today, over 400 animals live in the Khustain Nuruu Park — a success story that gives hope.
Visit & Observation
- Best time: In the evening between 5 and 7 PM, when the herds come to the waterholes and valleys. Also good chances at dawn.
- Getting there: Day trip from Ulaanbaatar (2-hour drive) or overnight stay in the park ger camp (recommended, as the evening hours are best).
- Entrance: 15,000 MNT (approx. €4). A park guide accompanies you to the best observation points.
Besides the wild horses, the park is also home to red deer, wolves, badgers, marmots, and over 200 bird species. The park is gently hilly, with steppe grasslands and small forests — a beautiful landscape that shows what the Mongolian steppe looks like without human influence.
