Mongolian gazelle
Herds of up to 2,000 on the eastern steppe. Fast, shy, photogenic. Best May-June.
Argali sheep
The world's largest wild sheep. 120 kg rams with massive curling horns. Altai and Khangai, at 2,500-3,500 m.
Ibex
Mountain goat specialist. Steep cliffs, leaping bounds. Altai, Khangai.
Golden eagle
The eagle hunters' partner. 2-metre wingspan. Altai in winter, everywhere year-round.
Saker falcon
Mongolia's national bird. Fast, beautiful, endangered. Eastern steppe.
Lammergeier (bearded vulture)
Huge bone-eating vulture. Altai, Khangai, cliffs only. Extraordinary sighting.
Cinereous vulture
Huge black vulture, widespread. Often seen on the carcass trail.
Demoiselle crane
Migratory, breeds across Mongolia April-September. Graceful, widespread.
Wolf
Everywhere, rarely seen. Heard at night at ger camps. Healthy population, no restrictions.
Red deer
Siberian forest margins. Khentii, Khuvsgul, Altai. Larger than European red deer.
Musk deer
Forest deer with fangs (not antlers). Khentii and Khuvsgul. Elusive.
Siberian ibex plus Gobi bear
Two rarer species. Ibex in central Gobi cliffs. Gobi bear on the Great Gobi A reserve, 15 individuals remain, expedition only.
Snow leopard
The ghost. Altai and Khangai. See our dedicated guide.
Brown bear
Siberian subspecies. Khentii forests, rarely seen. Occasionally crosses into Terelj.
Takhi (Przewalski's horse)
The only true wild horse on earth. Hustai National Park near UB. Reintroduced from Prague Zoo stock in 1992.
Where to focus
For gazelle and Saker: eastern steppe. For Altai wildlife (argali, ibex, snow leopard): our February winter expedition. For Takhi: Hustai NP day trip from UB. For general wildlife with decent odds: our 12-day Wildlife Circuit.
