Name: Hustai National Park - Home of the Takhi Wild Horses of Mongolia
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Hustai National Park – Home of the Takhi Wild Horses

Hustai National Park – Home of the Takhi Wild Horses – is located approximately 90 km west of Ulaanbaatar and easily accessed on a sealed road. The park was created as the first place for the Takhi (Przewalski Horse) to be re-introduced back into Mongolia, where it had became extinct in the wild since the late 1960ies.

In Hustai Nuruu National Park the visitor has a good chance to see the Takhi, as well as Red Deer (elk), marmot (in summer), gazelle, birds of prey and other wildlife throughout the seasons. This is the best place in Mongolia to view Takhi and large herds of elk.

Hustai Nuruu National Park – a Model Park in Mongolia

Hustai National Park – Home of the Takhi Wild Horses – is in typical steppe landscape, and named after the birch forests that grow on the mountain slopes. Hustai is the Mongolian word for the Birch tree. While this is one of the smaller National Parks in Mongolia, it is very well managed, with a visitor centre and headquarters from where to explore the park. There is a dedicated road on which visitors can travel in vehicles to view the wildlife, and in the summer season, biologist guides are available to accompany guests.

Besides the wildlife and landscape, Hustai National Park also protects conservation values of historic significance. There are deer stones, burial sites and stone carvings ranging in time from the bronze age to the 7th century Turkic period.

Hustai National Park is managed by Hustai National Park Trust (HNPT), a non-government organization; income is derived from the ger camp, restaurant, visitor center and guided tours. Hustai National Park is a good model of sustainable tourism in Mongolia; its advantage is its relative close proximity to Ulaanbaatar city. Hustai National Park can easily be reached by travelers on the route between the capital city and the ancient capital of Kharkhorin.

Hustai National Park Trust and the preceding organizations and projects have worked closely with the local communities of livestock herders. The visitation to the park has created opportunities for local families to increase household incomes and diversify income sources, through homestays for guests, handicrafts and value added livestock products. Working closely with the local community is crucial for the success of Hustai National Park and the long term survival of the Takhi as the wild horses are competing with the pastures of domestic livestock.

Takhi Wild Horses – Survival and Re-introduction in Mongolia

Hustai National Park was the first site of Takhi re-introduction into the wild in Mongolia. The last wild Takhi were sighted around 1970. For centuries they had been hunted. However, twelve individuals had survived in captivity in zoos in Europe and captive breeding of the wild horses was successful. By 1992, the first Takhi arrived back in Mongolia to be re-introduced into the wild. The area chosen for this first re-introduction project was the Hustai Nuruu steppe area. The area was made a Nature Reserve in 1993, and in 1998 the nature reserve was upgraded to a National Park. The re-introduction process, including the species management, park development and working with the local community and government was in the early years supported by the Foundation for the Preservation and Protection of the Przewalski Horse in the Netherlands, working closely with MACNE, the Mongolian Association for Conservation, Nature and the Environment, and the Ministry for Nature and Environment.

Visiting Hustai National Park

You can take a day tour from Ulaanbaatar to visit Hustai National Park and return the same day. If you want to have more leisure and take more time for observing the Takhi and other wildlife, and exploring the historic and prehistoric sites, we can arrange overnight stays at the park’s Ger Camp near the park head quarters and visitor center, or at a nearby Tourist Camp. The park’s Ger Camp has standard gers as well as gers with ensuite bathrooms.

Hustai National Park is a very popular destination. It offers unique wildlife viewing opportunities, is easily accessible from Ulaanbaatar (about 1.5 hours drive) and at a convenient location along the travel route from Kharkhorin to Ulaanbaatar.

Day Tours to Hustai National Park

The day tour from Ulaanbaatar includes pick-up at your accommodation or agreed meeting point in the morning. Travel to Hustai Nuruu National Park (approx. 1.5 hours). Drive in the park on designated tracks for wildlife viewing. Wildlife observations and photography. Visiting historic sites. Stop by at the visitor center/book-souvenir shop. Meal at restaurant of Ger Camp. Travel back to Ulaanbaatar and drop-off at your accommodation.

Adverse weather, namely rain with flooding, can impact travel, making travel times longer, or making it impossible to reach the more remote historic sites. You will be in good hands with our experienced drivers to handle such challenges and make your day tour a successful adventure.

Return travel times to Ulaanbaatar may be extended when entering the city from the West during evening rush hours.

Bookings for Day Trips should be made several days in advance.