Introducing Khustain National Park

This park was established in 1993 and is about 100km southwest of Ulaanbaatar. The 50,620-

• Togluulagch 11 player

hectare reserve protects Mongolia’s wild horse, the takhi, and the reserve’s steppe and forest-steppe environment. In addition to the takhi, there are populations of maral (Asiatic red deer), steppe gazelle, deer, boar, manul (small wild cat), wolves and lynx. A visit to the park has become a popular overnight excursion from Ulaanbaatar in recent years.

It’s worth spending at least one night in the park, as you are most likely to see takhi and other wildlife at dusk or dawn.

The park is run by the now self-financed Hustai National Park Trust. The information centre at the entrance to the park has a ger with displays on the park and the takhi, a small souvenir shop and videos that include a documentary on Mongolian horses. There's a large ger camp here with a restaurant and shower block, plus volunteer accommodation. Ten kilometres south into the park’s core area is the former park headquarters. Another 13km or so west of that is Moilt camp.